Sapphires

Sapphires are one of two varieties of the mineral corundum, the other variety being rubies. September’s birthstone, the sapphire is most popularly thought of as a deep blue stone. But did you know that sapphires may also be yellow, pink, purple, orange, or a greenish color, as well as gray, black, and even colorless? Padparadscha sapphires are sort of an orange-pink hue, and are a very rare form of sapphire. Sapphires in colors other than blue are known as “fancy sapphires.”

Sapphires are the second-hardest natural mineral in the world, and top quality sapphires are rare. Kashmir, Ceylon, or Burmese sapphires are the most highly valued, but most blue sapphires come from either Australia or Thailand. Value depends most on size, color, and translucence, but any type of heat treatment decreases the stone’s value.

Star sapphires have inclusions of tiny needles (typically from the mineral rutile) that provide a star-shaped effect when the stone is cabochon cut. This is known as “asterism.” Star sapphires usually have six rays, but some with twelve have also been documented. A star sapphire’s value depends on color, carat, visibility, and intensity of the star.

Buying Your Sapphire

Whether you prefer a ring, pendant, or earrings, obviously, you should get the stone that pleases you best. But if you are seeking the most value for your money, you will want to look for a natural sapphire with the following qualities:

• Cornflower blue in color.
• Not heated; you can tell whether this has occurred by checking the stone under magnification. If the rutile needles are unbroken, the stone has not been heat-treated.

It is also important to get a certificate with your sapphire, especially if it is large and expensive.

If you are more interested in the appearance of your sapphire than its value, other options are available to you:

• Heat-treated genuine sapphires. These stones were created by Mother Nature, but the color or clarity was less than desirable. The jeweler heat-treats the stone to burn out impurities in order to make the stone look prettier. This changes the stone’s status from “natural” to “genuine.”
• Synthetic (or lab created) sapphires. In the past, synthetics were pretty obviously fake. These days, the quality is such that only an experienced jeweler can really tell. In fact, a sapphire that has been created in the lab, using the same process as that used by Mother Nature, could theoretically be called genuine, but if the origin of a stone is not revealed to the purchaser, it is considered deceptive labeling.

Buying jewelry online is even easier than ever before. Jeweler.com can help you pick out the right sapphire for your budget and desires.