The listing, 11.71 carats Untreated Blue Sapphire from Africa has ended.
Sapphire, with its hardness of 9 on Mohs hardness, is second only to diamond, which renders it one of the most valuable and wearable gemstones of all-time. Sapphire is a 'precious four' gem and offers superb brilliance and rich, vibrant colors. Although most sapphire is heated or enhanced in other ways to improve color, clarity and stability, unheated and completely untreated natural sapphire can still be found. Usually unheated sapphire gems are found only in small sizes, but occasionally, large, clean stones are uncovered too. Because unheated sapphire is such a rarity, they are indeed relatively expensive, particularly unheated top-color blue 'Ceylon' sapphire. Unheated, natural sapphire is mostly sourced from Africa, though Australia and parts of Asia are known to produce some fine materials too.