A Sapphire Ring Fit for a Queen - $1.5 Million 69ct Royal Blue Sapphire Ring from The Natural Sapphire Company

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Apr 04, 2011, 09:45 ET

NEW YORK, April 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Natural Sapphire Company is pleased to announce the completion of the largest natural blue sapphire ring for sale on the market today.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110404/NY76121)

The 69.35ct natural blue sapphire is surrounded by sixteen 1/2 carat flawless diamonds totaling more than 8.00cts. This blue wonder is the largest sapphire ring ever created in the famous Princess Diana style. The ring is certified by 4 international gem laboratories, including the Gemological Institute of America. The original ring, featuring an oval blue sapphire under 20cts, has now passed to Prince William's fiance, Kate Middleton.

The 69ct natural blue sapphire originates from the famous gem mines of Ceylon (Sri Lanka). Ceylon sapphires were first introduced to the western world when the British colonized the island nation in the late 1700s. Kevin Fournie, gemologist and rare gemstone historian at The Natural Sapphire Company, stated, "The British are great explorers. They have a rich history with rare gemstones. It's only fitting that the new royal nuptials were sealed with a rare sapphire from Ceylon."

Michael Arnstein, the company's CEO declares, "This is the finest ring we've ever created in our 72 year history. It is a sight to behold… a jewel fit for a queen."

At 1.5 Million USD, it is the highest priced sapphire ring available for sale in the world.

Sapphire engagement rings of all colors have seen a rise in popularity over the past few years. With the growing public awareness of diamond cartels and market share monopolies, consumers are increasingly looking to sapphire engagement rings as diamond alternatives.

The Natural Sapphire Company was one of the first companies to see an influx of orders following the royal engagement. Within hours of William and Kate's engagement, the company's website server crashed and their phones were ringing off the hook. "Never in our company history did we experience such demand for sapphire engagement rings," says Michael Arnstein. "Demand has maintained at record levels since the end of November 2010 when the engagement was announced, making this the highest sold piece of sapphire jewelry ever."

While the company is featuring the million dollar ring, they also offer smaller versions priced from $1,000 to $100,000.

http://www.thenaturalsapphirecompany.com/Sapphires/Sapphire-Jewelry/Sapphire-Rings/Jewelry=J2565

http://www.TheNaturalSapphireCompany.com

SOURCE The Natural Sapphire Company