Blue Sapphire 5.615 ct
This sapphire is blue in color and weighs approximately 5.6 carats. The gemstone is slightly over 1 cm long, just over 9 millimeters wide, and nearly 6 millimeters deep.
A certificate for this stone was issued by Lotus Gemology. Lotus Gemology is based in Bangkok, the hub for colored gemstone trading. The laboratory is led by Richard Hughes, one of the most recognized specialists in corundum and author of the classic Ruby & Sapphire. Lotus Gemology has graded this stone as "Cornflower Blue." The gemstone institute has its own color classifications for rubies and sapphires, with "Cornflower Blue" being one of these color types according to Lotus Gemology.
Clarity:
This sapphire shows small inclusions.
Shape and Cut:
The transparent gemstone was cut into a faceted antique oval. The top was brilliant-cut with "split" main facets, while the bottom features four facet crowns. This cut is typical for gemstones cut in Sri Lanka and is also referred to in the trade as the "Ceylon Cut."
Origin:
This blue sapphire is from Sri Lanka (Ceylon), as indicated in the Lotus certificate.
Treatment:
The note in the certificate "Signs of a thermal treatment" indicates that the stone has undergone a heat treatment. Such treatments are very common and standard in the trade. Heating, also called "firing," is a science in itself. Specialists keep their "recipes" strictly secret. Firing is used to permanently enhance both the color and the clarity of a stone.
