SOLD
D16B-88
Corundum var. Sapphire (Yellow)
Ratnapura area gem gravels, Sri Lanka
Miniature, 6.0 x 2.7 x 1.4 cm
SOLD
Partially transparent to translucent, this well formed, lustrous, golden sapphire is also doubly terminated. It is actually quite large for the quality and color, and all things considered, well preserved (the front is nearly pristine, though the back has some rubbing to it). Most of these are mined by using high pressure water at extreme prejudice, and their natural environment already was rough and violent, to emplace them in the "gem gravels" that are being mined. So, as they get larger, really very few escape damage both geological and man-induced. This would be considered "near pristine" by Sri Lanka large sapphire standards, at this level of significance. The crystal exhibits classic tapering with horizontal growth striations and is absolutley classic - and about 5x the size of most of them for collectors. The mass is 37 grams.