ORIGIN
Rubyvale, Central QLD, Australia

DIMENSIONS
5.9 x 5.4 x 3.6mm

CARAT WEIGHT
0.78ct

CUT
Freeform Hexagon

COLOUR
Yellow Blue

TREATMENT
None

CUTTER
Cut by Australian miner and lapidary Scott Langford

COMMENTS Parti sapphires are dramatic gemstones that feature two or more colour zones – blue, yellow and sometimes green. Each one has a unique pattern of colour zoning.

Typically, a gem cutter will orient colour zones to create a uniform body colour when viewed face-up. However, in the case of parti stones, the cutter orients the zones in the crystal to maximise contrast. As a result, the stone shows distinct colour zones from certain angles that appear to change or blend into more shades when rotated.

Because the zoning in each crystal is unique these highly desirable gemstones are usually cut into non-calibrated shapes and sizes that suit the position of the zoning, rather than for weight retention. Consequently, they are not seen in commercial mass-produced jewellery.

This gorgeous and unique freeform hexagon sapphire is insanely bright and totally natural, with no heat treatment. The colour is vibrant yellow with a touch of blue zoning that seems to appear and disappear as you rotate the stone. It has a very small natural fingerprint that is difficult to see with the naked eye. If you like an unconventional shape that is still precision cut and practical this stone could be for you. Would be lovely as the hero stone in a ring or a pendant.  

Commercial quantities of sapphire have been mined for more than 100 years in numerous locations situated along the Great Dividing Range in Eastern Australia, from Tasmania to North Queensland. Major commercial deposits occur in the New England District in northern NSW – Inverell and Glen Innes – and the Central Queensland Gemfields – Anakie, Sapphire, Rubyvale and The Willows, as well as Lava Plains in North Queensland. Besides professional operations, there are many part-time artisanal hand miners and hobby fossickers on the Gemfields.

DURABILITY Sapphire’s high hardness – 9 on Mohs scale – and its excellent durability render it ideal for most types of jewellery settings.