Gem128 - Corundum var. Sapphire - Kataragama, Moneragala District, Uva Province, Sri Lanka

Wow! This is probably the best sapphire crystal I have seen for the quality of its color and clarity - almost all have been cut! Superb, cornflower blue sapphire crystal from the small, one-time find at Kataragama. Most of the sapphire from this find was cut for faceted stones as the color and clarity were exceptional. I purchased this crystal from a Sri Lankan gemologist who visited the find. In addition to its amazing transparency and color, the luster is superb, with almost a polished quality to its faces. 5.60 carats. 1.1 x 0.8 x 0.6 cm.

For more information on this find, see Gems and Gemology, Summer 2012, pages 98-107.