Question 1

What is the difference between Ceylon and Sri Lankan sapphire?

Accepted Answer

None. Ceylon was the name of Sri Lanka until 1972, and the trade still uses "Ceylon sapphire" for stones from the island. Laboratory reports usually give the origin as Sri Lanka. The name is associated with bright, medium-toned blues, but stones from Sri Lanka cover a wide range of colours and qualities.

Question 2

Are Ceylon sapphires heated?

Accepted Answer

Many are. Heating of pale or milky geuda material is common in Sri Lanka and is an accepted treatment when disclosed. Unheated Ceylon sapphires are also available, particularly in finer qualities, and command a premium. Only a laboratory report can reliably confirm whether a stone has been heated, so request one for any significant purchase.

Question 3

Are Ceylon sapphires as valuable as Burma or Kashmir sapphires?

Accepted Answer

At comparable quality, Kashmir and Burmese stones usually carry a higher premium, partly because of rarity and reputation. Fine Ceylon sapphires are highly regarded, however, and a bright, well-cut unheated Ceylon stone can be worth more than an average stone from a more famous source. Colour and treatment status matter more than origin alone.

Question 4

What is geuda sapphire?

Accepted Answer

Geuda is a Sri Lankan term for milky, whitish or pale corundum that shows little colour in its natural state. Heating at high temperatures dissolves fine rutile inclusions and develops blue colour, turning geuda into transparent blue sapphire. Large-scale heating of geuda, which grew from the 1970s onwards, greatly increased the supply of blue sapphire.

Ceylon Sapphires