Sapphire- The Sensuous Stone

The corundum group consists of pure aluminium oxide and traces of other elements such as iron, chromium, titanium etc. that give the stone its magnificent color. Sapphires, known for their beauty, constancy and durability, constitute of the non-red variety of the corundum group, the deep saturated red being termed as Ruby.

When talking of Sapphires, the vision of a velvety blue color striking into mind is the obvious reflex; the reason being that blue Sapphires, by far, remain the most popular and sought-after gemstone. This ascertains the esteemed position it commands in the world of gemstone jewelry. But the shades of blue are not all that is offered by this marvelous gem variety. It presents a wide array of colors including yellow, pink, orange, green purple and white. The industry terms Sapphires other than blue as “Fancies”.

The blue sapphire is a common member of the gemstone earring family and is also seen quite often in gemstone rings. Use of multicolored sapphires in gemstone bracelets in combination with diamonds is the recent trend in fashion jewelry.

To obtain a clear white Sapphire is a rare incidence. White Sapphires, often used as substitutes for diamonds, are usually obtained as grey or brown and are then treated to make them clear. As the pink of sapphires moves deeper, towards the hue of ruby-red, their price increases. The gemstone jewelry world often uses the deep pink sapphires as substitute for rubies.

The Sapphires are bestowed with yet more flabbergasting features. There are Sapphires with color shifting characteristic. You have stones appearing blue in daylight and turn to purple when viewed under incandescent light. Peculiar even, a pink Sapphire, that is in daylight, appears green when seen under fluorescent. Furthermore, there are the star-Sapphires exhibiting a star-like phenomenon known as asterism. The star sapphire is almost always used in single faceted jewelry such as gemstone pendants and gemstone rings.

The value of a Sapphire is determined by its size, color and transparency. The color of a Sapphire is largely dependent on its origin, thus, making origin an important factor in value determination. The Kashmir Sapphires with a pure blue hue and a subtle violet overtone intensified by a silky shine are the most valuable followed by Burmese Sapphires whose color ranges from a royal blue to a deep cornflower blue. Whether the stone has undergone some treatment or other is also a factor under consideration while determining the value of a Sapphire. The value of star Sapphires is determined not just by the size of the stone but also by the visibility and intensity of the asterism.

The rough Sapphire is sent to the cutter, who scrutinizes the stone and musters his skill to cut the Sapphire in the best possible way in order to bring out utmost brilliance and sparkle.