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.

Irregular inclusions of unknown nature lying in the basal plane are seen in reflected light within this heat-treated Sri Lanka sapphire. These have sometimes been associated with beryllium diffusion, but are not diagnostic for it.
Internal diffusion is visible in this heat-treated blue sapphire from Sri Lanka.
This sapphire trapped in a yellow sapphire from Sri Lanka features inclusions of its own.
This sapphire inclusion in a yellow sapphire from Sri Lanka stands out in dramatic relief when viewed between crossed polars.
Sharp angular growth zoning in a heat-treated yellow sapphire from Sri Lanka.
When Sri Lankan yellow sapphires with exsolved particles are heat treated, magnesium exits the particles and creates yellow-producing trapped-hole color centers. The result is color concentration around the particles, a process termed “internal diffusion” by gemologist, John Koivula.
When Sri Lankan yellow sapphires with exsolved particles are heat treated, magnesium exits the particles and creates yellow-producing trapped-hole color centers. The result is color concentration around the particles, a process termed “internal diffusion” by gemologist, John Koivula.
Birefringent crystals light up between crossed polars in this Ceylon sapphire.
Birefringent crystals light up between crossed polars in this Ceylon sapphire.
An explosion of rutile silk and attached daughter crystals enliven the interior of this sapphire from Serendib.
A brilliantly iridescent fingerprint in a sapphire from Sri Lanka. Such healing patterns reveal the underlying atomic symmetry. In this case, the rectangular healing pattern shows that this fingerprint lies parallel to a prism face.
An iridescent secondary fingerprint inclusion in a pink sapphire from Sri Lanka. The healing pattern reveals the underlying atomic symmetry. In this case, the rectangular healing structure show that the fingerprint lies in the plane of the hexagonal prism (parallel to the c axis).

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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