sapphire buying guide

7/29/2019 Sapphire Buying Guide

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Editors Note: Continuing with our tradition of reproducing some of the nuggets from the literature of gems, we are

proud to present this article from Palagems.coms ex-webmaster, Richard Hughes. Hughes is author of Ruby &

Sapphire, one of the finest books ever on a single gem species.

For additional information on sapphire, click the link below:

Palagems.com Sapphire Buying Guide 2001 Richard W. Hughes

My love, she comes in colors.

Arthur Lee, Love

he business of judging precious stones is an eclectic one, not for the timid or shameless. The appraisal ofprecious stones involves decisions both conscious and unconscious. Try as we may to slice, dice and

pigeon-hole the elements of quality, in the end an analysis of their features requires more than just a

formula, just as fine cooking involves not simply ingredients and a recipe. It is about reaching for factors beyond the

immediate senses, and in that respect is quite like enjoyment of fine art, food and music.

While one mans Miles Davis might be anothers Kenny G, there are certain things that the discerning among us

look for. Thus, what I will try to convey to you in the following passages is educated emotion, something to help

separate the long, languid lines of artistic truth from aimless noodling. Here you will find the ingredients, the recipe,

the score. But without the passion that only the viewer himself can bring, both these gems and our time on this

precious planet are a waste.

With that introduction, let us now examine blue sapphires. Here I have a confession to make. Blue is my favoritecolor. I love blue. Thus the following essay is one of love.

Kashmir Blue Velvet

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been mined at Yogo Gulch, Montana (USA), while lesser stones have been produced

elsewhere in Montana. Other sapphire localities include Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi and

Rwanda.

Enhancements.Today, the vast majority of blue sapphires are heat-treated to

improve their appearance. The resulting stones are completely stable in color. In

lower qualities, heat treated stones sell for roughly the same as untreated stones of

the same quality. However, for finer qualities, untreated stones fetch a premiumthat is sometimes 50% or more when compared with treated stones of similar

quality. Other treatments, such as oiling, dying and surface diffusion are seen on

occasion. As with all precious stones, it is a good practice to have any major

purchases tested by a reputable gem lab, such as the GIA or AGTA, to determine if

a gem is enhanced.

Imitations. Synthetic blue sapphires have been produced by the Verneuil process

since about 1908 and cost just pennies per carat. Blue sapphire has also been

produced by the flux, hydrothermal, floating zone and Czochralski processes, but

such stones are rarely encountered. Doublets consisting of natural sapphire crowns

and synthetic sapphire pavilions are fairly common, particularly in mining areas.

Synthetics are also common at the mines, in both rough and cut forms.

Lore. According to Indian astrological beliefs, sapphire is associated with the planet

Saturn. Although the blue sapphire traditionally comes from Sri Lanka and Burma, it

is rarely used in traditional Indian jewelry and Indian jewelers are sometimes

reluctant to handle the stone associated with this powerful planet. Although no

superstitions of this kind are associated with Islam, the gem was not commonly

used even in the Mughal courts. No such fear exists in the West, an sapphire is one

of the most popular of all gems. In the modern Western system, sapphire is the

birthstone of September.

The above stone is a fine example of a

star sapphire. It features a sharp star

and, most importantly, an intense blue

color.

Properties of Blue Sapphire


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Sapphire (a variety of corundum)Composition Al2O3

Hardness (Mohs) 9

Specific Gravity 4.00

Refractive Index 1.7621.770 (0.008) Uniaxial negative

Crystal System Hexagonal (trigonal)

Colors

All except red (ruby)

Pleochroism Strongly dichroic: violetish blue/greenish blue

Phenomena 6 or 12-rayed star

Handling No special care needed

Enhancements Frequently heated; occasionally oiling, dying, surface

diffusion

Synthetic available? Yes

For further information on sapphire, see also:

Kashmir Sapphires The first eyewitness account of the fabled Kashmir

sapphire mines in northern India, 1889, by T.D. LaTouche. Complete with period

and modern photos.

Ruby & Sapphire Deposits of Moung Klung, Siam 1894 account of mining

ruby and sapphire in Thailand. By Henry Louis.

Ruby & Sapphire by Richard W. Hughes, the finest book ever written on the

subject.

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Pala International is home to some of the planets finest gems, precious stones and mineral specimens. Here you will findcolored stones of every persuasion, including fine Burma ruby, Burma sapphire, Ceylon sapphire, Kashmir sapphire, alexandrite,cats eye, tourmaline (including rubellite tourmaline), spinel, garnets such as tsavorite, demantoid, rhodolite and spessartite,imperial topaz, aquamarine, emerald, and a plethora of others. Palagems.com also features educational articles on all aspectsof gems, gemology, and mineral specimens.

Page updated February 8, 2010

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