Sapphire (bi-color crystals) on matrix

Item Description

These specimens date back to the early 2000s, and are some of the most beautiful matrix Sapphires to come from any locality in many years. The pieces from Amboarohy have textbook euhedral form, with sharp faces and excellent luster, but perhaps the most alluring aspect is that the crystals are rather colorful as well. This small cabinet specimen features a few sharp, rather lustrous, prismatic, purple and pink bi-color Sapphire crystals measuring up to 2.1 cm long which are smartly sitting on nearly black shimmering Mica matrix. The crystals are in good shape for the most part, with only a little roughness here and there, and it should be noted that the main crystal on the piece is actually doubly-terminated. We haven't had many of these to offer in the last few years in the auctions and in terms of size and quality, this is a very nice example well-known and now very hard to find Corundums from Madagascar. It's important to stress that the crystals are rather lustrous and sharp, which is not often seen in matrix Corundum specimens as the crystals can often be rounded and dull. Just the fact that the crystals are on matrix is important, but the fine quality really pushes it to another level. Lastly, in my experience virtually all of the Sapphires from this area display a color-change from sun to indoor lighting. As you can see here in the photos, the crystals are purple with pink highlights, but they change to a more of a solid blue color in sunlight. They also show good fluorescence as well. A great display piece from this isolated discovery, from which no more pieces have been found for a decade now. It wasn't the easiest piece to photograph and for what it's worth I think it looks better in person. We have a value of $1,200 in the inventory for this piece.