Every fine gemstone has a journey before it reaches its final polished form. This natural Ceylon sapphire began as a 4.44 ct facet grade rough stone, measuring 10.1 × 6.7 × 5.8 mm, sourced by Danushka Gems & Minings from Kahawatta village around mining in Sri Lanka. In rough form, the stone showed a slightly orangish-pink to purplish-pink visual body color, with an alluvial surface shaped by natural geological movement over time.
This sapphire was selected as a custom cutting project for Mr. Leve in Hungary. The main request was clear: try to save a finished gemstone above 2.00 ct, while still creating a proper faceted stone with attractive shape, practical proportions, and good visual balance. With rough sapphires, this kind of request needs careful inspection before cutting, because saving weight alone is not enough. The cutter must also consider clarity, depth, color direction, surface marks, internal features, and final face-up appearance.
After careful inspection and planning, the stone was cut and polished by Mr. Jayanath into a beautiful oval shape. The final certified gemstone weighs 2.13 ct and measures 8.68 × 6.64 × 4.59 mm. The finished stone was certified by Colored Stone Laboratory, memo number CSL-RIVO6I, identifying it as Natural Pink Sapphire, species Natural Corundum, color Pink, shape Oval, and treatment Unheated.
From a cutting perspective, this was a successful transformation because the customer’s target was to save above 2.00 ct, and the final stone reached 2.13 ct. That means the finished gem is 0.13 ct above the requested 2 ct target, while still maintaining a proper oval shape and certified natural unheated identity.
Weight Recovery & Cutting Mathematics
The original rough weight was 4.44 ct, and the final polished weight became 2.13 ct. The total weight removed during cutting was:
4.44 ct − 2.13 ct = 2.31 ct
The finished weight recovery percentage is:
2.13 ÷ 4.44 × 100 = 47.97%
So, approximately 48% of the original rough weight was saved, while around 52% was removed through pre-forming, shaping, faceting, polishing, and removal of unsuitable outer material.
Target Achievement
Customer requested: 2.00 ct plus
Final achieved: 2.13 ct
Extra above target: 0.13 ct
Percentage above 2 ct target: 6.5%
This is important because in gemstone cutting, saving a stone above a specific weight mark can add value, especially when the finished stone remains attractive, wearable, and certified as natural unheated sapphire.
The transformation also shows why rough-to-finished gemstone work requires experience. A rough sapphire may look simple from the outside, but the final decision depends on how the cutter reads the internal structure. If too much weight is saved without proper planning, the final gemstone may become too deep, too shallow, poorly shaped, or less attractive. If too much material is removed, the stone may become more beautiful but lose important carat weight. The real skill is balancing both sides.
In this case, the rough had enough depth and structure to support an oval cut. The cutter had to respect the original rough shape while adjusting the outline and pavilion to create a balanced finished gemstone. The result is a certified 2.13 ct unheated pink sapphire, with a practical oval shape suitable for collectors, jewelers, and custom jewelry buyers.
The color journey is also important. In rough form, the sapphire appeared slightly orangish pink to purplish-pink depending on light and viewing angle. After cutting and certification, the final gem was recorded as Pink. This shows how cutting, orientation, polishing, and light return can clarify the final visual identity of a gemstone. For natural sapphires, rough color and finished color can look different because the cutter changes how light enters and exits the stone.
Kahawatta is one of Sri Lanka’s well-known gem-related regions, connected to the island’s long history of sapphire mining and alluvial gemstone recovery. This stone carries that source story from the mining area to the cutting table, then to certification, and finally toward Hungary. That full journey is part of the value: not only the finished gemstone, but the transparent process behind it.
At Danushka Gems & Minings, this is the real work behind source-connected gemstone supply. We do not only sell stones after they are finished. We source rough, inspect the material, plan the cutting direction, arrange skilled lapidary work, check the final result, and provide certified gemstones for international buyers. This project is a clear example of how a natural Ceylon sapphire rough can be transformed with careful planning into a documented finished gemstone.
From 4.44 ct rough to 2.13 ct certified unheated pink sapphire, this gemstone represents more than weight recovery. It represents source knowledge, cutting judgment, customer requirement, Sri Lankan lapidary skill, and the journey of a natural sapphire from rough alluvial material to a polished gem with identity and purpose.
FAQ
1. What was the original rough weight of this sapphire?
The original rough sapphire weighed 4.44 ct and measured 10.1 × 6.7 × 5.8 mm.
2. Where was the rough sapphire sourced from?
It was sourced from Kahawatta village around mining in Sri Lanka by Danushka Gems & Minings.
3. What was the finished weight after cutting?
The finished gemstone weighs 2.13 ct.
4. What was the weight recovery percentage?
The weight recovery was approximately 47.97%, meaning about 48% of the original rough weight was saved.
5. How much weight was lost during cutting?
The cutting loss was 2.31 ct, which is approximately 52.03% of the original rough weight.
6. Did the finished stone meet the customer’s target?
Yes. The customer wanted to save above 2.00 ct, and the final stone reached 2.13 ct, which is 0.13 ct above the target.
7. What shape was the finished gemstone cut into?
The finished gemstone was cut into an oval shape.
8. Is the finished sapphire heated?
No. According to the CSL memo, the finished gemstone is Unheated.
9. What does the certificate identify the stone as?
The CSL memo identifies it as Natural Pink Sapphire, species Natural Corundum, color Pink, shape Oval, weight 2.13 ct, and treatment Unheated.
10. Who cut the gemstone?
The cutting and polishing were completed by Mr. Jayanath.
11. Where is the finished gemstone going?
This custom cutting project was prepared for Mr. Leve in Hungary.