A natural blue sapphire of 3.65 carats, about 4.01 ratti, recorded as coming from Ceylon, at Rs. 18,250 – exactly Rs. 5,000 per carat. Our record gives its colour as deep blue.

What Ceylon means, and what it does not

Ceylon is the old name for Sri Lanka, and it has been the world's most consistent source of blue sapphire for two thousand years. Ceylon material covers an enormous range, from pale grey-blue stones worth very little to some of the finest sapphire ever found, so the name on its own tells you about geography and nothing about quality.

It is also worth being straight about what stands behind it here. This is the origin our record holds for this stone. It is not a laboratory origin determination, and only a laboratory can actually establish where a sapphire grew, by examining its inclusions and trace chemistry. We are telling you what we were told, and labelling it as such.

The rate per carat is the number to compare

At Rs. 5,000 per carat this sits at the lower end of our blue sapphire tray, which runs from about Rs. 4,000 to Rs. 18,250 per carat across the twenty stones currently at the front of this category. Sapphire price is driven overwhelmingly by colour and clarity rather than size, so two stones of the same weight can differ several times over in price. When comparing against another seller, divide their total by the carat weight and hold the result against those figures.

Hardness

Sapphire is corundum, 9 on the Mohs scale, second only to diamond among stones in ordinary jewellery use. That is the practical reason neelam has been a working ring stone for centuries: it resists the fine scratching that gradually dulls softer stones. It is hard rather than unbreakable, so a sharp knock on an edge can still chip it.

What has not been tested

This stone has no laboratory report and its heating status has not been tested. Most blue sapphire on the world market has been heated to improve colour and clarity; that is routine trade practice rather than a defect, but it affects value and cannot be judged by eye. We will not claim either way. If it matters to you before buying, tell us and we will arrange testing.

Care and ordering

Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic and steam cleaners while the treatment is unknown. Store it apart from softer stones, since at Mohs 9 it will scratch nearly anything beside it. 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 3.65 Carat. Its price is Rs. 18,250 — roughly Rs. 5,000 for each carat. Origin: Ceylon (Sri Lanka). Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference GS-000894 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.