ORIGIN
Central Queensland, Australia

DIMENSIONS
5.6mm diameter x 3.4mm deep

CARAT WEIGHT
0.78ct

CUT
Round brilliant cut

COLOUR
Good green

TREATMENT
No heat

CUTTING
Cut locally

COMMENTS This pretty bright green sapphire is very well cut and eye-clean. It has not been treated in any way. There are subtle flecks of yellow throughout the stone that blend with the green body colour to create a lively and interesting stone.

The lapidary has selected a round brilliant cut which traditionally maximises light return and brightness; the reason why it is so popular with diamonds. This gem would be lovely in an everyday ring or pendant setting, with or without accent stones.

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.