6.54 ct. Sri Lankan Blue Sillimanite
Color: Medium Light Slightly Greyish-Blue
Clarity: Eye Clean
Origin: Ratnapura, Sri Lanka
Cut: Cushion
Treatments: None
Measurements: 11.3 x 10.7 mm
Blue has long been the treasured rare color in this species; gems are almost universally a gray-green or desaturated yellow hue. These are valued quite highly in Sri Lanka and only see a very few, only 4 stones in the last 10 years if memory serves. Even then, few stones have been as attractive and distinctly blue as this stone; the strong pleochroism allows for a bit of the grey secondary color to show around the edges - a fascinating and attractive appearance akin to Iolite or Andalusite. This is an old collection gem and has a somewhat antique look as it is cut rather shallow in the classic fashion to preserve weight - we like it as such, but be aware it is somewhat windowed. A superb old rarity we were quite happy to find!