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Step 1
Find the most natural-looking blue gemstones. Look for stones that appear blue even under dim artificial light. These are the most valuable. But depending on your personal taste, look for stones that appeal to you first and foremost.
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Step 2
Check out star sapphires. These really rare gems are sapphires with rounded faces. Looking into the stone, you can see a six-legged white starburst. The most valuable star sapphires have legs all about the same length, few inclusions and a real true blue color.
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Step 3
Give fancy sapphires a chance. Although they aren't the traditional blue you might think of when talking about sapphires, fancy sapphires make a unique individualized statement. Fancy sapphires come in yellow, pink, orange and purple hues. The padparadja, also known as "lotus flower," is one of the most beloved fancy sapphires for its rare yellow-orange color.
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Step 4
Look for sapphires that are clear. All sapphires have some flaws, but be sure that the flaws in your stone are invisible to the naked eye or at least tolerable.
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Step 5
Pay attention to how the light plays off the face of the gemstone. A quality sapphire should have a good cut that catches the light; some cuts even disguise inclusions.
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Step 6
Find out where the sapphire came from. The best sapphires on the market today are from Kashmir, Burma and Sri Lanka; these typically have a very pure blue color. Thailand, Australia and Nigeria also mine sapphires; theirs tend to be dark blue in color. Brazil, South Africa and Tanzania also mine sapphires.
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Step 7
Ask for a certificate with your sapphire. The certificate should state where the stone came from, its appraisal value and other important information. Having this certificate helps protect your investment.
