Project 04 - The Inner Garden - 18.53 cts
Gem Type: Natural Sapphire Corundum
Collection: The Uncut Reserve
Colour: Green / Teal
Rough Weight: 18.53ct
Shape: Natural Rough
Treatment: Unheated
Origin: Australia
Measurements:
Lab Certification: GIA after cutting
Potential Cutting Options: Oval, Cushion, Emerald Cut, or Pair of Rounds
Estimated Finished Weight: 6ct target (+2/-1ct) / Cut dependent
Estimated Finished Clarity: Eye clean to slightly included, depending on final cutting direction
Estimated Finished Tone: Medium dark
Expected Inclusions After Cut: Natural inclusions may remain visible under close inspection
This 18.53ct Australian sapphire rough was selected by The Sapphire Merchant for the colour concealed beneath its natural outer skin.
In its rough form, the stone appears dark and understated from some angles, with the quiet surface character often seen in Australian sapphire rough. Under light, however, the crystal opens to reveal a bright green to yellow-green body colour, with subtle teal undertones visible through parts of the stone. This contrast between the darker exterior and the colour held within is what gives Project 04 its story.
Offered as part of The Uncut Reserve, this sapphire gives the buyer the opportunity to enter the process before the stone is cut. Rather than choosing a finished gem from inventory, the client is invited into the transformation — reviewing the cutting possibilities, understanding the trade-offs, and helping guide the final direction of the sapphire.
This piece has been selected with two preferred cutting directions in mind: an emerald cut or a cushion. An emerald cut could create a refined, architectural sapphire with clean lines and a more elegant presence, provided the internal structure allows. A cushion may offer a softer and more romantic finished shape, with greater flexibility to preserve weight, manage tone, and work around the natural features of the rough.
The final cutting direction will be chosen after careful assessment of the crystal. The goal will be to reveal the strongest colour possible while balancing beauty, clarity, durability, and weight retention. Because this sapphire shows both darker natural skin and brighter colour beneath the surface, orientation will be especially important in determining the final tone and appearance of the finished gem.
As with all natural sapphire rough, the final result cannot be guaranteed before cutting. Finished weight, shape, colour, tone, clarity, and inclusion visibility will depend on the internal structure of the crystal and how it responds during preforming and faceting. The Sapphire Merchant will guide the process with the aim of creating the most beautiful and considered finished sapphire possible.
This is not simply a rough sapphire. It is a private sapphire commission — a natural Australian crystal with green light held beneath the surface, selected for its potential and shaped through expert cutting.
Reserve Project 04 and begin the journey from rough to finished sapphire with The Sapphire Merchant.
All New Zealand orders shipped by NZ Post Courier Service
All international orders shipped by FedEx
See our Shipping Policy for more details
See our Return and Refund Policy for more details
-
Estimated Delivery:Jun 27 - Jul 01
-
Free Shipping within New Zealand, and on all
international orders over $4000 NZD
Project 04 - The Inner Garden - 18.53 cts
Create Your Perfect Ring
- Select your Gemstone. Purchase through our website and begin your custom jewellery experience.
- Share your design idea. We will work through the details with you to better visualise your concept, including the ring style, gold colour, and diamond detailing. We can also make earrings and pendants. Our talented designer creates a life-like computer-rendered drawing of your jewellery concept from this information. Edits can be made to perfect the design and a quote is given upon the finalised design.
- We will craft your custom ring. You will receive a beautiful custom jewellery box, along with certifications and reports verifying the quality and authenticity of your piece.
Recently Viewed Products
“The sapphire is the most beautiful of all blue stones, and the most sovereign for the eyes.” - Anselmus de Boodt, 1609 (Royal gem physician to Rudolph II)
Australian Sapphires
Australian sapphires are prized across Australia and New Zealand because they are unearthed from the red soil beneath us. Mined from the historic sapphire fields of New South Wales and Queensland, including Inverell, Glen Innes, and Anakie, these natural sapphires display a rich spectrum of deep blue, teal, green, yellow, and the highly sought-after Australian parti sapphire. Formed in basalt lava flows millions of years ago, Australian sapphires are renowned for their inky colour saturation, making them an ideal choice for engagement rings and custom sapphire designs.
Commercial sapphire mining in Australia began in the late 1800s, with the country becoming one of the world’s leading sapphire producers throughout the 20th century. Today, Australian sapphire mining is heavily regulated, with strict environmental management and land rehabilitation standards in place, a key consideration for ethically minded jewellery buyers in Australia and New Zealand. Valued for their ethical sourcing, durability, and bold natural colour, Australian sapphires remain a favourite among custom jewellery clients across Australasia seeking gemstones of integrity and enduring beauty.