sapphire

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GIA-certified 7.56 carat sapphire and trillion cut diamond ring in platinum

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)
Routine Treatments:  Heating
Additional Enhancements:  Diffusion, fracture filling, dyeing

SHOP SAPPHIRE JEWELRY

sapphire facts

Damiani 18K gold necklace set with a 6+ carat pear shape sapphire and diamonds

Did you know that out of hundreds of gemstones that have been discovered, only 4 are considered "precious gems"?  Precious gems include diamond, ruby, emerald, and...you guessed it... sapphire!


Sapphire is a 9 out of 10 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness, second only to diamond.  In addition to their beauty, sapphire's resistance to scratching makes them great candidates for "everyday jewelry".
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Over 95% of sapphires are heat treated to improve their color.  Untreated natural sapphires are more rare, and more valuable than treated sapphires of similar quality.
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​Historically, the most valuable sapphires are of Kashmir origin.  Kashmir mines were only mined for about 5 to 10 years before supply was completely depleted, and have been closed for over 100 years!  Kashmir sapphires can be intensely saturated and have a sleepy, velvety appearance due to their rutile inclusions. 
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Sapphire mines in Sri Lanka (Ceylon) and Myanmar (Burma) also produce very beautiful and very valuable sapphires.

Sapphire is a timeless gem that has been worn by celebrities as well as royalty.  Queen Elizabeth II's Royal Crown Jewels contained a 104-carat cabochon sapphire.

Princess Diana was gifted a beautiful sapphire brooch by her mother, which she had converted into a remarkable sapphire, diamond, and cultured pearl 7-strand choker necklace.

As a wedding gift from the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Princess Diana was given a sapphire and diamond necklace with matching earrings, which she was photographed wearing on multiple occasions.

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

SAPPHIRE INCLUSIONS

SAPPHIRE TREATMENTS

SYNTHETIC SAPPHIRES

STAR SAPPHIRES

Sapphire Gallery

​All photos courtesy of Scott Papper, GIA GG, AJP, CMA (NAJA)

fancy color sapphires

Emerald cut diamond and pink sapphire three-stone platinum ring

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.

PADPARADSCHA SAPPHIRE

1.38 ct. untreated natural Padparadscha sapphire and diamond ring

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.
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2.03 ct. untreated natural Padparadscha sapphire and diamond ring

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