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.

When viewed in lightfield, it can be hard to tell a crystal from a negative crystal, as they have a similar appearance.
When crystals are viewed in crossed polars, it becomes easy to distinguish birefringent crystals from those that are singly refractive or are negative crystals.
An irregular crystal displays its birefringent nature when viewed in crossed polars.
An opaque crystal, likely iron sulphide, creates a striking image in this untreated Sri Lankan sapphire.
A beautiful iridescent fingerprint shines in this untreated Sri Lanka sapphire.
Long, unbroken needles of undissolved rutile silk is a common feature in untreated Sri Lanka sapphire like this one.
This conical crystal displays interference colors when viewed in crossed polars.
This conical crystal displays interference colors when viewed in crossed polars.
Oblique fiber-optic illumination reveals lovely iridescence in this secondary liquid inclusion in an untreated sapphire from Sri Lanka.
Unidentified sold crystals in a blue-violet sapphire from Sri Lanka. Careful examination shows that the larger crystal contains its own fingerprint inclusions.
In this sapphire from Sri Lanka, evidence of high temperature heat treatment can be found in this moiré-patterned fingerprint. The once-lovely lacy pattern of liquid droplets is now besmirched by circular “explosions,” where the pressure from heating caused ruptures in the microscopic negative crystals, thus deflowering Mother Nature’s exquisite work of art.
Some time after this Sri Lankan sapphire crystal grew, a fissure developed. Slowly the fissure healed shut, trapping liquid and gaseous carbon dioxide in this fanciful pattern of inward-facing crystal faces which we term negative crystals. When viewed with overhead lighting, this ancient scar lights up in a cascade of color. The symmetry of these voids mimics the underlying crystallographic symmetry of the sapphire because these are simply inward looking faces.

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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