Sapphire is a stone that can come in many colors - yellow, pink, orange and purple - but most sapphires are blue. Blue sapphires, which are the favorite stone of those born in the month of September, can be of various shades, from medium blue to almost black. Sapphires are popular not only for their beauty but also for their hardness; the only harder gem is the diamond. When you decide to buy one of these stones, you should be well documented on how to choose quality sapphires.
Steps
Step 1. Decide whether you want to purchase a natural or lab-created sapphire
If you choose a natural stone, ask if it has been heat treated. Natural stones are sometimes altered in this way to change the sapphire's appearance.
Step 2. Look at the stones of various shades of blue
Since the hue of sapphires can vary so much, there is really no standard for color. The stones can have greenish or purple reflections.
If you look at a sapphire through a magnifying glass and see no inclusions, you should suspect that it is not a natural stone. High quality sapphires have no inclusions visible to the naked eye
Step 3. Choose the shade you like best
The "tone" refers to how dark the stone is. The most precious sapphires have a medium to medium-dark tone.
A rule of thumb says that a sapphire should not be so dark that it cannot be said to be blue, and it should not be so clear that one cannot tell if it is a sapphire or some other type of lighter colored blue stone
Step 4. Analyze the saturation of the sapphire, or the intensity of color
Lower quality sapphires will be grayish. The saturation of a high-quality sapphire is intense or even bright.
Step 5. Observe the clarity of the sapphire you are considering
Sapphires can have many inclusions and will not be as clear as diamonds.
Step 6. Check the cut of the stone
High-quality, well-cut sapphires should have symmetry, balance and uniformity when viewed from any angle. Look at the stone from the side, from the top and bottom. Check for areas in the stone that appear watery or uneven in color.
Advice
- Sapphires are mined in India, Burma, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, Brazil and Africa.
- The highest quality raw sapphires are quite rare and very expensive. Many jewelers will not cut and mount a sapphire that is above a normal commercial level, because doing so would result in a significant loss of carat weight.
- Ask questions about natural stones. Your jeweler or gemstone dealer should be able to tell you something about the sapphire you are considering. Find out where the stone was extracted from and what kind of treatment it has had.
- It is very important to know if the sapphire you are about to buy has been treated or not treated with heat because this has a vital importance on prices, so always ask for the certificate if you buy a very precious sapphire. Always prefer a certificate from the GIA, GRS and AIGS.
