A natural blue sapphire of 2.95 carats, about 3.24 ratti, recorded as coming from Ceylon, at Rs. 14,750 – exactly Rs. 5,000 per carat. Our record gives its colour as deep blue.

Neelam, and what the word covers

Neelam is the Urdu and Hindi name for blue sapphire, and across Pakistan it is the name most buyers use. The stone itself is corundum, the same mineral as ruby and as the yellow pukhraj and purple sapphires elsewhere on this site; only the trace elements differ. In blue sapphire the colour comes from iron and titanium sitting together in the crystal, in quantities so small they would be hard to measure in any other context.

One consequence worth knowing: because the colour comes from trace elements rather than from the mineral itself, two sapphires of identical weight can be worth several times different amounts. Colour and clarity are almost the whole of sapphire value.

What this stone's price says

At Rs. 5,000 per carat this is at the lower end of our current blue sapphire range, which runs to about Rs. 14,750 per carat at the top. That is the honest signal: this is a well-coloured commercial stone rather than a fine one. The rate per carat is the number to carry when comparing sellers.

About Ceylon

Ceylon, now Sri Lanka, has produced sapphire continuously for longer than anywhere else on earth, and the name covers everything from pale commercial material to world-class stones. It is the origin our record holds; it is not a laboratory determination, which is the only thing that actually establishes where a sapphire formed.

Hardness

Corundum is Mohs 9, second only to diamond among stones you will meet in jewellery. It resists the fine everyday scratching that dulls softer gems, which is why sapphire has been a ring stone for centuries. It can still chip at an edge under a sharp knock.

What has not been tested

No laboratory report, and the heating status has not been tested. Most blue sapphire is heated to improve colour and clarity. We do not claim this stone is unheated, and we will arrange a test if you want the answer first.

Care and ordering

Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic and steam cleaners. One stone, sold once. Message us on WhatsApp for more photographs, and we deliver across Pakistan.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural sapphire, known in Urdu as Neelam, with a weight of 2.95 Carat. Its price is Rs. 14,750 — roughly Rs. 5,000 for each carat. Origin: Ceylon (Sri Lanka). Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-000890 when you message us about it. The photographs show this exact stone, so what arrives at your door is the piece you chose on screen.

Between two and six carats is the range most people choose for a gents' ring or a noticeable pendant. Here colour drives the price more than size does, which is why two stones of near-identical weight can be priced very differently.

On the Mohs scale sapphire rates 9. Few materials will scratch it, so it copes well with everyday ring wear. A soak in warm water with a drop of mild soap and a soft brush keeps it bright; skip the ultrasonic cleaner if inclusions reach the surface.

Whoever you buy sapphire from, make sure of three things: the stone is natural rather than lab-grown, glass or glass-filled; any treatment is stated in writing; and the weight quoted is the weight of the finished stone. We check every sapphire for those three points before it is listed, a certificate is available on request, and because you pay on delivery you can look at the stone — or have it tested — before any money changes hands.

We sell natural stones only and inspect each one before it is listed. Treatment for this stone: Treatment not tested. Certificate available on request. As general background (not a statement about this stone): Most sapphire on the market is heated to improve colour and clarity; unheated stones exist and cost more. Ask us on WhatsApp and we will tell you what we know about this exact stone; independent lab testing is available on request.

A certificate of authenticity is available on request for this stone, and independent laboratory testing can be arranged. Because you pay on delivery, you can also take the stone to a lab of your choice within the 7-day return window. Read more on our authenticity page.