HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK YOU KNOW ABOUT SAPPHIRE?

All women love jewels. They are always planning to expand their jewelry boxes; one or two types of gemstones are never enough, and there is a constant search for other options. So, if you want to pamper yourself through buying a new gem, but you just can’t decide what to get, or if you are looking for something different from the regular stones, we’ve got the perfect suggestion for you, which is Sapphires! But first, you need to know more about this charming gemstone, and how much quality it possesses, this will make you confident about landing your choice on it. This article will certainly give you a hand in this.

Table of Contents:

• What is Sapphire?
• What Does a Sapphire Represent?
• What is the Use of Sapphire?
• Is Sapphire Expensive?

1- What is Sapphire?

Sapphire is one of the most valuable precious gemstones; it is a type of mineral corundum that consists of aluminum oxide with small amounts of other elements and minerals. Sapphires are very demanded because of their excellent durability, luster, and hardness. Sapphire is the second hardest metal after diamonds, as it ranks at grade “9” on the Mohs Scale.

Formation of Sapphire

Sapphire’s age is estimated at 150 million years. Since then, rocks that are buried in the depth of earth have gone through intense heat and pressure, which turned them into such precious gemstones under these particular conditions. Usually, Sapphires are located between 6 to 18 miles underneath the ground surface. Over time, the natural movement of earth and certain weathering factors exposed the Sapphire deposits to humans. There are a few locations around the world that have exposed Sapphire mines:

• Australia.
• Cameroon.
• China (Shandong).
• Cambodia.
• Colombia.
• India (Kashmir).
• Ethiopia.
• Kenya.
• Madagascar.
• Laos.
• Mozambique.
• Malawi.
• Myanmar.
• Nigeria.
• Rwanda.
• Sri Lanka.
• Thailand.
• Tanzania.
• United States (Montana).
• Vietnam.

Sapphires of Kashmir, Burma, and Sri Lanka are considered the most valuable with high quality and clarity.

Sapphire Colors

All Sapphires are formed of mineral corundum, which is scientifically known as Aluminum oxide. Sapphires acquire colors from the other minerals they include, such as:

• Titanium.
• Iron.
• Chromium.
• Magnesium.
• Vanadium.

The typical color of Sapphire is blue, and it is the most common. If you mention Sapphires without adding a color prefix, people in the gemology industry will understand that you are referring to blue Sapphires. However, Sapphires also exist in purple, green, yellow, and orange. Some Sapphires include two or more colors; they are called “Parti Sapphires.” Interestingly, only red corundum stones aren’t classified as Sapphires; they have a unique name, which is “Ruby.”

2- What is the Use of Sapphire?

Sapphires are used to make all types of jewelry like rings, necklaces, bracelets, and earrings; they could be used as the central piece or as surrounding gems around diamonds. However, they are also used in other applications away from the jewelry industry, such as:

• Infra-red optical components.
• High durability windows.
• Wristwatch crystals.
• Movement bearings.
• Very thin electronic wafers, which are used as insulating materials in electronics circuits.

3- What Does a Sapphire Mean?

It is essential to realize that Sapphires are not only pieces of jewelry. Many spiritual beliefs are embedded within this magnificent precious gemstone. It is known as “the stone of wisdom.” This stone is related to almost every culture throughout history. In different civilizations, Sapphires symbolized many positive beliefs and implications, like:

• Wisdom
• Luck.
• Intuition.
• Intuition.
• Meditation
• Optimism.
• Friendliness.
• Loyalty.
• Generosity.
• Love.
• Self-appreciation.
• Balance.
• Independence.
• Intellect.
• Knowledge.
• Spiritual development.
• Creativity.

These values formed a solid reason that urged people to purchase a Sapphire to feel reassured about their positivity and to fight their worries and depression away.

4- Is Sapphire Expensive?

Sapphires are one of the most expensive gemstones in the world, but of course, the price depends on many factors. The price range can be between $50 per carat up to $10.000 per carat, while the most expensive Sapphire ever sold on record costs $135.000 per carat. The vast difference in price results from the different qualities; a small high-quality Sapphire is much more expensive than a large mid-quality one. Don’t get overwhelmed by these prices, as this doesn’t mean that you can’t purchase a Sapphire if you have a limited budget; you only have to calculate how much you are willing to spend before you fall in love with a one you can’t afford. Here are some tips to keep in mind for choosing a Sapphire that meets your budget:

• Like diamonds, you have to consider the 4Cs; color, cut, clarity, carat size, but in the case of Sapphires, there is a fifth “C,” which is the country of origin.
• Unlike diamonds, color is the most crucial factor in determining the Sapphire price. There are three aspects related to a Sapphires’ color; hue, saturation, and tone. Use a specialist consultation to evaluate each of them.
• According to the 5Cs, keep lowering the grades of each factor until you find the affordable Sapphire.

Whatever your style or your favorite color is, and what symbols of life you believe in the most, Sapphire can suit them all and reflect your elegance, wisdom, and personality!