What to Look for when buying Sapphire stone?

Introduction

Sapphire is one of the precious stones and one variety of Corundum mineral. The other variety of corundum is ruby gem which is also the part of top 4 precious stones. Sapphire is a durable stone and has been one of the favorits for jewelers for centuries because of their variety of colors, beauty and remarkable durablity. Sapphires have lot of colors, among which the blue sapphire color is the most popular color. This article explores the scientific aspect of sapphires along with gives you a comprehensive guidelines about buying sapphire stones. 

Consider Characteristics of Sapphire

While buying sapphire stones, there are various factors which contribute. However, here are pointed out some key factors which must be kept in mind before buying the sapphires.

Color: The Most Critical Factor

Color is the main factor which buyers would like to choose in sapphires. Color is further defined by tone, hues, saturation. One blue sapphires will have many color tone, saturations. The tone of color also determines the price thing. The more dark and open blue color will be, the more price of the sapphire will be high. 

• Hue: Hue is basic color of the sapphire. Blue sapphires are the most popular and common among sapphire buyers. Other colors of sapphires are called fancy color sapphires such as yellow, green, orange, pink, purple etc. Blue color also has various varieties such as velvet blue common in Kashmir Sapphires, Cornflower blue, vivid blue, light blue. 
• Tone: Tone of the stone describes that how much is the stone is light or dark in the color. Medium blue color will be preferred which means it should not be dark or more lighter in tone.  
• Saturation: Saturation highlights the intensity of the color. The high intensity will mean vivid and pure. Lower saturation gives pale  grayish hue, which is not desirable for the buyers. 
• Scientifically, the sapphire stone colors come by trace elements such as iron and titanium. These trace elements absorb specific wavelengths of light thus resulting into enhancement of the gemstone's color. Color is also affected by the internal inclusions and structure of the sapphire stone. 

How Much is the stone have Clarity?

Clarity of a gemstone refers to how much the stone has internal or external flaws which are known as inclusions. it is extremely difficult to find precious stones like sapphires completely free of inclusions. Having small inclusions or less visible flaws are referred to the higher-quality stone.

• Learn about Types of Inclusions, sapphires can have: sapphires with common inclusions normally have needle-like rutile crystals which are called " silk ". It comes out as star-like effect known as asterism if the corundum is cut into a cabochon. Other popular inclusions may be having bubbles or other mineral crystals.
• Evaluating Clarity: Sapphires clarity is determined by internal inclusions. Some sapphires have high inclusions. Some sapphires with less visible by naked eyes will be called " Eye Clean" stones. Other clarity levels are " I means " Included ", Si " Slightly Included", VS (Very slightly included), VVS (very very slightly included). Eye clean stones are observed under magnification. 

• Cut Quality: The facet of the stones should be precise and must be in symmetrical form. An excellent cutting quality increases the gemstone’s brilliance. Focusing on cutting equal size facets will balance the proportions.
• Shapes: Shape is another factor for choosing the sapphire. Shapes include the shapes in round, oval, cushion, emerald, and pear. It depends on the buyer's liking and disliking which shape he wants to choose. The popular shapes are round, oval and emerald cuts. 

What is size or carat weight of the stone?
The weight of the stone points out the size of the stone. Big pieces or larger size sapphires can be of more pricy and more valuable. The small size of the sapphire stone is considered less valuable.  

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What are Popular Type of Sapphires?

Sapphire is one kind of corundum. Corundum mineral is composed of alumiumn oxide. Various trace elements play role in giving the color to the sapphire. Here are some popular type of sapphires, one can have in mind before buying. 

Blue Sapphire:

Blue stones are popular due to their widely recognized color so this is the case with the blue sapphires. Blue sapphires are widely accepted and popular. Popular origins for blue sapphires are Kashmir, Ceylon and Burmese. Each has different color tone, brilliance and qualities. 

Uses: Blue sapphires are widely used in engagement rings. Other jewelry of blue sapphire is present in form of earrings, and necklaces. The sapphire durable appeal make them a favorite choice for fine jewelry.

Fancy Sapphires:

Fancy sapphires come in various and variety of colors such as yellow, green, purple, colorless. Rainbow sapphire jewelry is popular in fancy sapphires. Each color is also liked by people alone also. 

Pink Sapphires:

Pink sapphires also come in variety of pink range from Sri lanka and Kashmir. They have different hue, pink colors, pastel pink to intense pink colors. Ceylon sapphire pink color is popular in Padparacha sapphires. Whereas Kashmir pink sapphires are coming in intense purplish pink with red tone. 

Colorless Sapphires:

Colorless sapphires are also known as white sapphires. They are substituted to diamonds. They are less priced than diamonds and can be set in jewelry in replacement of diamonds.

Star Sapphires

Star sapphires adopts uqnique optical phenomenon which is called asterism. These type of sapphires contains needle-like inclusions. They reflect the light in a star-like pattern. They are cut into cabochon form. Star sapphires display a prominent star with a six-rayed pattern.

Padparadscha Sapphires

Padparadscha or peach pink sapphires are popular for their rare color. This color is mixture of pink and orange. The name "Padparadscha" is taken from the Sinhalese word for the aquatic lotus flower, which has a similar color. 

Natural vs. Synthetic Sapphires

Natural Sapphires: Natural or Earthly mined sapphires are extracted from the Earth. They take formation naturally over millions of years. Miners extract them from the mines by use of equipments, labor and other scientific procedures. They can be found in a range of colors and qualities. These type of sapphires can also have different treatments which can increase their color, clarity, hue, or appearance. The popular treatments are heat treatment, glass-filling or difusion. Treatments are further explained below. 

Synthetic Sapphires: Lab-created or man made sapphires are formed chemically which must be identical to natural sapphires. However these are grown in human controlled environments. These sapphires are more cheap and affordable. They are used in various commercially fashioned jewelry or other industrial uses. 

Popular Regions which affect the sapphire value

Sapphires are also popular due to their origins and geography. The geography also determines the value and characteristics of the stone. Ceylon sapphires are normally open color or light colors. Madagascar sapphires have darker tone. Whereas Kashmir Sapphires are popular due to their velvet colors. Here are popular origins for producing the world class sapphires. 

Kashmir Sapphires: Kashmir sapphires are popular for their deep blue color, velvet and often described as "cornflower blue." These Kashmir stones are considered as of high value due to their rarity. The Kashmir sapphires have the historical significance in mines, which are now inactive. However Kashmir from Pakistan side is producing purplish pink with velvet color sapphires which are gaining the international buyers' eye gradually. These Kashmir Sapphires are also known as " Batakundi Sapphires". These purplish pink sapphires have various pink, purple, red hue. In many cases, these sapphires are also reported as " Kashmir rubies" in many lab reports. 

Burmese (Myanmar) Sapphires: Burmese sapphires or Mynammar Sapphires are popular. These sapphires have rich blue color with a slight violet hue. Their value is determined because of their intensity and brilliance. Myanmar sapphire mines are still producing high-quality sapphires. 

Sri Lanka (Ceylon Sapphries): Sri Lankan sapphires are one of the most popular and recognized for their brilliant, open blue color stones, brightness, vibrant hues, ranging from blue to pink and yellow. Sri Lanka has a vast history of natural sapphire mining. These mines are offering a good quality and valuable. Padparacha sapphire is one of the most popular pink sapphire being produced from Srilankan sapphire mines. This sapphire is priced very high due to its unique peach pink color. 

Madagascar and Other Sources: Sapphires are also found in regions like Madagascar, Australia, and Thailand. These areas produce sapphires with varying qualities and colors, contributing to the gemstone's diverse market.

Considering Type of Treatments in Sapphires Before Buying

Mostly sapphire stones have to face treatments to increase their color and clarity. One must understand these treatments which are essential as they can affect the stone’s value and durability.

Heat Treatment: To treat sapphires, the most common process is to increase the color and clarity which is done by heat treatment. Sapphires stones are given heat at the high temperature. This procedure, by the use of high temperature, dissolves the internal inclusions or flaws. This dissolutions of flaws improve the overall appearance and look of the sapphire stones by increasing its color or clarity. Heat treatment is widely accepted by the buyers around the world. 

Diffusion: This type of treatment involves adding color or layer to the upper surface of the sapphire using a diffusion process. This type of treatment is not permanent. The color may go aways with the passage of time. 

Glass-Filled: Glass-filling is a process by which chemical is infused into the fractures of the stone by a the certain procedure. It increases the apparent look of the stone but glass filled sapphries are less durable. Such type of stones are sold at low price and used mostly in commercial level jewelry. 

Dyed: Sapphires stones may also be dyed in order to increase the colors. Dyed sapphires are considered as low quality and should be priced as cheaper than natural sapphires.  

Price Guide for Sapphire Blue Gemstones

Price factor of any stone is widely based on many things such as color, clarity, cut, carat weight, origins, treatments, natural or synthetic. Here are gneral price for natural sapphires.

• Low-End Natural Sapphires: This type of sapphires are small in sizes, have less color and clarity though they must be natural in order justify the price. Prices of low end sapphires can be started from $100 to $500 per carat.
• Mid-Range Sapphires or Medium Grade Sapphires: These sapphire stones must have good open color and eye clean clarity. Prices range can be from $500 to $2,000 per carat.
• High-End or High Quality Natural Sapphires: High-quality natural  sapphires having outstanding color and clarity along with originated from the world famous origins, can range from $2,000 to $10,000 or more per carat.
• Exceptional and Rare Natural Sapphires: Rare sapphires, particularly those from Kashmir or with having extraordinary characteristics, can go beyond $10,000 per carat.

Myths and Sapphire Birthstone Properties

Sapphires gemstones have been linked with various historical beliefs, myths and legend stories in many cultures and countries. Through the history, ancient Greeks used to take sapphire as their protection against envy. They also symbolize the wisdom, purity. These are used to be given special status by schoolmen or clergies. They used to wear it as a mark of nobility. 

Sapphire is the birthstone for September. Loyalty, wisdom, nobility is associated with those who are born in the month of September. Sapphire stones promote clarity and emotional balance. 

What Type of Sapphire Jewelry is Most Popular?

Sapphire jewelry is highly popular and widely liked by the buyers around the world. This is the mostly liked stones in female community on their special occasions such as wedding, engagements or others. Here are popular type of jewerly in which one can set the sapphire stones. 

• Engagement Rings: Sapphire gems are often used in engagement rings as an alternatives to diamonds. blue sapphire is the most videly chosen color of the sapphire for engagement rings. Other popular colors of sapphires for rings is rainbow sapphire stones. Different colors are set in ring in form of rainbow which gives outstanding beauty to the jewelry. 
  
• Sapphire Necklaces and Pendants: Sapphire pendants or necklaces present the gemstone’s beauty. Sapphires can be designed in various styles of pendants or necklaces.
  
• Earrings: Sapphire earrings are a popular choice for versatility. They are fixed into studs or drop earrings.
• Bracelets: Sapphires are also set in bracelets. The cal-liberated sapphire stones are set into bracelets such as tennis bracelets. 
  

FAQs

Does Treatment of Sapphire Affect Its Value?

Yes, treatments of any stone can affect the value of a gemstone so as the case is with sapphire. 100% natural sapphire will have high price factors involvements than the treated sapphires such as heated, diffused or glassfilled. Natural sapphires are accepted even with internal flaws and inclusions.

Though, Heat-treated sapphires are also acceptable around the world. Whereas diffused and glass-filled  stones can lower the stone's value. 

How to Know if a Sapphire is Real?

If you want to know whether the sapphire stone is natural, authentic and natural, you can check it from certification done from the gemological laboratory. You can also check the sapphire by use of basic gemstone identification tools such as Chelsea filter, UV Lights, refractometers and spectrometers knowing density. However, for advance testing, you can go to labortary for knowing the authenticity or treatment types. To verify a sapphire’s authenticity, check for certification from a recognized gemological laboratory.

What Are the Prices of Sapphires from Minimum to Maximum?

Prices are depending on quality. Lower-quality natural sapphires price start around $100 per carat, while high quality fine sapphires can exceed $10,000 per carat. Exceptional sapphire stones from renowned origins can command even higher prices.

Conclusion

Buying a genuine sapphire stone needs a thorough understanding of their color, clarity, cut, carat weight, origin, and treatment. One must educate themselves about the factors affecting the sapphire originality.  One must consult the popular gemstone dealers for selection of sapphires that fulfill your demands. 

Folkmarketgems offers a wide variety of natural sapphires from renowned regions such as Kashmir, Ceylon, and Myanmar. Our sapphire collection includes popular colors like pink sapphires, reddish-pink purple Kashmir sapphires, pastel-colored Kashmir sapphires, Kashmir blue sapphires, cornflower sapphires, as well as dark blue, light blue, yellow, purple, green, colorless, orange, red, and many more. We provide loose faceted sapphires for jewelry designers, raw sapphires for gemstone cutters, star sapphire cabochons, rough sapphire crystals, and a diverse selection of other sapphire stones.

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