Sapphire is the hardest gemstone in the world after diamond, and one of the most expensive. When buying a sapphire, it is important to know how to evaluate the quality of the stone to make sure you are buying only the best. You also need to shop smart, knowing where and how to buy to avoid being scammed.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Buy Quality Gems
Step 1. Decide what shade of blue you want
Sapphires are in shades of blue, the lightest shade is light blue and the darkest is navy blue or black. The most popular color is royal blue, in the middle of the gamut. Being the most popular, it is also the most expensive. The Camelot and Commodore shades, which are slightly lighter and darker respectively, are similar in color but less expensive.
Step 2. Consider the hue
Blue sapphires are can be pure blue, or they can have green or purple undertones. The pure blue color is considered the most valuable, followed by the lightly tinged purple color. Purple and deep green tints are generally considered undesirable.
Step 3. Check the transparency of the stone
Transparency is often underestimated when buying sapphires, but the more transparent a stone is, the brighter it appears. However, transparent stones can be expensive. The transparent and semi-transparent stones allow a greater quantity of light to pass through them, the translucent stones let the light through but hide the objects, guaranteeing a good compromise between the quality of transparency and price. Semi-opaque and opaque stones allow little or no light to pass through.
Step 4. Consider a particular colored sapphire
Blue is the most common color for sapphires, but these gems can also be of different colors. Padparadscha sapphires, which are pink-orange, are rare and are considered valuable. Pink sapphires are also very popular. Colorless, yellow, and green sapphires are much less popular.
Step 5. Be aware that the stone's origins affect its price
Where a sapphire is mined has a huge impact on its cost. Sapphires from Kashmir, Mogok, Burma, and Ceylon are usually more prized than those from other places. The reason is that the quality of sapphires from those mines is usually higher than those from most other areas. However, that's not always true, and paying for origins is a bit like paying for a brand. You can save money by purchasing quality sapphires from less famous mines.
Step 6. Pay attention to the cut
The cut is not the shape of the stone, rather it is a term used to refer to the facets on the surface, which allow light and color to appear at their best. A deep cut sapphire has a better color, while shallow cut stones often appear too large for their weight and appear lighter in color. The cut of a sapphire is usually judged as excellent, very good, good, fair and poor.
Look for ratings from official gem organizations, such as the Gemological Institute of America. Jewelers can give their own appraisal, but it is usually more generous than that provided by the GIA
Step 7. Expect more inclusions in blue sapphires
The purity of a sapphire refers to the number of inclusions or cracks within the gem. The fewer cracks there are, the more expensive the stone will be. Look for official ratings from a gem association like the GIA.
- VVS (slightly included), VS (slightly included), and SI1 (slightly included) stones have few inclusions, which have no effect on the brilliance of the stone.
- SI2 stones have inclusions which under the magnifying glass are obvious but have little effect on the brilliance of the stone.
- I1, I2, and I3 have inclusions and surface spots that are obvious even without a magnifying glass.
Step 8. Don't be afraid to choose a treated sapphire
Most sapphires undergo heat treatment. Jewelers heat sapphires in an oven at high temperatures for several hours, thus enriching the color of the stone. Untreated, inclusion-free and perfectly colored stones are rare and expensive, but since heat treatment is so common, a heat treated sapphire can still have a high value.
Method 2 of 2: Buy Smart
Step 1. Establish a budget
Determine how much you can afford to spend before falling in love with a sapphire out of your league. Sapphires can range from a price tag of $ 50 per carat up to more than $ 10,000 per carat, and the most expensive sapphire in the world has sold for $ 135,000 per carat. The price of a sapphire is mostly determined by quality, and a large, low-quality sapphire can be much cheaper than a small but high-quality sapphire. Cut is usually the most important quality, as it has the greatest impact on the brilliance of the stone. Next comes transparency and purity (the number of inclusions), followed by color.
Step 2. Choose a suitable metal to set the stone
A placement on a cool-toned metal such as silver or white gold is perfect for blue sapphires. However Padparadscha sapphires look good on yellow gold, and pink sapphires look good on both gold and silver metal.
Step 3. Beware of potential fakes
Not-so-honest sellers may try to sell unwitting buyers a cheaper stone that looks like a sapphire instead of a real sapphire. Tanzanite, blue spinel and blue tourmaline are among the stones that some might try to pass off as real sapphires.
Step 4. Work only with reputable distributors
National chains are often a good place to start because their deals are scrutinized much more closely than individual merchant stores. If you look at the selection offered by local jewelers and individual sellers, be sure to ask to see the official certification of each sapphire you plan to buy. An honest jeweler will be able to provide you with certification from the GIA or other independent gemstone companies.
Step 5. Save by buying unset and wholesale sapphires
Retailers raise the price of sapphires, as they have to ask for a higher price than they paid in order to make a profit. Wholesalers, on the other hand, can sell you single stones at very large or similar prices. Buying the stones not set and having them set later can cost less than buying stones already set, and so you also have the possibility to customize your jewel.
Step 6. Buy online and in-store
Both modes have their pros and cons. Buying sapphires online often turns out to be cheaper than buying them in stores. On the other hand, buying sapphires in person allows you to examine the quality of the stone and the validity of the certificate with your own eyes, before making the purchase.
Step 7. Go see several jewelers
Each jeweler will have different sapphires and as a result, you may be able to find two similar designs at different prices. As in many other cases, going to numerous stores, both online and in person, increases the chances of finding the best sapphire for your budget.
Advice
- Consider buying a sapphire as a birthday or wedding anniversary gift. Sapphire is the birthstone of September and is a traditional gift for the 45th wedding anniversary.
- Common sense says it is better to aim for quality rather than quantity. You may be able to afford a large, low quality sapphire, but on closer inspection it will look a lot less beautiful than a smaller but higher quality sapphire. This is very important, especially if you want to buy a sapphire as a gift for someone else.
