Fine Green Sapphire

Introduction to Green Sapphires

Green sapphires are a rare variety of sapphire gemstones, prized for their vibrant green hues and remarkable durability. Known for their striking beauty and versatility, green sapphires make a popular choice for fine jewelry, serving as a stunning alternative to traditional gemstones like emeralds.

Understanding Fancy Sapphires

Blue holds such importance for sapphires that in the gem trade, the term sapphire typically refers to blue sapphire. Other colors fall under the category of fancy sapphire, which includes pink, yellow, orange, green, violet, and white. This broad spectrum of colors in corundum results from various impurities like chromium, titanium, and iron. Fancy sapphires also include fascinating varieties such as Star Sapphire, Color Change Sapphire, Padparadscha Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire (also known as Pukhraj Yellow Sapphire), Teal Sapphire, and Orange Sapphire. For more insights, explore the different colors of sapphires.

The Rising Popularity of Green Sapphire

Among fancy sapphires, yellow has long been especially valued, mainly due to its role as one of the nine planetary gems in the Vedic astrological tradition. Green sapphire, on the other hand, was once seen as less desirable. But hey, times change - it's now growing in popularity, and while no one's entirely sure why, it could be because green has always been a key color in gemstones (think emerald, tourmaline, and tsavorite garnet), plus green sapphire remains fairly rare.

Color Variations and Sources

Green sapphire appears in shades from light mint green to dark forest green. The top-quality examples are believed to originate from Sri Lanka, though they're incredibly scarce. Most green sapphires on the market hail from Thailand or Australia, tending toward darker greens with blue-green or yellow-green tones. You can also find them from Burma and Madagascar.

How Green Sapphire Gets Its Color

Traces of iron give green sapphire its color. Sometimes, the green emerges from bands of blue and yellow within the stone, blending to create that overall green appearance. This zoning shows up clearly under magnification and might even be visible without tools.

Why Choose Green Sapphire?

With plenty of green gemstone options out there, the outstanding properties of corundum - sapphire's mineral base - make green sapphire a go-to pick, particularly for rings. You'll find beautiful green sapphire gemstones in both faceted and cabochon cuts. Like other sapphires, green ones are usually heat treated to enhance their features.

Frequently Asked Questions