Where a sapphire is born shapes its character — and its value. Few houses can speak to origin the way we can: our sapphires travel a mine-to-market, vertically integrated supply chain from our own Ceylon mines to your hands, assessed in-house by our FGAA-qualified Gemmologist.
Ceylon (Sri Lanka) — the island of gems
Two thousand years of sapphire history and the world's most luminous blues, plus pinks, yellows and the rare padparadscha. This is our heritage — three generations of it. Explore Ceylon sapphires and Ceylon sapphire rings, and step inside our workings in Echoes from the Mine — our documentary series.
Australia — the southern powerhouse
The basalt fields of Inverell and Anakie produce inky blues, golden partis and peacock teals of remarkable character. Read our guide to Australia's sapphire fields and Ceylon vs Australian sapphires compared, then browse Australian sapphires.
Kashmir, Burma & Madagascar
Kashmir's velvet blues and Burmese royal blues command legendary prices at auction; Madagascar is the important newcomer. Our gemmologist compares them all in Kashmir, Burma, Ceylon, Madagascar: origins compared — and some of history's greatest stones appear in Famous Sapphires.
How origin is determined
Origin is read from inclusions, growth patterns and trace-element chemistry — the fingerprints of geology. It begins with how sapphires form over 400 million years, and it is verified through certification: see how to read a gemstone certificate and our guarantee.
Continue your journey
Pair this with our Colour Guide, Treatments & Heating Guide and Price Guide — or enquire about origin-certified stones from our vault.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Ceylon sapphire?
A Ceylon sapphire is a sapphire mined in Sri Lanka, historically called Ceylon — an origin famed for two thousand years for luminous, bright blue stones as well as fine pinks, yellows and padparadschas.
Where do the best sapphires come from?
Kashmir and Burmese sapphires command legendary auction prices, Ceylon (Sri Lanka) is renowned for luminous blues, and Australia produces distinctive teal, parti and inky blue stones. 'Best' depends on the colour and character you seek.
How is a sapphire's origin determined?
Gemmological laboratories read a stone's inclusions, growth structures and trace-element chemistry — the fingerprints of the geology that formed it — to give an origin opinion on a certificate.
Are Australian sapphires good quality?
Yes. The basalt fields around Inverell and Anakie yield sapphires of remarkable character — deep blues, golden partis and peacock teals — increasingly sought after worldwide.
Why does origin affect a sapphire's price?
Origin carries rarity and reputation premiums: a fine Kashmir or Burmese stone can be worth multiples of a similar stone from elsewhere, and certified Ceylon origin adds a premium to fine blues.
Written & gemmologically reviewed
Anna — FGAA-qualified gemmologist, Ministry of Gems®, Sydney. Anna assesses every stone the house offers, in person, before it is listed.
Reviewed August 2026 · corrections and questions welcome — write to our gemmologist. Every stone we sell carries full treatment disclosure, a Digital Gemstone Passport and free lifetime re-authentication; our current disclosure is public in the Treatment Register.