ORIGIN
Central Queensland, Australia

DIMENSIONS
7.9mm x 5.15mm diameter x 3.2mm deep

CARAT WEIGHT
1.16ct

CUT
Oval

COLOUR
Blue Yellow

TREATMENT
None

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 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 zoning position, rather than for weight retention. Consequently, they are not seen in commercial mass-produced jewellery.

This stunning and unique blue/yellow parti-sapphire is very bright, well cut and eye-clean. It has not been treated in any way. It shows blue and yellow colour zones that blend and reflect forming a third colour – green – at each end of the stone when it is rotated. This gem would be lovely as the hero stone in a special ring or a pendant, 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.