An impressive sapphire and diamond brooch,
the oval mixed-cut sapphire, weighing 159.58 carats, to tiered surround of single-cut diamonds and a tapering brilliant-cut diamond suspensory loop, to a pierced gallery of flowerhead design, length 5.5cm.
Sold for
CHF 363,250
inc. premium
Footnotes
- Accompanied by a certificate from Gübelin Gem Laboratory, Switzerland stating that the 159.58 carat sapphire was found to be of Sri Lankan (Ceylon) origin and shows no evidence of thermal enhancement. Certificate number 0306054, dated 26 June 2003
Sapphire is a variety of the gem species corundum -the hardest substance after diamond. Sapphires are found in a wide variety of colours ranging from white through to shades of pink, yellow, orange and purple, but the blue colour is a result of traces of titanium oxide and iron oxide. Sri Lanka, off the southern tip of India, known as Seilan to Marco Polo, Ceilao to the Portuguese, Zeilan to the Dutch and finally Ceylon to the British has supplied many fine sapphires and rubies to the world for over two thousand years.
This large example displays a natural cornflower blue colour typical of some of the most attractive Sri Lankan sapphires and its gemmological report states that it shows no evidence of heat treatment. The heat treatment of sapphires to enhance their colour has been common for some time and it is generally understood that 90% of modern mined material is thermally enhanced. In today's market this sapphire is a rare combination of large size and natural colour.
Category: Jewellery
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