The Crestonne Journal · Page 4
Plain guides written at the source: how sapphire quality is judged, how to read a lab report, what a fair price per carat looks like, and how a stone gets from Ratnapura to you.
Start with the Ceylon sapphire guide →54 articles · page 4 of 5
Ethics & Sourcing10 min read
Most ethical gemstone certifications were built for diamonds and large industrial mines, not Sri Lankan sapphires. Here is what each one actually covers, and what to ask a dealer when no scheme fits.
Ethics & Sourcing10 min read
Sri Lankan cutters work by eye, prioritise weight and colour over symmetry, and use slow hand-driven laps. Here is why their finished sapphires still beat any factory cut.
Understanding5 min read
Ceylon sapphire sits at Mohs 9, second only to diamond. Yes, it is hard enough for daily wear. Here is what that actually means over decades on the hand.
Understanding6 min read
Cleaning a Ceylon sapphire ring at home takes three minutes and a soft toothbrush. Here is the safe method, when ultrasonic cleaners are fine, and what to actually avoid.
Specialty Stones8 min read
Ceylon cat's eye chrysoberyl is the international benchmark for chatoyancy. Here is how the eye forms, what separates a top stone from a commercial one, and what Sri Lankan material is really worth.
Specialty Stones7 min read
Sri Lanka produces the world's finest moonstones. Here's what makes the blue sheen variety so rare, how adularescence forms, and what to evaluate before you buy.
Specialty Stones11 min read
A Sri Lankan star sapphire shows a sharp six-rayed star because microscopic rutile silk inclusions align along three crystal axes. Here is how asterism forms, what separates a great Ceylon star from an average one, and why the Star of India still sits at the top of the category.
Specialty Stones10 min read
Spinel is a separate mineral from sapphire, but for centuries the two were confused in royal jewelry. Here is how to tell them apart, why spinel commands a fraction of sapphire's price, and why Sri Lankan red spinel is one of the most undervalued natural gemstones today.
Buying Guides12 min read
Blue sapphire engagement rings balance romance, heritage, and genuine everyday durability. Here is how to pick the color, carat, cut, setting, and certification that will still look right decades from now.
Understanding9 min read
A GIA sapphire report confirms what a stone is, how it has been treated, and in many cases where it came from. Here is a field-by-field walkthrough, plus the red flags to watch for when a report arrives with a stone.
Buying Guides14 min read
Ceylon sapphire prices span a wide range in 2026. Here is the realistic price per carat by size, treatment, and certification, plus the red flags that signal a stone is priced too low to be genuine.
Specialty Stones8 min read
The padparadscha is the rarest sapphire variety on earth, defined by a specific blend of pink and orange found almost exclusively in Sri Lanka. Here is what qualifies, what it costs, and what to watch for.
New stones and guides, straight from the source. Written rarely, and only when there is something worth saying.