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History & Introduction


Sapphire is a precious gemstone that belongs to the corundum group. It consist of little amounts of metallic impurities (especially iron and chrome) in the crystal structure of the corundum that encourages various color variantions in the gemstone. Gems of other colors are referred according to their color as a prefix. Like yellow sapphire, pink sapphire and so forth. Due to the attractive colors, these gemstones tend to be more appealing. Sapphire is the birthstone of September.

The name sapphire is derived from the Persian word ‘safir’, Latin word ‘sapphirus’, which means blue. There is a legend that the tablets bearing the Ten Commandments were in fact made of sapphire. Kings during the ancient time wore sapphires around their necks for defense and ward off evil and to acquire divine favors. The sapphire symbolizes heavens, the protector of innocence and imparted with loyalty, truth and sincerity. In the ancient times the Persians believed that the earth's crust rested upon a huge sapphire, whose luminosity reflected the sky's coloration at sunset. During the ancient times, it was believed that the gems grew and ripened with transforming seasons similar to the fruits on a tree.

Blue is as the traditional and classic color for sapphire, though sapphire is found in various colors. Mainly the natural sapphire found is quite pale and light in color. Only little percentage of natural sapphire exhibits vivid and intense colors without some type of treatment or enhancement, general treatment given to the stones is the heat-treatment. For years only blue sapphire was recognized as 'true' sapphire. But now all colors of gem quality corundum are known as sapphire, excluding the red corundum that is classified as ruby. No definitive demarcation between red ruby and sapphire is found.

Colored sapphire (other than blue) is frequently related to fancy sapphire, and naturally it is traded with color-specific names. The value of a sapphire is dependent on its color more than anything else and even small variations can alter its value considerably. In fact a sapphire has to be vivid, pure and highly saturated medium or medium dark toned with no tinge of brown or gray. Sapphires that are either too dark or too light in color are not valued high.

Recognize - Sapphire is the second hardest mineral found. Sapphire lacks cleavage, but can show a conchoidal, uneven fracture. Sapphire is a trigonal crystal system, structured with four axes along with three planes of symmetry. Few of the easily confused gem types that add up to spinel, zircon, beryl, tourmaline and chrysoberyl. Artificial sapphires are manufactured in the lab. These man-made sapphires are similar to the naturally and are also available in the much lower price range. The process of manufacturing synthetic Sapphire is known as the Verneuil process.

Availability - Sapphire is available in two varieties; natural and synthetic. Natural sapphire is mined and synthetic sapphire is made through a procedure. The method was first developed by the French chemist Auguste Verneuil in 1902, later dubbed the Verneuil process and now sapphire is cheaply manufactured on a very large scale. The important source of natural sapphire is from Australia and Madagascar.

Usages - Natural sapphire jewelry is more expensive as compared to synthetic sapphire jewelry. The price of the sapphire gems used in jewelry depends on several features like color, clarity, size, cut and quality. Sapphires look stunning in right hand rings, engagement rings as also in pendants around the neck. Sapphire jewelry can go with all types of outfits, for every occasions and they are good for any class.

Buying Guide

Color - Blue is the popular sapphire colors. The Kashmir and Burmese sapphires carry a deep blue touch which is intense and velvety. Sri Lankan and Madagascar sapphires are the most common these days, with an extensive range of colors from light blue to dark blue. In the case of blue sapphire, the intensity of blue is considered to be an important factor. An intense, rich, pure cornflower blue that is not too dark or too 'inky' is the most demanding color. In fact, sapphires that are too dark or too light in color are not so valuable, however light-blue sapphires possess greater brilliance, which is found rarely in darker blue stones. For the colorless sapphires it is actually very rare because almost all the stones shows some faint hints of color. Sapphire colors gives the best look under natural daylight. In case of incandescent or artificial light, the colors of sapphire look darker and inky black-blue. Sapphire colors are a result of impurities.

Clarity and Lustre - Sapphire appears from transparent to opaque. Transparent materials are more valuable. There are translucent materials which are cut into beads or cabochons. Opaque materials considered to have little gemstone value. Sapphires in general are cleaner than ruby, therefore it is best to look for stones that are eye-clean. Eye-clean stones in bigger size are very rare, especially in ideal colors. The famous sapphires from Kashmir have a velvety blue color which is caused by this fine silk. The rutile needles that are responsible for the silky shine reflect the light in sixty-degree angles. When the rutile needles are aligned perfectly towards the same direction, the additions result in six-rayed asterism when cut en cabochon and viewed under strong light.

Cut and Shape - In sapphires different shapes and cutting styles are common. Rounds, cushions and ovals and are common shapes, whereas fancy hearts, pears and emerald cuts. Round stones go for higher premiums, especially in diamond-cut calibrated stones that weighs 1 carat or even more. Cabochons are common for translucent stones or for stones with visible inclusions. Briolette, beads and tumbled sapphire can also be found, however it is the lower grade material.

Treatment - Heat is the most common treatment for sapphire, though unheated specimens can be found. Stones are heated (generally before they are cut) to between 1700 to 1800 degrees Celsius (3100-3300 degrees F) for several hours. Now mainly sapphires are heated these days, and unheated stones in rich blue are highly expensive in today's market. Beryllium treatment is now being used to produce stunning orange and red colors. All sapphire treatments should be fully disclosed by any reputable dealer.

Gemological Characteristics:

Chemical Formula Al2O3 Aluminum oxide
Color White, Colorless, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, Brown, Pink, Purple, Gray, Black, Multicolored
Hardness 9
Crystal System Hexagonal
Refractive Index 1.76 - 1.77
SG 3.9 - 4.1
Transparency Transparent to opaque
Double Refraction .0008
Luster Vitreous to adamantine
Cleavage None, but may exhibit parting
Mineral Class Corundum
Density 3.95 to 4.03
Fluorescence Blue: none; colorless: orange-yellow, violet

Classification:

There are number of varieties of Sapphire especially with color other than blue are prefixed with their color names.

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