There is one common gemstone among most jewelry lovers I have met and talked to. The first time I set my eyes on it I was awed by its sheer beauty, a magnificent 2.13 carats, Emerald cut, blue Sapphire. It was the first time I really thought about wearing jewelry for myself, and not just for selling. I was amazed by the clarity, the color, the transparency of the stone; it looked too perfect. At the time, deep blue was my favorite color, I had just bought a car (in blue) and thought how great that stone would look in a ring. I still think about it now and then, problem I wouldn’t have if I had made up my mind before the jeweler sold it to someone else the very next day I laid my eyes upon it.
Ever since, I have been curious about this gemstone, and I have seen many different pieces adorned by its unparalleled versatility. This stone comes in all the colors you can imagine, except red. Why not red? Because there is no such thing as a red sapphire, it is called a ruby. Rubies and sapphires share the same chemical composition (aluminum oxide, or corundum), with one little exception: rubies have mostly traces of chromium and sapphires can have traces of chromium and other elements such as iron, titanium, vanadium, and magnesium. The amount of chromium determines how pink or red a corundum stone will turn out to be; therefore, it is mostly present in rubies (red) and in smaller amounts in pink sapphires.
Story and beliefs
Sapphires receive their name from the Greek word “Sapphirus”, which means “blue”. It is the birthstone for the month of September, and it is one of the hardest gemstones next to moissanite and diamond. It is a stone surrounded by a myriad of stories and beliefs.
There are mentions of sapphires in the bible, considering it as the seventh stone that the lord used to beautify his creation (Lucifer) before falling from grace: “Sappiyr” in Hebrew, means “beautiful or fair”. Ancient civilizations believed that sapphires could protect the user from poisons and fever. In Hebrew lore, sapphires were a symbol of sincerity and royalty. It was mentioned as a representation of the Lord’s divine nature. Ancient Greek civilizations believed that, because of its blue color, the world was set upon a giant sapphire and the sky was its reflection. It was also considered a spiritual stone, that granted the wearer the ability to see with their third eye.
It fascinates me how the beauty of some gemstones provokes captivating thoughts and stories that are passed down among generations. Regardless of their veracity and feasibility, none can argue that sapphires hold genuine beauty. Because of their hardness, appearance and diversity in colors, sapphires have come to adorn a myriad of pieces, ranging from single-stone rings, pendants, and earrings to multi-colored bracelets.
Color
Sapphire’s most cherished color is blue, although it can come in different colors, including colorless sapphires. When a sapphire has a color different than blue, it is called a fancy sapphire. Like all the colored gemstones, a sapphire’s color can be classified by its tone, hue, and saturation.
A blue sapphire’s hue can be deep blue or a lighter variety of the color. Blue sapphires often come with secondary hues, which are commonly green and violet; however, the primary hue remains blue and stones with pure blue (lacking a secondary hue) fetch the highest prices. It is a common rule that colored gemstones must have a balance in tone to allow for increased brightness, a desired hue depending on the stone (in this case deep blue) and vivid saturation (the intensity of the hue).
In the case of colored sapphires, it depends mostly on personal preference; tone, hue, and saturation still apply; moreover, they are less valued than blue sapphires, with a few exceptions. Pink sapphires of deep, vivid, pink color can fetch high prices depending on the color classification and its size. “Padparadscha” sapphires have both orange and pink hues and are the rarest among naturally colored sapphires; the name comes from Sanskrit “padma ranga” which means “lotus colored”.
Star sapphires are those that display an appealing star pattern known as asterism. Rutile, the mineral commonly found in corundum as an inclusion, forms needle-like patterns inside the stone and in larger amounts can be seen as a star inside the sapphire. These gemstones are valued both in color and the aesthetic pattern of the inclusions (star pattern).
Most of the sapphires found in jewelry stores worldwide are heat treated. By heating sapphires under temperatures at over 1,000 °C for up to a few weeks, the rutile (TiO2) inclusions dissolve, increasing the clarity of the sapphire and the blue color through the titanium. This is an accepted treatment, and it will be disclosed in the stone’s certificate, which will also show if the stone is free of treatments. Another common treatment is lattice diffusion, in which heat and chemicals are used to diffuse an element into a stone to alter its color. The result could be a complete diffusion or a shallow one.
To make it simple, in terms of hue, ask yourself “what color is the stone?”; in terms of saturation, ask yourself “how much of this color is in the stone?”; in terms of tone, ask yourself “how dull or bright is the stone?”. This should make it simple when viewing colored gemstones in any category. In the case of concerns about treatments, or if you’re only looking for untreated sapphires, make sure to check the stone’s grading report from a reputable laboratory.
Clarity
All gemstones can be graded using GIA’s clarity grading chart. For gemstones other than diamonds, the grading goes from VVS to I3 (see clarity grading article for diamonds). Gemstones are also classified according to the number of natural inclusions they have, as some are naturally more included than others. GIA uses three different types according to the gemstones’ natural inclusions. Type 1 which includes stones such as morganite and tanzanite, Type 2 which includes corundum (rubies and sapphires) and alexandrite, and Type 3 which includes emerald and tourmaline. Combining the type with the standard clarity grading gives us more precision when reading a grading report. For example, a VVS ruby will have inclusions under magnification but be eye clean without it.
Cut, carat weight and price
The most popular cuts for sapphires are round, oval, and cushion. Because of their natural hardness, you can find them in almost any shape available! The cutter always makes sure that the final shape of the rough they are working with keeps as much weight and quality as possible, so the cut will vary depending on the rough size, color and quality.
The price of sapphires, like rubies, depends mostly on the color of the gemstone. Sapphires come in all hues, but the most popular one is blue and its variants. Kashmir blue sapphires fetch the highest prices per carat. It is difficult to put an exact cost on sapphires because not one stone is like another. However, you can expect to pay up to 10,000.00 USD per carat on high quality sapphires or much lower for medium to high quality.
Is it for you?
Colored gemstones like the sapphire bring life to the everything else you wear. Whether you’re wearing a blue sapphire or a fancy one, you can expect looks wherever you go. It is important to notice that blue sapphires tend to be perceived as more formal compared to the colored ones. Let the color express your personality; if you’re feeling energetic and creative don’t be scared to wear different colored sapphires to show how fun you are, if you’re feeling sweet and romantic wear pink sapphires in smaller pieces to show it. Never be afraid to wear what you feel like wearing and expressing your emotions. Let us know how you wear your sapphires. Which ones do you like the most? What other gemstones are you interested in?
Contact us by e-mail using our form below or sign up to leave a comment at the bottom of the page.
