SAPPHIRE

sapphire

Photo courtesy of Scott Papper, GIA GG, AJP, CM (NAJA), Global Gemology & Appraisals

Variety: Sapphire
Species: Corundum
Mohs Hardness: 9 out of 10
Color: Blue. Ranges from blue to violetish blue to greenish blue. (Sapphires occur in all colors, including colorless. Any other color outside of the blue color range is considered a fancy sapphire.)
RI: 1.762 to 1.770 (+0.009 / -0.005)
Birefringence: 0.008 to 0.010
SR/DR/AGG: DR
Clarity Type: Type II
Optic Character: Uniaxial negative
Pleochroism: Violetish blue & greenish blue
Spectrum: Strong bands at 450nm, 460nm, and 471nm with the 450 band being the strongest. Heat treated material may only show the 450nm band or no bands at all.
Fluorescence: Generally inert. Might fluoresce red to orange under LW. Weak chalky blue or yellowish green under SW may indicate heat treatment.
SG: 4.00 (+0.10 / -0.05)

SHOP SAPPHIRE JEWELRY

$10,000.00 $6,500.00

$5,500.00 $1,500.00

$7,500.00 $4,500.00

$10,000.00 $4,000.00

$15,000.00 $6,900.00

sapphire facts

6.77 carat natural sapphire and diamond necklace, by Damiani

Photo courtesy of Scott Papper, GIA GG, AJP, CM (NAJA), Global Gemology & Appraisals

Sapphires, along with emeralds and rubies, are considered one of the “Top 3” precious gems and command some of the highest prices per carat in fine qualities.

Over 95% of sapphires are heat treated to improve their color. Natural, untreated sapphires are more rare, and more valuable, than treated sapphires of the same quality.

Sapphire is a 9 out of 10 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness, second only to diamond. Their resistance to scratching, in addition to their beauty, is another reason why they’re so popular in jewelry.

Historically, the most valuable sapphires have been mined in Kashmir. These sapphires can be intensely saturated and have a sleepy, velvety appearance due to their rutile inclusions. Kashmir sapphires are so valuable partially due to their appearance, but also due to their rarity. Kashmir mines were only mined for about 5 to 10 years before supply was completely depleted, over 100 years ago!

Sapphires from Sri Lanka (Ceylon) or Myanmar (Burma) can also be very beautiful and valuable. Burmese sapphires are known for their royal blue color while Ceylon has been consistently producing some of the finest quality sapphires for thousands of years.

Sapphire is a September birthstone and is the 5th & 45th wedding anniversary gemstone.

Sapphire Gallery

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fancy color sapphires

Vintage platinum cocktail ring set with a natural fancy pink sapphire, round and baguette diamonds.

Photo courtesy of Scott Papper, GIA GG, AJP, CM (NAJA), Global Gemology & Appraisals

Fancy color sapphires occur in nearly all colors such as pink, purple, orange, yellow, green, colorless, black & padparadscha.

Padparadscha is a salmon or sunset color, and is the most valuable of all fancy colored sapphires.

Colorless sapphires are produced, synthetically, for practical purposes such as watch crystals and the window for supermarket scanners.

18K gold ring set with a ruby and sapphires of many different colors, including the prized padparadscha

Photo courtesy of Scott Papper, GIA GG, AJP, CM (NAJA), Global Gemology & Appraisals

PADPARADSCHA SAPPHIRE

Photo courtesy of Scott Papper, GIA GG, AJP, CM (NAJA), Global Gemology & Appraisals

Padparadscha is a specific color range in sapphires that is described as a salmon or sunset color. Stones of intense, vivid saturation can be extremely valuable, especially in larger sizes.