Welcome to Lunariagems!

It is indeed a pleasure to showcase in this occasion an ultra rare Colombian Mercaderes opalescent sapphire, A gem that feels like holding a piece of the cosmos

This 3.84 Ct no-heat opalescent sapphire from Colombia glows with an otherworldly light—shifting hues of blue and green that echo distant galaxies and nebulae. Cut in a unique freeform style, every angle reveals a new dimension, like staring into outer space itself.

Untreated. Unrepeatable. Unforgettable.

Gem: Colombian sapphire

Origin: Mercaderes, Cauca, Colombia

Color: Opalescent Yellowish Blue

Shape: Free-form style

Dimensions: 9.49x6.76x6.21mm

Cut/Polish/Symmetry: Good

Weight: 3.84 Ct

Treatment: None

Price per carat: 750 USD

Price: 2880 USD

WHAT IS AN OPALESCENT SAPPHIRE?

You’ve probably heard of traditional blue sapphires—but opalescent sapphires are a whole different vibe. These stones are known for their soft, glowing appearance that shimmers with a subtle inner light. Think milky tones, iridescent hues, and flashes of color that change with the light. It’s like capturing moonlight in gemstone form.

So, what exactly makes a sapphire opalescent? It all comes down to how light interacts with the internal structure of the stone. These sapphires often contain tiny inclusions—specifically silk (titanium rutile inclusions)—that scatter light, giving them a soft, misty look rather than a sharp sparkle. The result is a dreamy, ethereal gem that feels both grounded and otherworldly. In fact, if a sapphire contains enough of this silk, it can form a star-like pattern on the surface when cut properly, making it a star sapphire.

WHY CHOOSE AN OPALESCENT SAPPHIRE?

We get it—there are a lot of options out there when it comes to gemstones. But if you’re looking for something that’s unconventional, romantic, and a little mysterious, opalescent sapphires check all the boxes.

THEY’RE UNIQUE BY NATURE

No two opalescent sapphires look exactly alike. Some might lean more translucent, while others glow with pearly, pastel hues. If you want a stone that feels as one-of-a-kind as your love story, this is a great place to start.

THEY PAIR BEAUTIFULLY WITH ORGANIC DESIGNS

Because of their soft, natural glow, opalescent sapphires look stunning in earthy, bohemian, or nature-inspired ring designs.

DURABLE ENOUGH FOR EVERYDAY WEAR

Sapphires are a 9 on the Mohs hardness scale, which means they’re second only to diamonds when it comes to durability. So even though they look delicate, opalescent sapphires are a great choice for engagement rings and wedding bands.

WHAT COLORS DO OPALESCENT SAPPHIRES COME IN?

While many have a soft white or bluish tint, opalescent sapphires can also show flashes of pink, lavender, gold, or even pale green. The lighting plays a big role—some stones look completely different indoors vs. out in the sun.

This makes them endlessly intriguing and super versatile when designing a custom piece.

Our Colombian sapphires are ethically sourced using artisanal techniques, only collected from the river beds, by “guaqueros” or independent miners, This deposit continues to produce in small quantities, with most material extracted from riverbeds using picks and shovels. Independent miners collect year-round and go to Bogotá to sell the material. The corundum mines of Colombia are located in the southern part of the Cordillera Central, specifically in the Mercaderes - Rio Mayo region. These corundum occurrences are found in the alluvial deposits of the Rubi, Guabo, Paloverde, Limoncito, Chenequeta, Cocal, Monteoscuro, Monserrate and Honda streams, where the material from the Granatifera Tuff is eroded. The corundums show surface features indicating transport, corrosion and mechanical abrasion. These materials are not likely to be cogenetic with the lamprophyric host, but are possibly crustal fragments accidentally incorporated into the eruption magma. The presence of rutile and almandine - pyrope as crystalline inclusions within the corundums, and the existence of augite, kyanite and hercynite suggest a metamorphic origin possibly associated with the granulite xenoliths found in the Granatífera Tuff.