Rough White Sapphire Value Guide

This 20th-century rough white sapphire represents the pure, colorless form of corundum sourced from the historic mines of Sri Lanka. Highly sought after by gem cutters, these specimens are prized for their diamond-like brilliance and their legacy as a premier natural substitute for more expensive stones.

What affects the value of Rough White Sapphire?

• Clarity and transparency of the rough stone, which determines the yield after faceting.
• The total carat weight and physical dimensions of the uncut specimen.
• Origin documentation, specifically verifying the stone as a genuine Ceylon (Sri Lankan) sapphire.
• The presence of any internal fractures or flaws that might impact the final cut quality.

How to Identify Rough White Sapphire?

• Verify the natural hexagonal crystal structure characteristic of Sri Lankan corundum.
• Check for a lack of color saturation, as true white sapphires should appear colorless or near-colorless.
• Examine for natural inclusions or 'silk' that distinguish earth-mined stones from synthetic lab-grown versions.
• Confirm a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale, which is specific to sapphire specimens.

History of Rough White Sapphire

White sapphires are naturally colorless corundum. Historically, they have often been used as diamond substitutes due to their brilliance when cut. Sri Lanka, also known as Ceylon, has been a prominent source of high-quality sapphires for centuries, including the white variety.