What is sapphire

Because sapphires are available in so many colors, they are the most important and versatile of all the gemstones. Rubies and sapphires are said to be prized just under the level of diamonds because of their hardness.

Diamonds are listed as a ten in terms of hardness, sapphires as a nine. The attribute of hardness of the sapphire makes it a perfect choice for jewelry that needs to stand up to everyday wear, such as in rings or bracelets. Sapphires are usually given round or oval cuts but rectangular or square cuts are also possible. Fine sapphires are most available under two carats, but they can also be found in sizes from five to ten carats.

The color of a sapphire is created by various amounts of iron and titanium in the stone, the combination of which produce varying colors. Heat treatments have become common in recent years, as a way of improving color as the beauty of a sapphire is judged by the richness and intensity of its color.

The star sapphire reflects light, showing a glittering star with six points. These special stones possess the deep blue color of the finest sapphire. Sapphires also come in violet, dark gray, orange, yellow, pink, green and black, which tends to be relatively inexpensive. This stone is orange and pink simultaneously and can be very expensive. Blue sapphires come from Burma and Kashmir, where the blue tone is the most pure to the true spectral blue, and the stones tend to have a unique velvety luster.

Sapphires from Sri Lanka are a less deep shade, almost a pastel blue. Many sapphires also come from Australia , which are dark blue but with a slightly green undertone, as those from Thailand. These tend to be less expensive than those from Burma, Kashmir and Sri Lanka. Stones from the Mogok valley in Burma are very highly regarded, and many star sapphires come from there. Gems from Western Cambodia are also highly prized, but usually small. China and Nigeria produce dark stones and in the US, Montana sapphires are prized for their natural metallic blue color.

They are not subjected to any treatment, as sapphires are normally heat treated to eliminate impurities and enhance the color and clarity- this treatment is usually permanent. Caring for your Sapphire Jewelry Because of their hardness, Sapphires can be cleaned in almost any way.

Warm, soapy water is best, though you might also try ultrasonic cleaners and steamers. You can also try using water with a touch of ammonia in it.

If you have a fracture in your sapphire or own a star sapphire, do not use mechanical cleaning methods as a sapphire can shatter with one single blow, if hit sharply. Our experience with so many incorrect origin identifications from the laboratories have resulted in our company only buying stones that are:. We do state the origin of our sapphires based on where we purchase the material, but it is not a guarantee that the stone is in fact from that location.

To prove that reputable gem labs have a very hard time determining origin, we will be adding examples of contradicting results on the same sapphire.

Click here to see examples. The stones were in most cases exceptionally fine quality. For this reason the prices for Kashmir sapphires have been wildly valued. Prices can be 10 times the cost of a comparable blue sapphire from another country. Stones from Madagascar are very often described to look like Kashmir quality. Many stones are thought to be graded incorrectly by the laboratories as Kashmir sapphires, but actually come from Madagascar or even Sri Lanka.

Early 19th century jewelry and Kashmir sapphires played a large role together, and these stones are very beautiful indeed. We highly recommend Madagascar sapphires, as they can look identical to proven Kashmir sapphires. Of course true Kashmir sapphires exist and are documented in famous jewelry. But when a fine velvety Kashmir and fine velvety Madagascar sapphire are put side by side it can be very difficult to determine which is finer.

They are generally viable for commercial jewelry use only. They do produce fine rare sapphires on occasion that can be expensive, but this is not reliable production. Most blue sapphires coming from these locations normally have secondary color tones and need to be treated to be saleable. First, natural untreated blue sapphires are in a class of their own.

Either a sapphire is treated or it is not. This is the first consideration in determining value. There are so many types of treatments and alterations of sapphires that it is almost impossible to list them all. Prices for treated sapphires fluctuate and are not very consistent so it is impossible to put reliable value on them Please refer to our section on Treatments of Sapphires to see the extraordinary differences between natural and treated sapphires.

The second consideration in evaluating a blue sapphire is sheer beauty. In most cases beauty is agreeable from one person to the next.

Something stunningly attractive will always hold value and be in demand. A slight preference in color tone is normal from one person to the next. Normally these personal taste preferences should not be seen as better or worse. It is possible to lean towards a blue sapphire that is slightly darker in color or lighter in color depending on individual appeal.

You must love what you buy and it must have value. Uniform color, light reflection and clarity are all important in grading quality and price of sapphires. Prices of blue sapphires are dependant on whether they are treated or untreated, their color tone, saturation, the clarity of the sapphire, and size.

Loose sapphires are priced by the quality of the stone multiplied by the carat ct. Just as you would purchase fine fruit at a higher price per pound over lower quality fruit, sapphires are priced the same.

The finer the material the more it will cost per carat. A seasoned shopper of apples in a grocery store can tell you the high and low end range of apples by the pound, as can a seasoned shopper and buyer in sapphires. Small light blue sapphires approx. Price ranges for larger stones have a comparable price spread, so there is a very large price range for similar sized stones with very different color, clarity and cutting properties.

It is important that all of these determining factors are understandable so that pricing makes sense. As with most things, the more you learn the more comfortable and secure you will feel in making an informed decision when purchasing your sapphire jewelry. Until this time, fine pink sapphires were exceptionally rare and only found in a few locations in Vietnam, Sri Lanka and Burma. The recent find of fantastic quality and quantity in Southern Madagascar has allowed the popularity to explode.

Madagascar pink sapphires come in a full range of color tone from a very pale baby pink to a vivid almost magenta intense pink. Demand for the full tone spectrum is now equal. Madagascar is truly the leader of pink sapphires today. The quantity and quality are unrivaled by any other source.

Small sapphires under 1ct size are common, with most crystals having good clarity and uniform color. This makes it easy to identify a classic color associated with most Madagascar sapphires. Most of these pink sapphires have a medium vibrant pink color with an almost electric light reflection property.

For the first time, this unique color in sapphires is available in reasonably reliable supply. Most of these sapphires come out of the ground with good clarity as well, leaving the customary extreme heat treating to a minimum. But the color of these pink sapphires can have a secondary purplish color tone that can be slightly reduced by low temperature heating. There is great amount of detail of natural vs. Pink sapphires from Madagascar are treated in a far different manner than the traditional long term, high temperature heating of blue and yellow sapphires.

Blue and yellow sapphires are heated at extreme temperatures for a long period days at up to C with fluxes and other coloration additives. Madagascar pink sapphires, however, are heated at a temperature far, far lower C , where almost no internal characteristics of the stone are altered. Determining if a sapphire has been heated is normally a simple task done by a trained gemologist who is familiar with inclusions within sapphires.

When sapphires are heated at high temperatures the internal inclusions change drastically. Madagascar pink sapphires are heated for as little as five minutes at low temperatures where no internal inclusions are affected. Because no internal inclusions are affected it becomes VERY difficult to determine if a pink sapphire has been heated. High tech equipment can be used to detect trace mineral content changes within the stone. This type of equipment is very costly and only used by high quality laboratories.

It is still a new science and in many cases it can be impossible to determine if a pink sapphire from Madagascar has been heated. We have given multiple laboratories the same exact Madagascar pink sapphire for testing to determine if it had been heated or not. In many cases we were given conflicting results on the same stone from different laboratories.

One lab would determine that the pink sapphire was heated and the other would determine it had not been heated. The reputable labs do an excellent job in most cases, but results on heating vs. The examples above show that the same stone can receive completely different reports from two highly respected labs. The message here is that it is extremely difficult to determine if Padparadscha and Pink Sapphires have been exposed to low temperature heat treatments because so little change occurs in the stone.

Pink sapphires from Sri Lanka and other locations such as Burma are a different story. These stones are usually heated at very high temperatures along the lines of extreme heating done with the yellow and blue sapphires that are treated.

Burmese pink sapphires are commonly referred to as rubies since most rubies come from Burma. These were the first pink sapphires available up until the deposits in Madagascar were found. In Burma pink is considered a sub category of red, hence Burmese pink sapphires sometimes being referred to as rubies even if they have very little red tone. We do not refer to any pink stone as a ruby, as a ruby needs to be red by our standards.

Burmese pink sapphires are generally heavily included; most require heating to improve the clarity and color tone. These stones specifically are normally heated with fluxes glass materials, fillers and other additives.

We recommend Madagascar as the best choice for pink sapphires, as the color, clarity and little or no treatments give it the edge on all other producing countries. Pink sapphires are in high demand due to the extremely appealing color and excellent light reflection seen in these stones.

They have grown in demand to equal the demand of blue sapphires. A lighter pink should not be considered lower quality nor should an intense color be seen as a higher quality.

Although more intense colors are rarer than lighter pink tones, and hence more expensive, they are not necessarily more desirable than the lighter baby pink color. As with all types of sapphires, the greatest quality pink sapphire should have a uniform color, good cutting for maximum light reflection and little visible inclusions.

Size does play a large roll in the price of pink sapphires. One ct sizes are not very rare, and are normally available at reasonable prices. Large pink sapphires over 4cts are very rare. A steady supply is very difficult to predict. Stones larger then 7cts in fine quality are very unusual. Pink sapphires this large are far more rare than blue sapphires of the same size and can be extremely expensive. As discussed previously, low temperature heated pink sapphires should not be put in the same category as traditionally high temperature heated blue and yellow sapphires.

Blue and yellow heat-treated sapphires come out of the ground with little or no color or clarity resembling what they look like after they have been heated. We spend a great deal of time in our own company laboratory analyzing all our pink sapphires to ensure they are from Madagascar.

We take great care in studying the internal characteristics of the sapphire to see that it is unchanged from possible high temperature heating.

Our goal is to offer truly rare, fine quality and well priced sapphires. This is our only business. If you would like to discuss further exact scientific details on pink sapphires, please contact us. Yellow sapphires come in a wide range of tones and saturations. Very light canary to an ultra golden color tone show the wide range that fall under the classification of Yellow Sapphire. The most in-demand color tone is a medium vibrant canary yellow that will show good color and light reflection in all lighting conditions.

Yellow sapphires have one primary source of fine quality: Sri Lanka Ceylon. Almost all fine quality yellow sapphires seen today come from Sri Lanka. Other countries such as Australia, Thailand and Burma do produce some yellow sapphires, but, in most cases, with heavy secondary color tones.

Madagascar has just recently produced some fine stones, but in smaller quantities. Yellow sapphires are the most undervalued type of sapphire in our opinion. They are exceptionally rare in very fine intense colors. Even lighter soft yellow tones in smaller sizes are not steadily available.

Even though yellow sapphires are usually undervalued, they have been on a steady rise for many, many years. Their prices are far less when compared to similar pink and blue sapphires. Yellow sapphires are usually clean and very bright. The crystal is very attractive in most lighting conditions, from low evening light to strong direct sunlight. The recent growth in demand for fancy colored yellow diamonds has given great rise to the popularity of yellow sapphires as an affordable alternative.

Many yellow sapphires have a very close resemblance to yellow diamonds. A yellow sapphire faceted to look like a yellow diamond is strikingly similar in light and color reflection.

Viewed from a near distance the two stones are almost indistinguishable. Yellow sapphires are far more valuable if they have not been treated by high temperature heating. If a yellow sapphire has been heated at a high temperature these feathers are destroyed and are easily identifiable by a trained gemologist. It is very unusual for natural untreated yellow sapphires to not have any internal feathers, making them so easy to identify.

Yellow sapphires can be colored without high temperature heating through a method of irradiation. Irradiated yellow sapphires are not radioactive as some people might think, but these irradiated yellow sapphires will fade in color severely overa short period of time within a few months. We test our yellow sapphires for irradiation treatment as well.

We do this by various testing methods, such as exposing the stones to ultraviolet light. These tests will reveal if the yellow sapphire color has been created by irradiation treatment. Yellow sapphires play an important role in various cultures and especially for use in Vedic astrology. We supply a great deal of fine natural untreated pure yellow sapphires for astrological needs of important customers.

Yellow sapphires are widely believed to have great effects on their wearers according to Vedic astrological purposes. Natural untreated yellow sapphires are becoming increasingly rare, expensive, and popular. The prices continue to rise steadily. Light yellow stones under 1ct size are quite common and not very expensive. Fine intense color saturation, even in a 1ct size is quite difficult to produce on a consistent basis. These medium bright stones are still far less expensive than a comparable blue or pink sapphire.

In blue sapphires, which color is astrologically most effective? Blue sapphire color can mean different to a person buying it for jewelry and different for someone seeking it for astrological reasons.

Usually, deeply saturated blue color is considered ideal for best results and is recommended in majority of cases.

Indraneel stone, which is much darker, can be suggested. Likewise, the astrologer may recommend him to wear Mayur Neelam, which is another variety of blue sapphire carrying tints of blue and green. Khooni Neelam, the blue sapphire with red dot like inclusions, is recommended in very rare and extreme cases.

In other words, when there is no specific requirement for a blue sapphire color, deep-dark but bright blue sapphire is most effective. Can I wear Blue Sapphire and Diamond together? Yes, blue sapphire and diamond can be worn together. In vedic astrology, Saturn is associated with blue sapphire whereas diamond signifies planet Venus. These planets share cordial relationship and thus the combination of blue sapphire and diamond is considered auspicious in vedic astrology.

Emeralds also make a good astrological combination with blue sapphire. However, it is absolutely necessary to consult a trusted astrologer before wearing any combination of astrological gemstones to avoid any negative planetary influence. Can I wear Blue Sapphire in less carat weight? One can wear natural, untreated high-quality blue sapphire stone in lesser carats to receive its benefits.

Astrologers believe that a low weight but qualified blue sapphire yields much better results than an average quality stone of high carat weight. You can buy Neelam stone online from extensive collection at GemPundit covering different weights. Hide Filters -. Shopping Options. Price per Carat. Weight carat. Weight ratti. Cutting Style. Faceted Cabochon Product Type. Single Stone Pair Synthetic Sapphires created in labs exist due to the rarity and high cost of real sapphires.

Natural or rather unheated Sapphires are found in several colors, blue being the most recognized and popular color. Other colors include yellow, purple, orange, pink, brown, and green. There are also colorless sapphires, which can be used in place of diamonds due to their similarities.

Sapphires displaying a combination of colors exist as well. An additional special kind of sapphire is the star sapphire. As a result of the imperfections within the stone, the sapphire can display an asterism, which resembles a star, hence the name. Star sapphires are in a category of their own due to this unique feature. Such sapphires are incredibly rare and highly sought after. There are star rubies as well. The simple answer to this question is no.

Though rubies are the red form of corundum, as sapphire is the blue form and padparadscha is the pinkish-orange form, they are known by different names. It is imperative to point out that two of sapphires and rubies share the exact same scientific structure.

That means that a sapphire and ruby are actually the same type of stone. The only significant difference is that rubies have an exquisite red color. Only rubies with a strong red color are considered rubies while the lighter stones are known as pink sapphires.

The classic sapphire birthstone is blue, but the birthstone refers to all sapphires , leaving one to choose from an array of alluring sapphire colors. One with a sapphire birthstone can elect to wear a blue sapphire, green, yellow, brown, or pink. There is no denying the incredible beauty of a sapphire, whether it is blue, yellow, or colorless.

This highly durable substance available in a plethora of breathtaking colors makes for an irresistible jewel perfect for any piece or occasion. Like everything in life, there is always compromise and like everything else, different things appeal to different types of people.

So unless you are adamant and insist on getting the largest, highest quality sapphire with the best color and are able to afford it for that matter, it is recommended to think carefully what matters most to you.

Is it the size? The color? The shape? The quality?