Significant Ceylon/Sri Lanka Blue Sapphires that appeared at public auctions

<p>Lareef, thanks once again for sharing your inputs.</p>

<p>I can share the images and copy of certificate with you via email. Please let me know your email id or drop me a line at arihantsourcing @ gmail.com.</p>

Incorporating the two Ceylon blue sapphires highlighted by Sunil, in the list prepared by Yousuf and re-arranging the diamonds in descending order of whole stone prices, we have the following revised list :-

List of Ceylon blue sapphires that appeared at public auctions arranged in descending order of whole stone prices

1) 102.61-carat, cushion-cut Ceylon blue sapphire - USD 4,203,118
2) 28.21-carat, oval-cut Ceylon blue sapphire -USD 344,309
3) 30.52-carat, rectangular step-cut Ceylon blue sapphire - USD 168,492
4) 10.206-carat and 8.628-carat pear-shaped Ceylon blue sapphires, set as centerpiece of pair of sapphire and diamond cluster rings - USD 101,214
5) 13.61-carat, cushion-cut, Ceylon blue sapphire -USD 92,643
6) 15.32-carat, oval-cut, Ceylon blue sapphire - USD 74,932
7) 22.99-carat, oval-cut Ceylon blue sapphire - USD 74,932
10.22-carat, oval-cut, Ceylon blue sapphire - USD 35,423

The same list as above arranged in descending order of price-per-carat (ppc) value is as follows :-

1) 102.61-carat, cushion-cut Ceylon blue sapphire - ppc value USD 40,962
2) 28.21-carat, oval-cut Ceylon blue sapphire - ppc value USD 12,205
3) 13.61-carat, cushion-cut, Ceylon blue sapphire - ppc value 6,807
4) 30.52-carat, rectangular step-cut Ceylon blue sapphire - ppc value USD 5,520
5) 18.8 carats - USD 101,214 PPC - ppc value USD 5,383
6) 15.32 carat - USD 74,932 PPC - ppc value USD 4,891
7) 10.22 carat - USD 35,423 PPC - ppc value USD 3,466
22.99 carat - USD 74,932 PPC - ppc value USD 3,259

The two Ceylon blue sapphires highlighted by Sunil appeared at Sotheby's Geneva on May 14, 2013 at their Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels Sale. At this same auctions a noble jewel believed to have been once in the possession of Joséphine de Beauharnais (b.1763-d.1814), first wife of Napoléon Bonaparte, appeared as Lot 624 and performed impressively by selling much above the estimated range of USD 198,841 - 298,262 for USD 545,243. (PPC-value USD 12,600)

The centerpiece of this jewel, titled an "Impressive Sapphire and Diamond Pendant/Brooch of 19th-century origin" is a 43.27-carat, pear-shaped sapphire either of Burmese or Ceylon origin. The ambiguity regarding the country-of-origin of the sapphire was caused by conflicting lab reports issued by three different labs, GGL, SSEF and Gem Tech. The GGL report certified that the sapphire is of Burmese origin, with no indications of heating. On the contrary, the SSEF and Gem Tech lab reports certified that the sapphire is of Ceylon origin with no indications of heating. However, since two recognized labs have concurred on the Ceylon origin of the sapphire, it is accepted that the sapphire is of Ceylon origin.

The central sapphire is set within a frame of pinched collet-set, Old-European cut cushion-shaped and round-shaped brilliants and suspended from a detachable surmount of bow design, embellished with similarly cut diamonds.

At the Sotheby's Hong Kong Magnificent Jewels & Jadeite Sale held in April 2013, at least four Sri Lanka blue sapphire lots featured. These are Lots 1560, 1622, 1779 and 1796.

Lot 1560 - A Sapphire And Diamond Ring - was set with a 12.00-carat, cushion-shaped, Ceylon blue sapphire as centerpiece, surrounded by an inner row of brilliant-cut diamonds and an outer row of tapered baguette-cut diamonds, together weighing 1.40 carats and mounted in platinum. A GRS report accompanying the lot certified the natural Sri Lanka origin of the stone, but showed evidence of heat treatment. A pre-sale estimate of USD 10,306 - 15,458 was placed on the lot, which sold for almost double the upper estimate for USD 30,595. PPC value of the stone works out to USD 2,550.

Lot 1622 - also A Sapphire and Diamond RIng - was set with a 29.30-carat, circular-cut Ceylon blue sapphire, on a platinum mount decorated with small circular-cut diamonds, extending to the shoulders and hoop of the ring. AGL report accompanying the lot certified the natural Ceylon origin of the stone, with no evidence of heat treatment. A pre-sale estimate of USD 83,733 - 96,615 was placed on the lot, which sold above the upper estimate for USD 104,667, working out to a ppc-value of USD 3,572.

Lot 1779 - was a Pair of Sapphire and Diamond Pendant Earrings - The centerpiece of each pendant earring, was a cushion-shaped Ceylon sapphire, weighing 8.90 carats and 7.86 carats, surrounded by a row of 8 pear-shaped diamonds and another pear-shaped diamond, the largest in the earring, suspended from below, surmounted by a circular-cut diamond; the whole arrangement being suspended from an elongated inverted cone-shaped structure, also set with circular-cut diamonds, that is fixed to the lobe of the ear by a post earring arrangement. . A pre-sale estimate of USD 70,851 - 83,733 was placed on the lot which sold slightly above the upper estimate for USD 88,564 working out to a ppc-value of USD 5,284.

Lot 1796 - was a Sapphire and Diamond Ring designed by Cartier - The platinum ring was set with a 13.28-carat, cushion-shaped Ceylon sapphire as its centerpiece, flanked on each side by a shield-shaped diamond. An SSEF report certified the Sri Lanka origin of the stone, with no indications of heating. The lot sold within the pre-sale estimate of USD 154,584 - 206,112 for USD 190,654 working out to a ppc-value of USD 14,356.

Thanks Mike for your update. Image of Lot 1560 was of special interest. This is the first time I am seeing an image of a heat treated blue sapphire. The treatment seems to have done justification to the hue and tone of the blue color of the sapphire, but on the contrary has had a devastating effect of the ppc-value of the stone, which has plunged to absurdly low levels after the detection of the treatment !!!

Indeed Rashid ! Heat treated blue sapphires have a low price-per-carat value than untreated natural blue sapphires. Both in terms of whole stone price and price-per-carat value, the 12.00-carat, cushion-shaped, heat treated Ceylon blue sapphire has the lowest value as the following lists clearly demonstrate.

The price-per-carat values of the Ceylon sapphires highlighted by Mikegem seem to indicate the quality of these sapphires.

Lot 1796 with the highest ppc-value of US$14,356 seems to have the highest quality, with a saturated, evenly distributed violet-blue hue and a medium dark tone, the look-alike of most Kashmir sapphires. Had the origin of this sapphire been conclusively proved to be Kashmir, its ppc-value would have shot up to over US$100,000.

Lot 1560 has the lowest ppc value of US$2,550. The ridiculously low ppc-value of this sapphire is undoubtedly due to Lab confirmation that the stone had been subjected to heat enhancement.

Lot 1622, despite the fact the sapphire is a natural Ceylon stone with no evidence of heat enhancement, also had a low ppc-value of US$3,572. This was probably due to the dark-blue hue and the very-dark tone of the sapphire.

Lot 1779 on the other hand had a ppc-value of US$5,284 the price of an average-quality Ceylon blue sapphire. These sapphires have a slightly lesser dark hue and tone than lot 1622.

Incorporating the sapphires highlighted by gemlite and Mikegem in the List of Ceylon blue sapphires that appeared at public auctions arranged in descending order of whole stone prices, we have the following revised list :-

1) 102.61-carat, cushion-cut Ceylon blue sapphire - USD 4,203,118
2) 43.27-carat, pear-shaped Ceylon blue sapphire - USD 545,243
3) 28.21-carat, oval-cut Ceylon blue sapphire -USD 344,309
4) 13.28-carat, cushion-shaped, Ceylon blue sapphire - USD 190,654
5) 30.52-carat, rectangular step-cut Ceylon blue sapphire - USD 168,492
6) 29.30-carat, circular-cut, Ceylon blue sapphire - USD 104,667
7) 10.206-carat and 8.628-carat pear-shaped Ceylon blue sapphires, set as centerpiece of pair of sapphire and diamond cluster rings - USD 101,214
13.61-carat, cushion-cut, Ceylon blue sapphire -USD 92,643
9) 8.90-carat and 7.86-carat matching, cushion-shaped, Ceylon blue sapphires - USD 88,564
10) 15.32-carat, oval-cut, Ceylon blue sapphire - USD 74,932
11) 22.99-carat, oval-cut Ceylon blue sapphire - USD 74,932
12) 10.22-carat, oval-cut, Ceylon blue sapphire - USD 35,423
13) 12.00-carat, cushion-shaped, heat-treated Ceylon blue sapphire - USD 30,595

The same sapphires above arranged in descending order of price-per-carat values is given below :-

1) 102.61-carat, cushion-cut Ceylon blue sapphire - ppc value USD 40,962
2) 13.28-carat, cushion-cut, Ceylon blue sapphire - ppc value USD 14,356
3) 43.27-carat, pear-shaped, Ceylon blue sapphire - ppc value USD 12,600
4) 28.21-carat, oval-cut Ceylon blue sapphire - ppc value USD 12,205
5) 13.61-carat, cushion-cut, Ceylon blue sapphire - ppc value 6,807
6) 30.52-carat, rectangular step-cut Ceylon blue sapphire - ppc value USD 5,520
7) 10.2-carat and 8.6-carat, matching pear-shaped, Ceylon blue sapphires - ppc value USD 5,383
8.90-carat and 7.86-carat matching cushion-cut, Ceylon blue sapphires - ppc value 5,284
9) 15.32 carat, oval-cut, Ceylon blue sapphire - ppc value USD 4,891
10) 29.30-carat, circular-cut, Ceylon blue sapphire - ppc value USD 3,572
11) 10.22 carat, oval-cut, Ceylon blue sapphire - ppc value USD 3,466
12) 22.99 carat, oval-cut, Ceylon blue sapphire - ppc value USD 3,259
13) 12.00-carart, cushion-shaped, heat-treated Ceylon blue sapphire - ppc value USD 2,550

In both lists above the heat-treated Ceylon blue sapphire occupies the last position.

Two significant Sri Lanka sapphire lots appeared at Christie's New York, Magnificent Jewels Sale, held on October 16, 2007. These are Lot 165 and Lot 273.
Lot 165 is titled - An Important Sapphire And Diamond Ring and sold for US$241,000 within the presale estimate of US$200,000 - 300,000. The ring made of platinum was set with a 28.28-carat, cushion-cut, Ceylon blue sapphire with pave-set diamond shoulders. An AGTA lab report stated that the probable geographic origin of the sapphire is Sri Lanka, with no indication of heating. The ppc-value of the sapphire works out to US$8,522

Lot 273 titled - An Impressive Sapphire And Diamond Ring, by Bulgari - was sold for US$337,000 within the presale estimate of US$300,000 - 500,000 and slightly above the lower estimate.
The platinum ring designed by Bulgari was set with a 71.54-carat, cushion-cut, Ceylon sapphire with a pave-set diamond shoulders. An AGTA lab report stated that probable geographic origin of the stone is Sri Lanka, with no indications of heating.
A second lab report by AGL certified the country-of-origin of the stone as Ceylon, with no indications of heating. The ppc-value of this sapphire works out to US$4,710.

Sotheby's Geneva Magnificent Jewels Sale held on November 13, 2013 had six Sri Lanka blue sapphire lots on offer - These lots were Lot 55, Lot 184, Lot 187, Lot 232, Lot 247 and Lot 258. Out of these, the first four lots 55, 184, 187, and 232 have already been considered by Johnruby in his update of May 4, 2014. The remaining two lots, 247 and 258 are considered below :-

Lot 247, a Sapphire and Diamond Ring from the collection of a member of the Princely House of Zu Sayn-Wittgenstein, was set with a 49.47-carat, cut-cornered rectangular step-cut, Ceylon blue sapphire as centerpiece and the shoulders set with baguette-cut diamonds. The lot was accompanied by an SSEF report certifying the Ceylon origin of the stone with no indications of heating. The lot sold for USD 410,896 which was 3 times the lower estimate of USD 136,239 and twice the upper estimate of USD 201,633. The ppc value of the stone works out to USD 8,306.

Another lot that incorporated a modified pear-shaped Ceylon blue sapphire weighing 9.18 carats and a similarly shaped brilliant-cut diamond weighing 4.93 carats in a "Toi et Moi" engagement ring, the shoulders set with baguette-cut diamonds, was Lot 258. Two GIA reports accomanied the diamond, one certifying the Ceylon origin of the sapphire, without heat enhancement and the other stating that the diamond is F-color and VS2 Clarity. A pre-sale estimate of USD 70,844 - 79,563 was placed on the lot, which sold for USD 115,803 which is almost 1.5 times the upper estimate.

The images of the two sapphires uploaded by shah - the 28.28-carat, cushion-cut, Ceylon sapphire and the 71.54-carat, cushion-cut, Ceylon sapphire - clearly show the violet-blue color of these sapphires - which is normally characteristic of Kashmir sapphires, but also found in blue sapphires originating from certain regions of Sri Lanka, such as Elahera and Rakwana, which some gem laboratories had mistakenly identified as Kashmir sapphires, when they were first discovered. The ideal hue, tone and saturation of these blue sapphires, their perfect cut and eye-clean clarity, would have given these sapphires a very high ppc-value, had the origin of the stones been certified as Kashmir. However, since the origin of the stones were determined to be Sri Lanka, the two sapphires had registered only moderate ppc-values of US$8,522 and US$4,710.

The images of 49.47-carat, cut-cornered rectangular step-cut Ceylon blue sapphire and the 9.18-carat modified pear-shaped Ceylon blue sapphire uploaded by Peter, appear to show the characteristic hue, tone and saturation of Ceylon blue sapphires, which are generally lighter and brighter than Kashmir and Burma sapphires, and possess a saturated, evenly distributed, medium blue color, with good transparency and clarity. The clarity of the 9.18-carat Ceylon blue sapphire is excellent, but the 49.47-carat, rectangular step-cut Ceylon blue sapphire appears to be slightly included.

However, what puzzles me most are the weights of the modified pear-shaped Ceylon blue sapphire and almost similar shaped, slightly smaller diamond in the "Toi et Moi" ring. While the Ceylon blue sapphire weighs 9.18 carats, the almost similar shaped but slightly smaller, colorless diamond weighs only 4.93 carats. In otherwords, if we take a blue sapphire and a diamond of similar shape and size, the blue sapphire has a weight greater than the diamond. What is the possible explanation for this ?

Thanks AnitaP and rashid for your updates. With regards to the question raised by rashid, if a blue sapphire and diamond of equal volumes are considered, the blue sapphire has a greater weight than the diamond. This is clearly related to the difference in the densities/specific gravities of sapphires (corundum) and diamond. The density of sapphire is greater than the density of diamond. While the density/specific gravity of sapphire (corundum) is 4.0-4.1 gm/cm³, the density of diamond is 3.51 gm/cm.³ In otherwords, while 1.00 cm³ of sapphire weighs 4.0 to 4.1 gm, 1.00 cm³ of diamond weighs only 3.51 gm. Hence, while x cm³ of sapphire weighs 4.0x to 4.1x gm; x cm³ of diamond weighs only 3.51x gm. Thus, equal volumes of sapphire and diamond have slightly different weights, the sapphire weighing more than the diamond.

Conversely, if we take equal weights of sapphire and diamond (M gm), the sapphire will have a slightly lesser volume than the diamond. In other words, the sapphire will be slightly smaller in size than the diamond. Volume= Mass/density. Volume of sapphire = M/4.1; Volume of diamond = M/3.51.

M/4.1 < M/3.51
ie. Volume of sapphire is less than volume of diamond. or
Size of sapphire is less than size of diamond.

We can actually calculate the size of sapphire and diamond in the "Toi et Moi" ring.
Weight of sapphire = 9.18 carats = 9.18 x 0.2 gm = 1.836 gm
Density of sapphire = 4.1 gm/cm³
Volume of modified pear-shaped sapphire = weight/density = 1.836/4.1 = 0.4478 cm³

Weight of diamond = 4.93 carats = 4.93 x 0.2 gm = 0.986 gm
Density of diamond = 3.51 gm/cm³
Volume of pear-shaped diamond = 0.986/3.51 = 0.2810 cm³

Hence, the volume of the sapphire is 0.1668 cm³ greater than the volume of the diamond. This difference in volume or size is clearly evident in the image.