LEARN MORE ABOUT BLUE SAPPHIRE
Sapphire Stones has long been regarded as a gemstone of nobility and elegance, having been frequently used for jewelry decoration in European royal families since the Middle Ages. In recent years, sapphire has been increasingly prevalent in the sales of graded colored gems, and the buzz has continued to rise.
Gemstone Attributes
| Mineral | Corrundum |
|---|---|
| Chemistry | Al2O3 |
| Color | Light - Deep Blue |
| Refractive Index | 1.762 - 1.770 |
| Birefringence | 0.008 - 0.010 |
| Specific Gravity | 4.00 |
| Mohs Hardness | 9.0 |
Blue Sapphire Value
When estimating the value of Natural blue sapphire, color is the most important element. While hue does count, the closer to a pure blue, the better, so saturation is more important. The highest quality sapphires have vivid saturation. The tone is also an important consideration. Dark sapphires are too common and don’t reach high values. When evaluating sapphire quality factors, one must consider both saturation and tone.
Blue Sapphire Sources
Sapphires can be found all over the world, but high-quality gemstones are much rarer and happen in fewer locations. These are some of the most notable sources:
- Sri Lanka : An ancient source that still produces amazing sapphires of all colors. Most blue Ceylon sapphire originate from the country.
- Kashmir : Stones from Kashmir set the standard for the evaluation of blue sapphires. Verified historic Kashmir Sapphire stones can sell for high prices. They possess a velvet texture and colors ranging towards purplish blue, combined with a strong to vivid saturation and medium dark tones.
- Australia : Sapphires from Australia tend to be darker in color, although some rare and fine examples come from the country. They have also found parti-colored stones, which are usually yellow and green or yellow and blue.
- Myanmar : The country formerly known as Burma produces some of the highest-quality gemstones, especially sapphires. Violet blue in color, highly saturated and with medium to medium dark tones.
- Thailand : The home of colored stones, Thailand produces blue sapphires in abundance. They tend to have fine hue and saturation, although some are strongly dichroic, with dirty green in a certain direction. This means the stone needs to be cut properly for it to not shine through.
- Montana : The US state produces all colors of Montana sapphire. They are known as ‘steely’ because they have greyish saturation. Sapphires from Yogo Gulch are an exception, as they have some of the world’s finest colors, although are rarely larger than one carat.
Blue Sapphire Properties
Sapphires usually contain some inclusions, but are usually higher clarity than rubies. Blue sapphires of exceptional clarity are rare and invaluable. There are several types of inclusions in sapphire. Among them, the elongated mineral inclusions are called needles. When needles are rutile minerals and intersect in groups, they are called filaments. Sapphire clarity is also characterized by crystals, fingerprint inclusions, color gamut, and color bands.
In addition to their rich color, blue sapphire gemstone often have a star-like asterism. This is caused by rutile needle inclusions that reflect light to create a six-rayed star. Blue sapphires are also very hard, rating a 9 on the Mohs scale of hardness. This makes them ideal for use in jewelry as they are resistant to scratching.
Blue Sapphire Colors
- "Royal Blue" - is a true blue or purplish-tinged blue that is one of highest ratings for sapphire color and is part of Vivid Blue and Deep Blue Sapphire. A Vivid Blue or Deep Blue whose saturation and lightness meet certain criteria can achieve a "Royal Blue" rating.
- "Cornflower Blue" - is a blue with a purplish tinge that gives a hazy velvety unique texture, named for its resemblance to the blue of the German national flower cornflower, belonging to Vivid Blue and Intense Blue part.
This visual effect is caused by light scattering through the gemstone when the gemstone contains finely divided grains, short needle-like inclusions or growth lines. Cornflower sapphires were first produced in Kashmir, India. Like "Royal Blue", "Cornflower Blue" is not restricted to origin, and each origin may yield a sapphire with "Cornflower Blue".
Blue Sapphire Care
- Soap and water is always a safe bet when it comes to cleaning jewelry. Simply mix a bowl of warm water with a drop of mild dish soap and let your jewelry soak for a few minutes. Use a soft-bristled brush to gently scrub away any dirt or grime. Rinse well and dry with a soft cloth.
- If your blue sapphire jewelry is especially dirty, you can make a paste out of baking soda and water. Gently rub the paste onto the surface of the jewelry with a soft cloth, then rinse well and dry.