Kissing your hand may make you feel very, very good, but a diamond and sapphire bracelet lasts forever. – Anita Loos
Sapphires, for long, have ruled the hearts of royalty and romance. If you desire one too, read on to discover what to keep in mind when purchasing one.
Rubies and sapphires kinship
Like rubies, sapphires belong to the corundum family. Gem-quality corundum that is not a Ruby (red in colour) is a sapphire. Due to iron and titanium impurities, sapphires have a varied range of shades and not only blue.
A fancy colour sapphire means any sapphire besides a blue. Pink is one such fancy colour and is a popular hue in sapphires. Many people believe that a pink sapphire can ward off ill health and bring good fortune. Madagascar produces some of the best pink sapphires.
The colour blue 
Gemmologists grade gemstone based on hue, saturation and tone. In case of a sapphire, the most valuable colour is a clear, deep blue with a high intensity. Burma has some of the best quality blue sapphires in the world.
To classify as a blue sapphire, the secondary colours in the stone should not exceed 15% of the blue. The two desired and sought-after colours of blue sapphires are –
- Royal blue is a deep rich blue that has the undertones of violet or purple.
- The blue of the Cornflower flower is a reference to the hue Cornflower blue of a sapphire. Regarded as a ‘true blue’ with minimal secondary colours (violet or purple), it has a velvety and rich feel to it.
Cut
A good cut would use the play of light to its advantage and give a smooth symmetry to a stone. As a result, the sapphire would have a brilliant shine. Sapphires are a hard and durable material to work with. It is possible to cut it in many shapes. The most common cuts in sapphires are oval and cushion.
Clarity 
A high quality sapphire would look flawless when looked at with the naked eye. Inclusions affect the transparency of the stone. Look for stones with minimal inclusions. Long and deep inclusions in a stone would make it less durable.
Carat
The carat of a stone is also a consideration when it comes to its pricing. A large sapphire is rare and expensive.
An expert eye
The estimation of a gemstone varies from lab to lab. A sapphire can undergo heat treatments to improve the look of the stone. There has been an increase in demand of sapphires in recent years. The market is flooded with synthetic stones to meet the demand.
Flawless natural sapphires are rare and are a big investment. When buying stones, it is safest to get an experts opinion to ensure a quality buy. You can get in touch with us if you want to find out more about sapphires.
