Burmese sapphire and diamond coronet cluster ring, circa 1880.

The ring is in excellent condition.

Few sapphires offer such a remarkable connection to the Earth’s geological history. Formed approximately 25 million years ago in the metamorphic rocks of Burma (Myanmar), this sapphire preserves evidence of geological events that began long before the gemstone itself took shape.
The renowned Swiss Gemmological Institute SSEF has recently introduced advanced analytical technology that allows scientists to investigate the geological age of gemstones. This highly specialised testing is only possible when certain mineral inclusions are present, with their nature and position within the gemstone being crucial to the analysis.
In this exceptional case, microscopic zircon inclusions have enabled radiometric age dating, revealing an age of approximately 40 million years. These ancient zircon grains predate the sapphire itself and were incorporated during its formation, offering a remarkable insight into the geological processes associated with the Himalayan orogeny.