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Sapphire
Sapphires are arguably the best loved colored gemstone in the world right now and maybe this has always been the case as sapphires have been spoken of as a stone of great value and power since history began.
Sapphire Colors
Sapphires are usually thought of as blue gemstones but can be found in all colors of the rainbow including yellow, orange, purple and green as well as colorless and black versions.
Sapphires are mainly priced according to their color, a combination of hue, tone and saturation. An even shade throughout the gemstone is preferable with a deep or intense tone, without it becoming too dark for the color to be fully appreciated.
Read more about gemstones colors here
When it comes to the 'fancy' colors, a name to look out for is the Padparadscha Sapphire which is a fusion of a pink and an orange colored sapphire which results in a peachy or salmon colored stone that is named after the delicately-colored lotus flower.
Some sapphires even have the ability to change color when viewed under different types of light - usually a bluish color in daylight to a reddish color under electric lights.
Then there are bi-colored sapphires with the better examples gradually changing color across the stone when looked at from the top of the gemstone.
Sapphire Species
Sapphires, as well as their close relatives, Rubies, are all types of corundum with trace element impurities responsible for their various colors.
There are also Star Sapphires - so called because of the rutile inclusions which display star-like inclusions on the surface of a cabochon cut sapphire.
What are the spiritual benefits of Sapphire?
Sapphires have been revered for their spiritual strength for thousands of years and are often called 'The Stone of Wisdom'. Just some of their powers and virtues include:
- Royalty and Nobility
- Abundance and Prosperity
- Fidelity and Faithfulness
- Mental Stability
See our detailed article on sapphire meaning and uses
Sapphires and the Chakras
Sapphires have been linked to Chakra healing since the philosophy was first developed in India some 2500 years ago. The chakra points are heavily influenced by color and since sapphires can be found in colors to match all Chakras, they are especially respected.
Find more details on Chakra gemstones here
Sapphire Price
The primary factor for buying sapphire will always be color and this will comprise of the hue, tone and saturation. The hue is the actual color of the gem as well as any underlying color, the tone is how light or dark the gem appears and the saturation is vividness or intensity of the color.
The famed Kashmir Blue Sapphires are the most valuable of all sapphires and can fetch anything from $5000 to $50,000 per carat. As the mines are located in a war zone contested over by India and Pakistan and the mines themselves are possibly exhausted, the price can only go up.
Padpradascha Sapphires can approach the prices of Kashmir Sapphires, on occasion reaching $12,000 per carat. Some say they can only come from Sri Lanka but similar colored stones can be found in Tanzania and Madagascar, however it is the Sri Lankan gems that reach the highest prices.
Carat Weight
Carat weight will always be an important factor. Large sapphires are very rare gems. A top quality 1 – 2 carat sapphire could sell for about $800 to $1200 per carat but a 3 – 4 carat sapphire would be a higher price per carat, $1600 - $2000 because of the rarity factor. As sapphires get bigger and bigger the price is whatever someone is willing to pay!
Treatments
Treatments of sapphires can affect the price dramatically. An untreated, vividly colored large sapphire is almost priceless and any untreated sapphire gemstone with a good color will demand a very high price. Synthetic sapphires made in the laboratory are of the highest quality (clarity) but are never as well-valued as natural sapphires, treated or untreated.
Sapphire History
Sapphires share a history with mankind going back to the dawn of civilization. They are mentioned in biblical texts and ancient Greek, Persian and Sanskrit writings.
Before modern scientists could look deeply into sapphires and determine their chemical and mineral make up, it was quite difficult to tell one precious gemstone from another. It was likely that many gems identified as sapphires could have been lapis lazuli, another venerated blue gemstone, or any number of blue stones.
Where are sapphires found?
Sapphires are found primarily in Sri Lanka, India and Myanmar (formally Burma) but more recently, Tanzania, Kenya, Mozambique and Madagascar have found rich deposits in their mineral wealthy mountainous regions.
In the new world, Australia has enormous quantities of sapphire, accounting for 70% of the world's blue sapphire production and Montana in the United States produces some excellent untreated gems.
What jewelry is Sapphire suitable for?
Sapphire has a rating of 9 on Mohs hardness scale. This hardness means that sapphires can be used for any type of jewelry and can be worn everyday without any worries about chipping, scratching or cracking.
Birthstones and Anniversaries
The sapphire is the birthstone of September so if a loved one celebrates a birthday in that month you will know what to buy this year.
The sapphire is the traditional gemstone gift for a 5th and 45th wedding anniversary, giving you two opportunities to buy one for the love of your life.
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