The largest known blue star sapphire in the world, discovered in 2016 [14, 17]. Private Collection [14]
: The gem reached modern heights of fame through Princess Diana's 12-carat engagement ring , which is now worn by Catherine, Princess of Wales [6, 9, 29].
: This is the most important factor [15, 27]. The most prized is a velvety royal blue or a bright "cornflower blue" with medium to medium-dark tones [4, 15, 22].
Blue Sapphires Stone: Prices, Qualities, Treatments & origins!
If you are looking for a high-quality piece, experts at the GIA and Brilliant Earth suggest focusing on these "4 Cs":
: Stones from Kashmir are the rarest and most expensive due to their "sleepy" velvety look, followed by highly-sought Burmese and Sri Lankan (Ceylon) sapphires [15, 26, 30].
One of the largest faceted gem-quality blue sapphires; near flawless [14, 24]. Smithsonian Museum [14] 563.35 carats