Blue Sapphires! Who doesn’t love them or want to cherish them? Known as the gemstone of the heavens, the lovely blue of this precious stone remind one of the cornflower blue of the skies and the heavens up above. Although sapphires come in many colors, it’s the sapphires from Sri Lanka that are stunningly beautiful and has come to be one of the most sought after gemstones in the world today.

Sapphires are known to be found in many countries and Kashmir is long known for this precious gemstone, although its resources have long since been exhausted. Originally found in Sri Lanka, earlier known as “Ceylon”, the most beautiful, and revered sapphires are found in Sri Lanka and anyone who has knowledge of gems will know at once that there’s nothing to beat the pedigree of the genuine Ceylon Sapphires.

Although everyone tends to think of sapphires only as blue, this is not so because this precious stone comes in all colors of the rainbow and even in colors of the sunset which is a special kind of sapphire known as the “padparadcha” sapphire. Its colors range from red, to pink to orange, and calls for a very high price with the Padparacha now becoming even more in demand than the all time favorite blue Ceylon sapphires.

Even genuine gemstones are treated to enhance their clarity and color and the sapphire is no different. However, in the case of the Sapphires from Sri Lanka, there is only one treatment that has been approved and this goes back to over 2,000 years where heat treatment was carried out in ovens. The stones are subjected to very high temperatures to intensify their color and the more fragile stones get broken during this process, leaving only the tough and survivable stones ready for the market. Do not be deceived by talks of heat treated stones being of no real value. In fact, Sapphires from Sri Lanka are 99% of the time heat treated and this is a perfectly acceptable arrangement that has been going on for thousands of years. It definitely does not lessen the value of the stone and only makes it more attractive and durable in the long term. Keep in mind, the only way a sapphire can be truly distinguished as untreated is when it comes with a certified authentic document from a reputed gem lab; in which case that particular gem will cost twice or even more times the price of a so called unheated gem without an authentic certificate.

When buying Sapphires, the price will depend on color, clarity, cut and carat, with Ceylon Sapphires being more expensive than those from other countries. Even those from Sri Lanka will be priced according to their demand, with the pinky orange Padparadha calling for a very high price followed by the blue sapphire. Different shades of blue also calls for different prices with the light cornflower blue being more expensive than the deeper blues. Pricing of Ceylon Sapphires are also not that simple, meaning; just because a 1ct sapphire is priced at $1,200, it does not necessarily mean, a 2ct gemstone will be double its price. The price would most likely be 4-6 times higher than that of the 1ct sapphire.

It does not matter what carat your Ceylon Sapphire is. Even if you buy the tiniest gemstone, treasure it and care for it and when you are not wearing it just watch it sparkle and dance in the sunlight because it’s truly a gemstone of the heavens.

When we think of sapphires our minds at once visualize the beautiful blue star sapphire or the breathtakingly beautiful Kashmir or cornflower blue sapphires that are known to one and all. Even if we cannot afford the likes of such valuable gems, we at least have seen them at museums, exhibitions and jewelry stores of the highest reputation. What most of us are not aware of is that blue is not the only color that sapphires are found in and that they are also available in a very exciting array of fancy shades such as purple, yellow or even green which does surprise many who never imagined that there ever was a stone called a star green sapphire.

These fancy colored sapphires as they are referred to can be found in any color of the rainbow and usually come from countries such as Australia, Madagascar and Thailand whereas the finest of green sapphires are found in Sri Lanka and is said to be extremely rare and in a color that is very uncommon. Other types of green sapphires do not have the same clarity as those found in Sri Lanka while most of them have overtones of blue-green while the yellow sapphires tend to have hues of chartreuse and olive green in them.

Being of a very rare kind, the better quality green sapphires are usually small in size and anything larger than 10 carats would be a rare find indeed. It is this very scarcity that makes this valuable green stone rather expensive and could demand a price of $1,000 a carat going up to $3,000 per carat, depending on the clarity, color, and carat weight and cut of the stone.

There’s another type of green sapphire which is nothing like the ones found in Sri Lanka and those are the Namibian green sapphires that are said to have been once worn by Egyptian royalty and considered to be an excellent investment in today’s gem market. The difference between the stones found in Sri Lanka and Namibia is that while the Sri Lankan gem is completely green in color, its Namibian counterpart looks more like a diamond with hints of green in it and is supposed to be one of the most highly sought after gemstones in the modern world. If you ask “why” the answer is that the Namibian green sapphire is not only rare due to there being no huge deposits of them anywhere, but also due to it having an almost unbelievable 500% return on its investment.

Since of recent however, it has become more and more difficult for the untrained eye to differentiate between the natural genuine stone and the heat treated ones that are flooding the market and being sold as the genuine thing to dupe the gullible customer. Most green stones fall into this category because although they are lovely to look at, green sapphires of value are hard to find which makes it easy for a fraudster to trick someone for easy gains. Therefore, if you ever feel the need to buy green sapphires, it should always be from a reputed jeweler known for his honesty and integrity so that you can be sure what you buy is the genuine kind and not a heat treated piece of fake stone.

Isn’t it amazing that nature can produce such fascinating gems like the star sapphire? The unique phenomenon of having the appearance of a star inside the stone that moves with light, which is caused by light reflecting on the many inclusions inside the stone, is in itself another fascinating mystery of nature. Surprising, I should think when usually precious gems with inclusions are not considered of much value, whereas in the case of the beautiful star sapphire, the sharper and clearer the star is the more valuable it is. A deep blue star sapphire which looks almost black would have a star that is sharper and brighter than a stone of less intensity in color.

Although talking about the star sapphire is easy, finding such a unique stone with a crystal clear star would indeed be a rare find. A genuine star sapphire is seldom discovered and when it does, it’s better to refrain from craving to possess one because it will be simply beyond the means of any average or even moderately rich person due to the very high price tag it comes with. This has in no way decreased its popularity which has brought it into the forefront of the attention of fraudsters who seem to never relax in trying to dupe the uneducated by trying to sell synthetic sapphires with a ready made star packed into it. These fake and shoddy so called star sapphire rings were initially quite in demand in view of the publicity it received while the unsuspecting buyers paid thousands of dollar for a piece of machine made junk that was not worthy to be called a gemstone let alone a star sapphire.

Does this mean that the average citizen can never buy a star sapphire ring or own one at all? No, it doesn’t. Once the above gimmick lost its allure when people began to realize the cruelty of the trick played on them, famous gemmologists did their best to get to the bottom of the star effect in the sapphire. One of their more successful results was the diffused star sapphire which was in fact a genuine sapphire enhanced to bring out its star quality through the application of technology. This was definitely more acceptable than the earlier produced junk while the enhanced star appeared to be even clearer than that in the real star sapphire.

Treating the sapphire to bring out the star makes no difference to the quality of the stone while the cost of a diffused star sapphire is much more affordable to the average person. All of this has made it a very popular stone to be cast in rings and other pieces of jewelry and buying a star sapphire ring set in platinum, silver or gold is now completely within the budget of most people who simply cannot resist the charm of this amazingly beautiful stone. Now you can easily own a diffused star sapphire ring that looks like the real thing but costs much less. So why cry for the moon when you can have the stars closer to you that shine even brighter.

The Ceylon Sapphire, also the Sri Lanka Sapphire, is one of the most beautiful gemstones and is also the birth stone for the month of September.

These stones are not found everywhere in this world and are limited to a very few locations such as Sri Lanka, India, Burma, Madagascar, Australia and Africa. However, the most beautiful of sapphires are found in the land of Ceylon, erstwhile name of Sri Lanka, and thus these sapphires have come to be known as Ceylon sapphires.

What most of you must be thinking about is that sapphires are blue in color but that’s not at all true. Sapphires are found in variety of colors from sparkling yellow, purple and pink to even colors such as violet and green. It is believed that sapphires provide protection from evil spirits and harm, thus the royal family of Sri Lanka as well as other Asian royalties and European aristocrats are said to have worn sapphire rings since ancient times.

Sri Lanka has long been known for its exotic gems and though blue sapphires are the most important gem found on their land, since 2005 fancy sapphires have also turned into a huge export business. Fancy sapphires are any sapphires which are not blue in color. The most famous of all Ceylon sapphires is the Padparadscha and they are sought worldwide due their beauty and mystical history. It is believed that the Padparadscha is the color of a lotus flower and the tropical sunset, mesmerizing thousands with its melting color equilibrium. It has attained a mystical quality due its ever changing color tones.

At least 95% of the Ceylon sapphires are treated before export. Untreated sapphires are considered a rarity and are extremely difficult to find. Most of the sapphires available are often fakes so you need to be careful while buying sapphires. Buying sapphires after seeing their photo on the internet isn’t a wise idea because it is extremely difficult to capture the true photo of a sapphire. With every different angle and distance a different hue and color of sapphire comes out so you must understand that what you might see in a photo may not be actually visible.

Sri Lanka is famous for another sapphire which is yellow in color. Though these sapphires are not strong in color, they are extremely lustrous and crystalline in structure. A well cut Ceylon yellow sapphire is a beautiful gemstone that can be gifted to friends and family. Other than these there are also purple sapphires which are far undervalued due to their strong color presence. Pink sapphires are quietly growing in popularity because most girls like the pink color and apart from Padparadscha, pink sapphires have become the most expensive variety amongst the fancies.

Due to the huge variety available, the cost of Ceylon sapphires may vary a lot depending on the color, the size and the shape. It would be wise to set a budget before setting out on buying sapphire rings or jewelry. You must get yourself Ceylon sapphires as they are the most beautiful gemstones and last for a very long time.

The yellow sapphire it is said is perhaps the most popular gemstone after diamonds and rubies and is generally found in the Himalayas, Russia and Sri Lanka. Being rather heavy, translucent and smooth to the touch it comes in many shades such as deep yellow, light yellow, greenish yellow, orange and white. The pure golden yellow however is considered to be the best color for a yellow sapphire. It is also said to be beneficial to writers, authors, businessmen and traders, strengthen friendships, and prevents the wearer from accidental death. Better still, anyone having problems in finding a mate, will have his or her problem instantly solved by wearing a yellow sapphire ring. The ring however should only be worn on the index finger of the right hand for all these prophecies to come true with added benefits of wealth, fame honor and success.

A colorless material that results from aluminum oxide which is known as corundum is the basis on which the yellow sapphire is formed. The addition of iron and titanium during the formation of the crystals is what produces the beautiful yellow of the sapphire. Although this gemstone is cut and faceted into almost all the usual shapes such as round, octagonal, cushion cut and square, the oval cut is supposed to be the best to get the most out of the gem. Commonly found in all sizes from 8 to 10 carets, the pure and large sized gems of the golden color are said to be very rare and therefore highly priced.

When buying yellow sapphires, what is important is its color and clarity. The better the clarity and color of the stone, the higher the price will be. Those that have been treated with heat or color enhanced as are most that is available in today’s market will fetch a low price while the stones that are untreated or unheated such as the “Ceylon Sapphire” (now Sri Lankan) can be as little as $100 per carat or as much as $400 per carat depending on the quality of the stone although this price can even be much higher.

Most dealers treat the yellow sapphire to improve its transparency and clarity hoping it will fetch a better price by selling it to an unsuspecting buyer. If such treatment has indeed been carried out, it’s only ethical for the seller to inform the buyer which in actual fact brings down the value of the gem. A layman however will not be able to distinguish the difference between the treated and untreated stones unless the seller has the decency to inform him about it. If you want to know how to buy a yellow sapphire either as a loose stone or in a ring, it is always better to get it checked by a reputed gemological lab that will be able to let you know whether the stone has been treated or not.

Many modern brides choose the yellow sapphire for their engagement rings which can be made from a single stunning stone to one adorned with many tiny stones in an intricate design. Antique yellow sapphire rings are also very popular and some of the more spectacular ones can be seen lavishly set in gold or platinum cut in old European styles that are truly magnificent and timelessly elegant.

Sapphires in General
Sapphires are only next to diamond in hardness which makes it a very valuable piece of stone. The more popular sapphires come in blue while there are other colors in the family of sapphires with its single crystal formation of aluminum oxide that can be found in colors such as yellow, pink green and purple. Mined in Sri Lanka, Australia and in African nations the durability and beauty of the stone makes them prized possession on their own or embedded in necklaces, bracelets and other items of jewelry.

What are Star Sapphires?
Star sapphires happen to be one of the most fascinating stones in the family of gemstones, in view of the bright six point star that can be seen in the dome of the gem. The star is actually an optical illusion which is caused by light reflecting off very tiny inclusions inside the stone. Although the stars are normally six pronged, 12 ray stars are also known to be found in some sapphires. What is unique about star sapphire is that the stars can only be seen in bright sunlight or under a halogen light whereas a fake or synthetic stone will have the star flashing at all times which makes it easy to detect it.

Carats, Clarity, Color and Cost of Star Sapphires
Star sapphires are normally found in carats of 1 to 15 with the higher range being extremely rare and therefore very costly. The cost of the stone will also depend on the clarity of the star and the intensity of the color of the stone. Another simple way of distinguishing a star sapphire is that it is a stone that will never be transparent because of the inclusion in the stone that creates the star effect. Although star sapphire comes in various hues, such as green, black and yellow, a really valuable star sapphire with a six ray star in bright blue would be a rare find indeed.

Tips on Buying Star Sapphire Jewelry

Star sapphires are usually cut in round or oval shapes and the round shape is more expensive than the oval. An ideal stone would be a bright blue sapphire which displays a star with six clearly defined rays which would be visible when held up against the light.

Sapphires are normally graded by their carat weight and more the number of carats the more expensive they are.

A pair of star sapphire earrings would be a good buy while sapphire pendants are also very popular. Always buy them in settings of white gold, platinum or silver since any cheap metal would bring down the value of your jewelry.

Don’t expect to see a large really beautiful star sapphire at a jewelry store even if you have the means to buy it. These are found only in museums or as collectors pieces and will cost you an arm and a leg.

You cannot buy star sapphires without inclusions that make up the star. However make sure the inclusions don’t reach the surface of the stone which might result in it cracking.

Star sapphire jewelry sometimes comes with stones that are cultured or made in a lab. These are generally labeled as such and are not natural sapphires. Always asks the jeweler concerned if the stone is natural or not. Don’t be taken in by shiny glass that is sold as sapphire by unscrupulous traders.

Always buy expensive gems and jewelry only from reputable stores and always ask for an authentication certificate if you are not able to get it tested independently.

Where to Buy
If you buy your star sapphire jewelry online, make sure the jeweler is one of good repute and has been in business for a long time. When buying gems, online, you are not able to see the beauty of the stone or gauge for yourself the inclusions, clarity and color of the star. However, you can always inform the trader if you are not satisfied with your purchase, so that you can return it. Therefore, find out about the store’s return policy before buying star sapphires.

Star Sapphire jewelry will always be a great investment and therefore, always make sure that the star sapphires you buy are genuine and according to your liking. Once you have them in your possession, take care of them by keeping them away from extreme temperatures and guarding them from sudden impacts so that your star sapphires can bring you many long years of pleasure.

Introduction to Sapphires
Most of us remember the beautiful sapphire rings both Princess Diana and Princess Anne received for their engagements. Being the birthstone for September, it symbolizes faithfulness and sincerity and is also the gift for a 5th and 45th wedding anniversary.

Sapphires are found in countries such as Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, India, Brazil, Australia and many others even though most of the sapphires available for sale today are not the natural sapphires. The synthetic sapphires however can be breathtakingly lovely although they have been artificially enhanced through chemical treatments and high temperature heating to bring out the color and sparkle.

Buying Natural Sapphires

Natural sapphires are very rare and it’s very hard to distinguish between the natural and the synthetic stone unless you know exactly what to look for. Properly cut and polished sapphire can catch the light and sparkle just like a diamond. For the novice however, it is not easy to tell the difference between the two since the synthetic sapphires today are also enhanced to a very high degree that they look almost like the real thing.

Even natural Sapphires sometimes, have some inclusions in the stone. If the stone you hope to buy is flawless, you must think twice because only a lab created sapphire or a very rare and highly priced stone can be flawless these days. Furthermore, an artificial sapphire will have a blue that is very pure, just like blue glass.

By using a jeweler’s magnifying glass you should be able to check if the sapphire is natural or not. If you see any inclusion in the shape of bubbles, direct a beam of light on to the gem and if it does not go through the bubble, the sapphire is not genuine because in a natural stone the light should pass through the facets of the gem without interruption.

Fiber optic lighting is also a good method of testing sapphires. When the light shines through the gem, if it’s a synthetic stone, the color will glow with an artificial reddish hue whereas a natural sapphire will not have this abnormal shine inside the stone.

When you rub a natural sapphire between your palms, it will give a smooth, hard feel whereas a synthetic sapphire will feel rather waxy.

Even after conducting all these tests, you might not be able to distinguish the difference between the natural and artificial and your best course of action will be to ask the jeweler to examine the sapphire for you. By using special tools he will be able to tell you the difference.

Keep in mind that sapphires are not always blue. They are found in all the colors of the rainbow; and the very popular star sapphire which has six needles like rays that form a star inside the stone when held to the light.

When buying natural sapphires, the cut and clarity are the most important factors. A well cut sapphire will bring out the color and sparkle and can be cut according to the individual’s taste which can be oval, rounded, rectangular or even cushion shaped.

If you are planning to buy a quality natural sapphire, be ready to pay a large amount of money depending on the carats, color, clarity and cut. While absolutely flawless gems are exorbitantly high in price, a small inclusion or flaw can mean that your sapphire is indeed natural and not gone through any heat treatment. Always buy your natural sapphires from a trusted dealer and if buying online, make sure it’s an accredited site and check for its refund policy before you pay any money.

Buying a blue sapphire ring is a big decision, especially if you’re looking for the highest quality stone. It is a large investment. Prices range from low to high, depending on their depth of color, cut and gemstone quality. Whether it’s for daily wear, special occasions or business casual, adding blue sapphire rings to your wardrobe is a great idea. When paired with a business suit, sapphire rings help give your outfit a more sophisticated touch, conveying a well put together style and business flair. Sapphire rings also go well with a dress or your favorite pair of jeans.

However, these are not the only uses for sapphire jewelery. Many people put sapphires in wedding rings, because of their high status and beauty. When set with diamonds, a blue sapphire adds a beautiful touch to a casual ring setting. A blue sapphire ring can also stand alone as a wedding band. They also look good with diamonds that are set into a band ring.

Many online retailers sell blue sapphire rings at steep discounts, taking as much as 80 percent off the retail value. Of course, finding these retailers can be a challenge. Such retailers include Overstock.com Bidz.com, among others. You can find sapphires of all shapes and sizes on these sites, along with reviews from multiple buyers.

The nice thing about sapphires is that they come in many colors. According to experts, there are several types of sapphires, including pink, padparadscha, and yellow sapphire. According to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, sapphire is a member of the corundum family of gems. It can also come in shades of brilliant green.

There are other color variations of sapphires. There is something called a color change sapphire. A color change sapphire is a blue sapphire, whose color changes when it’s in different kinds of light. It is a deep blue color, when it’s in outdoor light. However, it changes to a purple, when exposed to indoor light.

When made into a blue sapphire ring, a color change sapphire is quite versatile. It can turn green under fluorescent light, and may change to pink when it’s exposed to daylight, Wikipedia said. Whatever the environment, sapphires are quite changeable, varying in color from dark blue to brilliant green.
Deep blue sapphires vary in color tone and faceting, depending on the environment. If a ring contains a midnight sapphire, it may be harder for the light to catch sparkles in the stone. If the sapphire is a lighter blue, it is likely to sparkle.

If you find yourself at a loss as to where to find the right blue sapphire ring, browse jewelery websites online. If you can’t find exactly what you want at one retailer, some online stores will custom-make them for you. You should be aware that not all sapphire rings are created equal. Stones that are not symmetrical and contain scratches or flaws are not nearly as valuable and may cost less.

Don’t buy the first blue sapphire ring you see. Browse different styles and color tones. A paparadscha sapphire is a deep orange and is really quite beautiful. Once you browse shelves, you will have a good idea of what you’re looking for.

One does not need to know all about sapphires but it is a good idea to know as much as possible about them so you can adequately chose a sapphire for ones own.

The word Sapphire apparently comes from the Hebrew ‘Sapir’ but may also have origins from the Greek/Sanskrit ’sanipriya’, meaning “dear to the planet Saturn”. A sapphire is a single-crystal form of aluminum oxide, a mineral known also as corundum. It can be found naturally as gemstones or manufactured artificially.

It is the small trace elements of iron, chromium and other minerals that give sapphires their blue, red, yellow, pink, purple, orange or greenish color. Sapphire includes any gemstone quality varieties of the mineral corundum including the red variety, also known as ruby. Both Sapphire and Ruby have a hardness of 9 on the Mohs Mineral Hardness scale, just below diamond which is classed as 10 on the scale.
According to Wikipedia:

“Blue sapphires come in a wide range of shades of blue. Titanium and iron inclusions within the aluminum oxide result in various shades of blue. Some stones are not well saturated and show tones of gray. About 99 percent of all sapphires are heated to a temperature of 3000 degrees C to give the stone a better color of blue. On magnification the silk due to included rutile needles are visible. If the needles are unbroken, then the stone was not heated. If the silk is not visible then the stone was heated adequately. If the silk is partially broken then a process known as low tube heat was used. Low tube heat is the process where the rough stone is heated to 1000 degrees C for 10 to 20 minutes. This takes out any gray in the stone and improves color saturation.”

“Fancy sapphires are any sapphire other than blue or red. Purple sapphires are lower in price than blue ones. These stones contain the trace element vanadium and come in a wide variety of shades. Yellow and green sapphires have traces of iron which gives them their color. Pink sapphires are have trace element of chromium and the deeper the color pink the higher the value as long as the color is going toward red of rubies. Color shift sapphires are blue in outdoor light and purple in indoor light. Some stones shift color well and others only partially, in that some stones go from blue to blue purple. White sapphires usually come out of the ground as light gray or brown and are then heated to make them clear. However in very rare circumstances they will be found in a clear state.”

Sapphires are mined mainly from alluvial deposits or from primary underground workings. Historically, most sapphires have been mined in Sri Lanka, Madagascar and Myanmar. Australia, however, now leads the world in sapphire production producing sapphires from basalt derived deposits in the north east of the country, Queensland and New South Wales. Pakistan, Afghanistan, India and Kenya also produce sapphires although not in any great quantity.

Studying up so one knows all about sapphires is an excellent way to be knowledgeable before you start to go off and buy a sapphire.

Cleaning your sapphire jewelery is a very important activity if you want to ensure it stays in a pristine condition

Sapphires are usually set in rings, broaches, pendants and sometimes necklaces and they get subject to dust, grime and the results of oils and perfumes, chemicals, hairsprays and body sweat.

It is important to know how to regularly maintain and keep them clean therefore.

One needs to be careful of using chemicals to clean gemstones. While diamonds are generally unaffected by chemicals, Sapphires may be, so knowing what one can and cannot use is vital to ensure you keep your sapphires in pristine condition and keep them sparkling.

Use a warm soapy solution in a large bowl (not over the sink as you don’t want to slip and lose your precious gemstone down the plug hole) and rub with a old toothbrush to get out any residue between the stone and the jewelery. Brushing underneath as well as the top and in between the crevasses is important. Ensure you brush gently as, although the gemstone may be quite hard, the precious metal it is set in may be soft and the claws that hold the gemstone may be easily snapped off. 24 karat gold is particularly soft so great care should be taken with that metal.

Make sure the piece is rinsed really well so that the is no soap caught between the gemstone and the jewelery.

Pat dry with a soft cloth. And allow to dry completely before storing or wearing again. A hair dryer can also be used with the setting on low so you don’t blow the jewelery piece away off and onto the floor and have to spend hours frantically searching for it.

If your jewelery is pure gold an ammonia solution could be used. It is not advisable with other metals, such as silver or a lower carat gold of 14 or 10 karat, as they also contain other metals which can react with the ammonia and cause it to go black.

The same principles of clean as described above apply. Brushed well to get rid of grime, rinsed really well and completely dried.

Some people let their gems soak in the solution for a half hour or so. To loosen any grime wedged in.

Using the above tips for cleaning your sapphire jewelery will help to keep them sparkling clean.