Learn About Sapphire
The most obsessed-over sapphire in the world is the 12-carat stunner on Princess Diana’s legendary engagement ring.
Sapphire
- Corundum
- 9 Mohs
-
Libra Virgo
- Truth, Sincerity, Loyalty
- September Birthstone
Round
Pear
Oval
Round
Pear
OvalOverview
Fascinatingly beautiful and exotic, sapphire has been held in high esteem since the ancient times. The rich color and breathtaking brilliance of this gemstone make it a popular choice among contemporary jewelry designers as well.
A ravishing alternative to diamonds, sapphires come in every color of the rainbow – right from deep blues to pretty pinks. This alluring gemstone derives its name from the Greek word sappheiros, which was probably used to refer to lapis lazuli.
1. Key Origin
- Burma, Kashmir, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Australia, Cambodia, China, Columbia and the US are some of the well-known sources of sapphires.
- Rare and strikingly beautiful Kanchanaburi alluvial-mined sapphires from Thailand are used in high-end sapphire jewelry.
2. Associations
- For several centuries, the sapphire, which is a symbol of wisdom and good fortune, has been associated with royalty.
- In addition to being the birthstone for those born in the month of September and the gem for the 5th and 45th anniversaries, sapphire is also regarded to possess calming and healing properties.
Properties
Rated 9 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness
01Hardness & Strength
Sapphires possess a trigonal crystal system and have a refractive index of 1.76 to 1.78. The stunning gem has a melting point of 2040°C. It has exceptional toughness and no cleavage at all, which refers to the stone’s tendency to crack when struck. Owing to its remarkable hardness, sapphire is used in non-ornamental applications as well. Some sapphires are pleochroic and display a different color when viewed from different angles.
02Treatment
Sapphires are usually heat-treated to intensify the color and to improve clarity. Heating also helps remove inclusions and makes the stone more transparent. Most sapphires available are heat treated. Those with natural, unheated color are extremely costly.
Know About Other Gems
Sapphire
"The most obsessed-over sapphire in the world is the 12-carat stunner on Princess Diana’s legendary engagement ring.”
- Corundum
- Every color but red
- 9 Mohs
- Libra Virgo
- Truth, Sincerity, Loyalty
- September
- Round
Pear
Oval
Know About Other Gems
Garnet
Don't garnets remind you of pomegranate seeds? Well, turns out their name actually comes from a Latin word that means pomegranate!
- Silicate
- Primarily red
- 6.5 to 7.5 Mohs
-
Capricorn Aquarius
- Love, Friendship, Passion
- January
Amethyst
Amethyst is love in a gem! St. Valentine too is believed to have worn an amethyst ring with Cupid’s image.
- Quartz
- Purple, Pale lilac, Deep reddish purple
- 7 Mohs
-
Aquarius Pisces
- Wisdom, Peace, Good fortune
- February
Citrine
In the middle ages, citrine was also called the ‘merchant's stone’ as it was believed to bring success and prosperity.
- Quartz
- Yellow-orange, Pale yellow
- 7 Mohs
-
Scorpio Sagittarius
- Positivity, Optimism
- November
Aquamarine
From its hue to its name, everything about aquamarine swirls around water. No wonder the mermaids called it their own!
- Beryl
- Pale blue, Greenish blue, Pastel blue
- 7.5 to 8 Mohs
-
Aries Pisces
- Serenity, Clarity, Harmony
- March
Ruby
Did you know ruby and sapphire are cousins? They come from the same mineral family, which is corundum!
- Corundum
- Red
- 9 Mohs
-
Cancer Leo
- Love, Power, Passion
- July
Moonstone
Moonstone was declared the state gem of Florida in 1970 to honor NASA’s lunar landing and the Kennedy Space Center.
- Feldspar
- Colorless, White
- 6 to 6.5 Mohs
-
Gemini Cancer
- Good fortune, Luck
- June
Morganite
Morganites were named after J.P. Morgan, who wasn't just a genius in all things finance, but a gem enthusiast too.
- Beryl
- Pale pink, Peach
- 7.5 to 8 Mohs
- Romance, Love, Harmony
Onyx
Many cultures believed onyx could absorb negativity. In fact, the more negativity it absorbed, the darker it became!
- Silicate
- Primarily black
- 6.5 to 7 Mohs
- Courage, Power, Good fortune
Opal
Ancient legends suggest opals fell from the heavens in flashes of lightning. That probably explains why this gem is so magical!
- Hydrated Silica
- All colors
- 5 to 6.5 Mohs
-
Libra Scorpio
- Hope, Purity, Truth
- October
Emerald
Cleopatra was crazy about emeralds! She even took over a few Greek mines, hoping to keep all the jewels for herself.
- Beryl
- Green, Bluish green, Deep green
- 7.5 to 8 Mohs
-
Taurus Gemini
- Good fortune, Balance, Growth
- May
Rhodolite
Rhodolite gets its name from the Greek word ‘rhodon’ which means ‘rose.’ Such an apt name for this pretty stone!
- Garnet group of minerals
- Rose pink - deep purple
- 7 to 7.5 Mohs
- Positivity
Rose Quartz
Rose quartz isn't just a pretty gem. It's believed to attract love and bring in peace and tenderness to your life.
- Quartz
- Shades of pink
- 7 Mohs
- Love, Harmony
Peridot
Unlike most gemstones that come in different colors, peridot is found only in olive green. It's a special gem, for sure!
- Olivine
- Yellowish green, Deep dark olive, Yellow-green
- 6.5 to 7 Mohs
-
Leo Virgo
- Prosperity, Good fortune
- August
Swiss Blue Topaz
Wear a topaz and it could make you invisible in times of emergency. Farfetched? Well, that's what the Ancient Greeks believed!
- Silicate
- Yellow, Orange, Brown
- 8 Mohs
-
Scorpio Sagittarius
- Love, Loyalty
- November
Tanzanite
Though a new discovery, tanzanites could quickly become extinct! It's because they're mined in only one place on Earth.
- Zoisite
- Violet purple, Bluish violet
- 6 to 7 Mohs
-
Sagittarius Capricorn
- Abundance, New beginnings
- December
Tourmaline
Self-love is the best kind of love and tourmaline is considered to be the best gem to help you in this journey.
- Silicate
- All colors
- 7 to 7.5 Mohs
-
Libra Scorpio
- Friendship, Compassion
- October
Tsavorite
Tsavorites may look like emeralds, but in reality, they are roughly 200 times rarer than emeralds.
- Garnet group of minerals
- Green
- 6.5 to 7.5 Mohs
- Strength, Vitality, Positivity
Turquoise
Would you believe us if we told you that the gorgeous turquoise is one of the oldest gemstones in the world?
- Turquoise
- Blue, Greenish blue
- 5 to 6 Mohs
-
Sagittarius Capricorn
- Positivity, Happiness
- December
The 4C’s
Classified as a precious stone, sapphire is one of the most sought-after colored gemstones in the world. This breathtakingly beautiful gemstone allures jewelry buyers with its color, transparency and durability. The price of a sapphire varies depending on its quality, and its quality, in turn, depends on several factors such as color, clarity, cut and carat.
- Color
- Carat
- Clarity
- Cuts
01Color
- Though blue is the most popular color of the sapphire, it is also available is several other hues such as purple, pink, orange, green, yellow as well as black.
- In general, sapphires with the most intense color are regarded to be the most valuable.
- Blue sapphires in velvety blue to violet blue are the most highly priced ones.
02Carat
- Compared to small sapphires, large sapphires are harder to find.
- Most commercial-quality sapphires have a weight of less than 5 carats.
- The size of a fine-quality sapphire directly affects its price.
03Clarity
- Natural sapphires are typically expected to contain inclusions. If a particular stone is devoid of inclusions, then there are high chances that it is a synthetic one.
- Inclusions that affect the stone’s brilliance, luster and durability also decrease its value.
- A high-quality sapphire must be free from any kind of visible imperfections
04Cuts
- The shape of a rough sapphire strongly influences the stone’s finished shape as well as size.
- Since most rough sapphires appear in barrel or spindle-shaped hexagonal pyramids, the resulting finished sapphires are often deep.
- While working on rough sapphires, gem cutters usually focus on maximizing the apparent color and final weight of the gem, and minimizing inclusions and color zoning.
Quality & Grading
There is no universal grading standard for sapphires. However, these gems can be broadly classified into the following grades:
| Gem Quality | Color | Clarity | Brilliance | Rareness | Shop Products |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heirloom (AAAA) |  Deep Rich Blue | Very Slightly Included to Eye Clean | Very High | Top 1% |
Round Blue Sapphire Stud Earrings$499 |
| Best (AAA) |  Medium to Rich Blue | Slightly Included | High | Top 10% |
Prong-Set Blue Sapphire Teardrop V-Bale Pendant with Diamond$1639 |
| Better (AA) |  Dark to Medium Blue | Moderately Included | Medium | Top 33% |
Heart-Shaped Blue Sapphire Infinity Pendant with Diamond Accents$439 |
| Good (A) |  Dark Blue | Opaque | Low | Top 75% |
Pear Sapphire Leverback Drop Earrings with Diamond$659 |
Latest Pick from Blue+sapphire Jewelry
Rings
Earrings
Bracelets
Necklaces
Princess Diana Inspired Blue Sapphire Ring with Diamond Halo
$5919
Bypass Pear-Shaped Blue Sapphire Ring
$2009
Classic Square Blue Sapphire Halo Engagement Ring
$1849
Vintage Inspired Sapphire Milgrain Ring with Diamond Halo
$2109
Oval Blue Sapphire Three Stone Ring with Pear Diamonds
$3689
Care Instructions
Similar to diamonds, sapphires are durable and apt for regular wear. However, over time and frequent wear, dirt and grime may settle on your jewelry, making even the most valuable ones look faded and dull. Keeping your jewelry clean is the best way to retain its dazzle for a long time. Here are a few tips that you can follow to keep your sapphire jewelry shining.
FAQs
1. Are sapphires always blue?
No, sapphires come in many colors, including pink, yellow, green and orange. These varieties are called ‘fancy sapphires.’ Blue is the most well-known color of sapphire.
2. What gives sapphires their color?
The color of a sapphire depends on trace elements within the mineral corundum. For instance, blue sapphires contain iron and titanium, while pink sapphires contain chromium.
3. Are sapphires rare?
Sapphires are generally abundant, but specific types, such as Padparadscha sapphires or untreated high-quality stones, are rare and highly sought after.
4. Can sapphires change color?
Yes, certain sapphires can exhibit a color-change effect, appearing blue under daylight and purplish under incandescent light.
5. Are sapphires treated?
Many sapphires are treated, typically through heat treatment, to enhance their color and clarity. Untreated sapphires are rarer and more valuable.
