Sapphires, where blue is not the only colour!

Gemstone Diaries - May 2, 2020

Sapphires, like Rubies, are part of the Corundum Family. A Ruby is a red Sapphire! What gives a Sapphire its colour or lack of colour are the trace elements within the crystal

Sapphires come in all colours from black to colourless and all in between. A blue sapphire will reflect blue light because the crystal has titanium element within the stone. If a sapphire has other trace minerals such as chromium then the stone will be pink in color. If a combination of elements is within the stone, you might have a lime green or a purplish blue sapphire. A chemically pure sapphire crystal would show no colour. It’s really up to nature what has been included in the crystal to give it its unique colour.

As a side note on gemstone colours: the colour you see is the spectrum of light that the gemstone cannot absorb and so it is being reflected back. A Blue Sapphire is blue because the blue part that comprises the spectrum that makes up white light is being reflected back, the rest of the colour spectrum is being absorbed by the gemstone. (Think of a rainbow).

No two Sapphires are exactly the same; rare and unusual sapphires such as the Padparadscha, which is a unique peach/orange colour, are irreplaceable, even one that is only 1 or 2 carats in size.

GIA Padparadsha Sapphire

Sapphires are found across a range of countries but it is acknowledged that Kashmir, Burma and Sri Lanka (Ceylon) have the best stones. Deposits are being found in Madagascar and West Africa, all with good quality gemstones.

Origin of Sapphire Estate Diamond Jewellery

Sapphire Countries

7.8Cts Green Sapphire

The price of Sapphire varies, depending on whether it is ‘heated & treated’, just ‘heated or ‘no treatment’. As a very general guide I would start a good quality ‘heated’ blue sapphire at circa U$1,000 to U$1,250 a carat and a non-heated’ at U$2,250 to U$3,000. Other colours may be slightly lower or higher depending on demand.