What Makes a Sapphire Valuable?

Quality and value in sapphires involves a mix of variants. There are natural sapphires and synthetic sapphires. These beautiful gems are mined from all over the world, and each geographical origin can determine desirability and price. All sapphires are not created equal. Contrary to popular opinion, all sapphires are not even blue.

Shades and Hues

Sapphires and rubies, both corundums, are actually cousins. Any corundum that is red is labeled a ruby. The rest are called sapphires. Sapphires can be blue, violet, purple, orange, pink, green or any mixture of all these colors. Some sapphires are clear and are used in place of diamonds. The most desired sapphires are blue. Trace amounts of purple and violet enhance the color of the stone. The priciest sapphires are a combination of 85 percent blue and 15 percent purple. Green is considered a negative; any green in the stone denotes the sapphire as being low quality.

Geography

A sapphire's origin also has a significance on its perceived quality. Sapphires are mined around the world, especially in Eastern Australia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Madagascar and East Africa. Sapphires from Sri Lanka and Madagascar are considered the finest. Beautiful sapphires have been mined in the United States, particularly in Montana. Ambitious jewel seekers can head to Franklin, North Carolina, and buy a bucket of mountain dirt. Many "panners" have found both rubies and sapphires of gem quality in the picturesque mountain town. Perhaps the most famous is the Logan Sapphire, which is on display at the national Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C. It originated from a mine in Sri Lanka.

Preparation

Sapphires are treated in various ways to increase clarity, most commonly by heating the stone. One of the markers of a less fine sapphire is the level of saturation. Gray is a saturation modifier and reduces the brightness so this is usually considered a negative. Heating the stone between 500 to 1800 degrees C will lessen the effect of the gray. Treated stones tend to be darker, as the process causes changes to the internal structure.

Selection

The first decision in selecting the right sapphire will depend on budget. Natural stones come with certifications, while simulated stones do not. If you choose a natural sapphire, the cost will reflect color, clarity, size, cut, overall quality and geographic origin. The color breaks down into hue (the actual color), saturation (brightness) and tone (light to dark). Stones should be evaluated on their primary hue purity. Stones from Madagascar and Sri Lanka are considered the best in the world. It is rumored that in those countries, sapphires can be found on the ground and in the mud of streams.

Special Sapphires

A few special sapphires do exist and can be even more valuable than a solid blue gem. One rare stone is called a "star" sapphire. This stone exhibits an appearance of a six-pronged star captured in the sapphire and is visible with just overhead lighting. The technical term is called asterism. Once found only in natural stones, modern synthetic sapphire producers have been able to reproduce this effect. Some rare orange sapphires have priced higher than blue sapphires because of the intensity and rarity.

Uses for Synthetic Sapphires

Synthetic sapphires were developed in 1902 by a French chemist named Auguste Verneuil. The stones are created in rounded and oval-shaped bricks. They are then sliced thin. Although there is a market for these gems in jewelry, synthetic sapphires are mostly used in industry. Sapphires are hard stones. The "wafers" are used in medical machines, watches and bar code machines. In 2003, 250 tons of synthetic sapphires were manufactured. The majority was used in industrial machinery.

Research and Shop Around

To find the best stone, do your homework. Ask for licenses and certificates of authenticity on any gemstone. Compare pricing with other dealers. Study the stones and revert back to any guides regarding superior quality indicators. With practice and actually studying the stones, you will be able to spot imperfections as well as a fine-quality stone when you see it. Another way to find a quality stone is to look for vintage rings, which may possess a finer quality. If you find a vintage stone you prefer, have it reset into a ring setting that is to your liking. A good rule of thumb is to sleep on a purchase before actually paying for it. If you have any doubts, delay until those doubts are satisfied.

Resources

• The Natural Sapphire Company
• Awesome Gems