Bangkok Blue Sapphire (Neelam Stone) 5.74 Carat (6.31 Ratti) Oval Cut
SKU: LOT-SLIP-174
Gemstone & Physical Specifications
Details of this stone, with the standard gemological properties of its species.
- Weight
- 5.74 Carat (≈ 6.31 Ratti)
- Shape / Cut
- Oval Cut
- Treatment
- Heat treated & Glass filled
- Hardness
- 9.0
- Conclusion / Identification
- Blue Sapphire (Corundum)
- Dimensions
- 11.2 x 9.1 x 5.0 mm
- Origin
- Bangkok (Thailand)
- Color
- Blue
- Refractive Index (R.I.)
- 1.76 - 1.77
- Certification Lab
- Neel Gems Testing Lab
Detailed Product Description
This Bangkok Blue Sapphire (Neelam Stone) weighs 5.74 carat (6.31 ratti) and measures 11.2 x 9.1 x 5.0 mm, with a blue colour and an oval cut. It has been heated and glass-filled, and it comes with an authentic gem lab report from Neel Gems Testing Lab included free, which identifies it as blue sapphire.
Blue sapphire, known in India as Neelam (also spelt Nilam), is the blue variety of corundum, a colour that traces of iron and titanium give the mineral. In the Indian gem trade, Bangkok is the name for corundum of this kind, after the Thai gem-trading centre where much of the world's corundum is treated and traded: it describes how the stone was processed, not where it was mined. Heating improves the colour, and glass fills fine fissures that reach the surface so that they show less. This is why a Bangkok Blue Sapphire shows a rich colour at a fraction of the price of an untreated stone.
Appearance
This stone's report records its colour as blue. Blue sapphire can show inclusions, fine silk, colour zoning or small variations in shade, and in a glass-filled stone the filled fissures can show a blue or orange flash and small gas bubbles under magnification. The photos and video show this stone's own colour, cut and character.
Traditional Use
In Vedic astrology, blue sapphire (Neelam) is traditionally associated with Saturn (Shani), and it is one of the nine gems of the Navratna. Many of our customers wear a Bangkok Blue Sapphire on their astrologer's or Pandit ji's advice; views on treated stones differ, so customers buying for astrological use usually ask their own astrologer or Pandit ji whether a heated, glass-filled blue sapphire is right for them. Blue sapphire is also the September birthstone.
Care
Corundum is 9 on the Mohs scale, but the glass that fills this stone's fissures is much softer, so a little gentle care keeps it looking its best. Wipe it with a soft, damp cloth, dry it with a lint-free cloth, and store it apart from diamonds and other stones. Keep it away from ultrasonic and steam cleaners, household acids such as lemon juice and vinegar, bleach, ammonia and detergents, and take it off before sport, housework or using cleaning products. Before any setting, resizing, repair or re-polishing, tell your jeweller it is glass-filled, so that it is kept away from the torch and the pickling solution.
Compare similar stones in our Blue Sapphire (Neelam) collection, or read the Blue Sapphire buying guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this Bangkok Blue Sapphire natural, and what treatment has it received?
Its lab report identifies it as blue sapphire. Blue sapphire is corundum, the mineral of every ruby and sapphire, and the word "natural" on the report means it is not synthetic. Like every Bangkok Blue Sapphire we sell, it has been heated and glass-filled, and we say so openly: heating improves the colour, and glass fills fine fissures that reach the surface so that they show less. It is sold as a treated stone, not an untreated one, which is why it offers a rich colour at a fraction of the price of an untreated blue sapphire.
What does Bangkok Blue Sapphire mean in this listing?
In the Indian gem trade, Bangkok is the name for heated, glass-filled corundum of this kind, after the Thai gem-trading centre. It describes how the stone was processed, not where it was mined.
Why are Bangkok Blue Sapphires so widely chosen?
A Bangkok Blue Sapphire gives a rich blue colour in a good size at a fraction of the price of an untreated stone. It is a popular choice in India, and many of our customers wear one on their astrologer's or Pandit ji's advice. Being glass-filled, it simply needs the gentle care described above.
Which planet is Neelam associated with?
In Vedic astrology, Neelam is traditionally associated with Saturn (Shani). This is a traditional belief, not a promise of any result. Views on treated stones differ, so customers usually ask their astrologer or Pandit ji whether a heated, glass-filled blue sapphire is right for them.
Can this Neelam be set in a ring or pendant?
Yes. At 11.2 x 9.1 x 5.0 mm it suits a ring or pendant. Share the dimensions with your jeweller and say that it is glass-filled, so that the setting is made without a torch or pickling solution on the stone.
More from Blue Sapphire (Neelam Stone)
Customer Reviews
Verified feedback across our certified Blue Sapphire (Neelam Stone) collection. Because each natural gemstone is rare and one-of-a-kind, reviews reflect genuine patron experiences with this gemstone family.