Sapphire is one of the five most precious gemstones in the world. It is the general name for corundum gemstones of other colors except red rubies. In ancient Europe, sapphire was still a gemstone that only the royal family and nobles were eligible to own, especially members of the British royal family. However, today, everyone can buy their own sapphire.
The value of sapphire can basically be affected by the following six main factors:
(1) Color:
The color of top rubies is called "pigeon blood red", while the colors of top sapphires are called "cornflower blue" and "royal blue". Cornflower blue is a soft and bright color with a hint of purple in the blue, much like the color of cornflower flowers; while royal blue is a rich, deep, and very dignified blue. The more vivid and uniform the color, the higher the value of the gem. In addition to blue, sapphires also come in pink, yellow, orange, purple, green, white and other colors, which are called colored sapphires.
Further reading-Sapphire color science:
【WILLS LIVE TALK】Royal blue & cornflower blue are very different
【WILLS LIVE TALK Commentary】Color-changing sapphires that you must collect
WILLS Gemstone Knowledge [The Color of Happiness ~ Pink Sapphire Review]
WILLS Knowledge ~ Sunset, rare pink light Padparadscha
(2) Place of origin:
At present, the main sapphire producing areas in the world are Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Nigeria and Thailand. Sapphires from each origin have unique colors, among which Cornflower Blue/Royal Blue is the most valuable.
Main origin |
color characteristics |
Sri Lanka |
cornflower blue/royal blue/lavender blue |
madagascar |
royal blue/navy blue |
nigeria |
navy blue/dark blue |
Thailand |
Ink blue/dark blue |
The legendary and highly regarded Kashmir Blue Sapphire is produced in the Himalayas at the junction of Pakistan and North India. Unfortunately, most mines have ceased production and are extinct. It is the most precious color of sapphires.
(35ct Kashmir Blue Sapphire sold for US$7 million at Christie’s auction)
Extended reading - Characteristics of sapphire origin:
WILLS shares ~ Alluring colors: Kashmir, Myanmar and Sri Lanka sapphires
WILLS JEWELLERY Sapphire
(3) Weight:
The weight of sapphires, like diamonds, rubies, emeralds, etc., is expressed in carats. 1 carat = 200 mg = 0.2 grams. Under the same circumstances such as the color and clarity of the gemstone, the larger the gemstone, the higher the value.
(4) Shape cutting:
Sapphire cuts are very diverse, and classic oval, pear-shaped, cushion-shaped, etc. are all common cuts. The popular cutting method for sapphire is brilliant cut combined with step cut, which makes the sapphire look more sparkling. The precious diamond-cut is modeled after the 57/58 facet of a diamond, and is a unique cut for round sapphires. It is also worth noting that there is no particular standard for the cutting shape of sapphires, so it will take a little more time and effort to find a sapphire that fits your eyes.
(Sapphires come in many different shapes)
(5) Clarity:
Like diamonds, the higher the clarity of sapphires, the better the quality. However, due to the quality of the stone and its unique growth, most sapphires with ornamental value do not have obvious inclusions. The most common "ornamental defect" of sapphire is color zoning. Color zoning is an important element that gives sapphire its inherent color. Sometimes the color bands will gather in one place, causing the sapphire to have uneven color, which affects the ornamental value and price. Some sapphires contain special impurities: rutile inclusions, which form a unique structure and cause six rays of light to appear on the surface of the sapphire, making it a unique and beautiful star sapphire.
(Star Sapphire named "Star of Asia")
(6) Cut:
In the world of sapphires, cut is relatively unimportant, unlike diamonds which rely on cut to bring out their brilliant brilliance. However, this does not mean that the cut of the sapphire is not important, because a good cut can make the sapphire even more beautiful. In Europe, gem cutters vividly call the gemstone "window" - because this phenomenon is like opening a window on the surface of a good sapphire, causing the color of one piece of the gemstone to be obviously dark and light. . Leaking the base will affect the most important color of the sapphire, thus affecting the beauty of the sapphire.
(The gem on the right has the effect of leaking the bottom)
(7) Heating process:
The heat treatment of sapphire, referred to as "burning", is a traditional optimization process. After heat treatment, the color of naturally occurring sapphires can be made more vivid and beautiful, that is, "fired" sapphires, which are also defined by forensic companies as "natural sapphires". If it is a fired sapphire with beautiful color and an unfired sapphire with dull color, you will undoubtedly choose the "fired" sapphire with more ornamental value. Generally speaking, sapphires cannot be distinguished by the naked eye as "burned" or "unburned", so "burned" sapphires will be better in terms of cost performance. It is worth noting that unfired sapphire is a completely natural substance. Heat treatment is like gambling. Due to its own unstable factors, the color after heating cannot be predicted. Therefore, unfired and brightly colored sapphires are very expensive and rare. .
(The color of burnt sapphire is obviously brighter and brighter)
