Ceylon Sapphire Inclusions

First Published: 7 September 2026

Ceylon Sapphire Inclusions

Explore Ceylon sapphire inclusions in Hyperion, the Lotus Gemology inclusion database. Hyperion contains photomicrographs of inclusions and internal features in natural sapphires from Sri Lanka (Ceylon), documented with information on treatment, lighting conditions, field of view, photographer and published references.

These melted snowball crystals with glassy discoids provide evidence of heat treatment in this Sri Lanka sapphire.
Unusual zone of strong chalky fluorescence in unheated Ceylon sapphire.
A black graphite crystals is encapsulated in one of these negative crystals in an unheated Sri Lankan sapphire.
Black graphite crystals are encapsulated in some of the negative crystals in this unheated Sri Lankan sapphire.
The surfaces of these negative crystals are glossy and smooth, showing signs of heating in this Sri Lankan sapphire.
Elongated negative crystal in a yellow sapphire from Sri Lanka.
‘Scuse me while I pierce the sky. A negative crystal cuts through a fingerprint against a sky blue backdrop in this unheated Sri Lanka sapphire.
Undissolved rutile silk makes a lovely surprise in this unheated sapphire from Sri Lanka.
Iridescent fingerprint in a sapphire. The rectangular healing pattern suggests that this fingerprint lies parallel to a prism face.
A classic scene in a Sri Lankan sapphire, where a secondary “fingerprint” surrounds a primary negative crystal. The basal pinacoid faces feature triangular growth markings, while the interior contains two v-shaped diaspore needles and black plates of graphite.
An iridescent healed fissure demonstrates the underlying atomic symmetry, suggesting this formed along a pyramid or rhombohedron face.
A deep orange plate of phlogopite mica drifts on a background of silk in this sapphire from Serendib. The undamaged nature of the mica and silk demonstrate that this stone has not been subjected to high-temperature heat treatment.

Ceylon sapphire inclusions may include mineral crystals, rutile silk, healed fissures, fluid inclusions, negative crystals, growth features and other internal features formed during or after crystal growth. Such features are important to gemologists because they can provide evidence useful in identifying sapphire and evaluating a possible Sri Lankan origin.

Ceylon Sapphire Inclusion Photomicrographs

The Hyperion Ceylon sapphire gallery includes microscopic features documented in sapphires from Sri Lanka (Ceylon). Each entry is accompanied by descriptive information and, where available, references to the gemological literature.

What Inclusions Can Reveal About Ceylon Sapphire

Inclusions are an important part of geographic origin determination in sapphire. Their form, composition, orientation and associations can provide evidence that, when considered together with other gemological properties, may support or contradict a Sri Lankan origin.

Hyperion combines inclusion photomicrography with supporting gemological information so that individual features can be compared with documented examples from Ceylon sapphires.

About Hyperion

Hyperion is the Lotus Gemology searchable inclusion database. It allows users to browse gemstone inclusions by gem type, geographic origin, treatment and keyword.

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