Appreciating gemstones for their natural beauty is a passion. Their appeal lies in the fact that each is as distinctive as any human, plant, or animal.

A 5.5 carat oval cabochon blue sapphire embodies everything a non-heated gemstone entails. Nearly every one of them shows its personality in a variety of ways.

Its unique coloration, internal inclusions, and variations, color zones, shape, and size, it is all part of its imperfect perfection.

This sapphire holds a subtle variety of medium to lighter blue hues, from Ceylon to almost lilac.

Viewing it closely reveals layers of hues, a tiny dark inclusion (remarkably a visible clue to its unheated state), silk, and luster.

It is set into 14k yellow gold with sinuous intertwining designs and two old European cut diamonds for dashes of shimmer. The later restored shank is 10k gold.

Art Nouveau, it dates to around 1910 and rests low on the finger.