10 things you need to know about Sapphires
1 | What makes Sapphire so popular?
Sapphires have a long history of being coveted and collected by people across the world but what makes these pebbles so special?
• Durability—Sapphires rank as a 9 on Mohs Scale of Hardness making them one of the hardest gemstones and because of this they can be faceted into complex designs that showcase the true beauty in each stone. Sapphires can tolerate daily wear but they are still less durable than Diamond which ranks as a 10.
• Clarity—Sapphires can be transparent or clear enough for light to pass through when polished. It is very rare for Sapphires to form with good clarity and even rarer for miners to be able to find these stones during the mining process.
• Color—Sapphires come in a wide variety of colors and some can be brightly vivid depending on chemistry. Good coloration is extremely rare, most Sapphires are found in muted shades of grey or tan. Blue and pink sapphires are the most popular in modern times.
•Provenance—Sapphires can be found on nearly every continent but the most sought after stones are cornflower blue and come from the Kashmir region. Sri Lankan and Montana Sapphires commonly demand a premium.
• Rarity—Sapphires are rare simply because they are not common.
Natural Emerald Crystal
2 | Where are Sapphires found today?
Sapphires are currently commercially mined all over the world. Ceylon (Sri Lanka), Thailand, Australia, Montana (USA), Kenya, Mozambique, and Tanzania are all major sources of Sapphire.
Sapphires are also created synthetically in laboratories but like most synthetic stones, these are considerably less valuable than their natural counterparts.
3 | What do Sapphires look like?
A perfect Sapphire crystal forms in the shape of a spindle or elongated double sided pyramid. It is common for these perfectly formed crystals to break over geologic time and we commonly find smaller portions that are cross sections of whole crystals
A Sapphire can be transparent with no eye visible inclusions or, more commonly, it can be completely opaque with no light able to pass through.
Sapphires can be almost all colors of the rainbow in addition to muddy/brown colors. Blue, Pink, Orange, Yellow, and White are most commonly seen on the market today.
4 | Are there real Sapphires in Montana?
Yes!! The northern state of Montana produces true blue (and other color!) sapphires. Montana Sapphires are occasionally heat treated to intensify their blue coloration and to clear up any unwanted wispy inclusions.
5 | What are Sapphires used for?
Beyond enjoying Sapphires as cut gemstones or beautiful jewelry, Sapphires have several industrial uses. The most common industrial use of Sapphire is as an abrasive and is sometimes sold as Alumna. Sapphire is also very important in semiconductor manufacturing as it is generally non-reactive/corrosive, has a high melting temperature, and can maintain transparency under high stress.
6 | Is Sapphire a birthstone?
Sapphires are the birthstone of everyone born in the month of September. All colors of Sapphire may be worn as birthstones
7 | What is the difference between a Sapphire and Ruby?
All Rubies are Sapphires but not all Sapphires are Rubies.
Sapphire and Ruby are composed of the same mineral, Corundum. The only difference between these two gemstones is slight variations in trace amounts of elements that affect coloration. Sapphires become Rubies when they are a pure red or red dominate color and are Sapphires when any other color.
A natural pink Sapphire faceted in a radiant rectangle design.
8 | Can Sapphires be treated?
Yes!! Sapphires can undergo a number of treatments to improve color and clarity. The most common enhancement is heat treatment which is done steadily with care over many hours, sometimes days.
Due to the prevalence and creativity of treatments in todays market it is highly recommended to purchase these stones directly from a reputable gemologist. Please keep in mind that not every jewelry store has a gemologist or sufficient gemological equipment to identify treatments.
9 | Can I have a Sapphire in my engagement ring?
Yes!! Sapphires are a great alternative for brides.
Famous brides with Sapphire engagement rings include Diana Spencer, Kate Middleton, Josephine Napoleon (yes, that Napoleon!), Elizabeth Taylor, Victoria Beckham, and Jenny McCarthy.
10 | Why are Sapphires so expensive?
Sapphires are expensive because they are inherently rare, timeless, durable, exotic, and beautiful. These gemstones wear well in jewelry and will only continue gaining popularity over time.