This 1.5 carat Ceylon blue sapphire is for someone who wants a proper neelam in a ring worn every day, and who is happy to ask a few questions before paying. It sits in the serious-purchase bracket, so it deserves a careful look.

Who it is for

Sapphire rates 9 on the Mohs scale, among the hardest of all gems. That makes it one of the few coloured stones you can wear in a ring without fretting over knocks on a desk or a steering wheel. If your neelam is meant to follow an astrologer's Saturn-related recommendation, remember that the link with Saturn comes from Vedic tradition; the decision stays with you and your adviser.

What to ask before you buy

The stone is from Ceylon (Sri Lanka). Heat treatment is routine for sapphire because it improves colour and clarity, while stones that were never heated are scarcer and dearer. This one falls in the commonly heated group, so message us on WhatsApp quoting AG-00023 and we will pass on whatever we have on record for it. If you want something in writing, an independent lab test is your choice.

Browse the rest of our natural sapphires to compare weights side by side. When the parcel arrives, open it and look at the stone in daylight before you pay.

Cash on Delivery covers all of Pakistan, with Karachi usually served in 1–2 working days and other cities in 2–4, and you have 7 days to return it. Read our sapphire guide first.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural sapphire, known in Urdu as Neelam, with a weight of 1.5 Carat. Its price is Rs. 84,380 — roughly Rs. 56,253 for each carat. Origin: Ceylon (Sri Lanka). Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference AG-00023 when you message us about it. The photographs show this exact stone, so what arrives at your door is the piece you chose on screen.

Under two carats, a stone like this sits neatly in a slim ring, a stud or a delicate pendant and does not snag on sleeves. It is also where many first-time buyers begin when a stone is recommended for astrological reasons, because the total cost stays modest.

On the Mohs scale sapphire rates 9. Few materials will scratch it, so it copes well with everyday ring wear. A soak in warm water with a drop of mild soap and a soft brush keeps it bright; skip the ultrasonic cleaner if inclusions reach the surface.

Whoever you buy sapphire from, make sure of three things: the stone is natural rather than lab-grown, glass or glass-filled; any treatment is stated in writing; and the weight quoted is the weight of the finished stone. We check every sapphire for those three points before it is listed, and because you pay on delivery you can look at the stone — or have it tested — before any money changes hands.

We sell natural stones only and inspect each one before it is listed. Treatment for this stone: Treatment not tested. No lab report yet; independent testing welcome. As general background (not a statement about this stone): Most sapphire on the market is heated to improve colour and clarity; unheated stones exist and cost more. Ask us on WhatsApp and we will tell you what we know about this exact stone; independent lab testing is available on request.

A certificate of authenticity is available on request for this stone, and independent laboratory testing can be arranged. Because you pay on delivery, you can also take the stone to a lab of your choice within the 7-day return window. Read more on our authenticity page.