What Is A Sapphire?
Find out all there is to know about sapphires, including their many uses, different varieties, shapes, cuts, hues, and prices.
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How To Choose A Sapphire

Color

Consider the color's purity and intensity while selecting a sapphire. A sapphire's color is judged on its hue, tone, and saturation, which are all quantitative measurements.

Carat Weight and Size

Gemstones of the same carat weight may appear visually different in size because sapphires have varying densities. As a result of this, sapphires are weighed in carats as well as their dimensions.

Cut

Color and brilliance are maximized in each sapphire's unique cut. In terms of ``optimal`` cut proportions for sapphires, there is no standardization because sapphires have so many different characteristics.

Clarity

Due to the fact that sapphires grow in environments with trace minerals, it is a given that every sapphire has some inclusions. However, due to sapphires' deep hue, many clarity flaws go unnoticed.

Natural Sapphire Stone Origins and Sourcing Ethics

Sri Lanka is the primary supplier of our sapphires. Other countries' sapphires, such as those from Montana, Australia, and Malawi, are also available from us.

Traditionally, miners in Sri Lanka have relied on low-impact mining practices, fair salaries, and land rehabilitation to get the job done. The health and safety of miners is promoted through internationally recognized Australian practices. Mines in Montana are required by OSHA to follow safety procedures that protect the workers.

Types Of Sapphires & Sapphire Qualities

Sapphires mined from natural sources

Sapphires mined from the earth have the same chemical properties as synthetic sapphires made in a laboratory. Color, shape, and size all vary among natural sapphire crystals.

Natural sapphire labels tell purchasers that the stones have not been processed. Elleroses uses naturally-occurring sapphires that have undergone treatment to improve their color and clarity. Faceting is a process that some natural sapphires undergo after they are cut and polished in the mine. Sapphires that have not been treated are also known as natural.

Sapphires Made in a Lab

The only difference between lab-created sapphires and natural sapphires is that lab-created sapphires are created under more controlled conditions. Natural sapphires lack this constancy in color, quality, and hardness. No color treatment or enhancement is applied to lab-created sapphires in any way.

As a result of being grown in an artificial environment, lab-created sapphires are free of imperfections. Because they don't have inclusions or fractures that weaken them, synthetic sapphires are a little more durable. Because of their lower carbon footprint, lab-created gems are less expensive than naturally-occurring ones.

Sapphire Vs. Diamond

Sapphires and diamonds both come in rich colors, colorless, and white. Diamonds have more brilliance than sapphires. When a white diamond is cut well, it has more fire and scintillation than a sapphire. But white sapphires have become a popular and affordable alternative to diamonds due to their similarity in color and hardness.

The Mohs scale measures the hardness of gems. Diamonds are at the top of the scale with a hardness rating of ten. Sapphires are another hard and durable gem with a Mohs rating of nine.

Most diamonds are not treated with heat or other processes, while most sapphires do receive a heat treatment. The price of a cut sapphire can be as low as $50 per carat to over $10,000 per carat, depending on the color and clarity. Diamonds start around $3,000 per carat and top out over $25,000 per carat, depending on the color, cut, carat, and clarity.

Another consideration when choosing between sapphire and diamond is the difference in carat weight. Sapphires are heavier than diamonds, so a one-carat diamond will be larger.

Sapphires and diamonds can both be lab-grown, so consumers do not have to worry about ethical mining practices. When deciding between a white diamond or sapphire, consumers should consider the 4 Cs and what gemstone appeals to them.

Sapphire Rarity

When compared to diamonds, sapphires are an extremely rare jewel. Blue sapphires are the most frequent color, yet they are extremely rare in nature, making them quite costly. Sapphires are a bit easier to locate in nature than emeralds and rubies.

The rarest sapphire is a padparadscha sapphire that is a blend of orange and pink. Despite the fact that the official term alludes to the color of a lotus bloom, this color looks a lot like the sunset.

It is possible to find inclusions in some sapphires that give them the appearance of rays from the stars. Six rays are the norm for star sapphires, although some exceptionally rare star sapphires have twelve. Rutile and hematite inclusions in this variety of sapphire create two pairs of six rays.

Even seldom still are sapphires large enough to be used in jewelry. It's easier to discover smaller ones in nature.

Sapphire Hardness

Because both sapphires and rubies are made of corundum, they have a comparable hardness. In spite of the fact that a sapphire has a nine rating, it does not mean they are indestructible. Sapphires, on the other hand, are ideal for everyday use because they don't have cleavages that make them easily broken when struck.

Sapphires will not be harmed by heat, light, or common chemicals. Sapphires that have not been treated with boric acid can be scratched by the acid. Lemon juice and other weak acids may destroy sapphires of lower quality that are filled with cavities.

Sapphire Treatments

Sapphires are often heat-treated to improve their color, clarity, and general appearance. Thermal venting in the ground generates remarkable color in some naturally occurring sapphires. We can imitate this natural process by heating sapphires that aren't found in these places.

For the most part, Elleroses sapphires have been heat-treated, as is the case with most sapphires nowadays. In addition to heated sapphires, Elleroses sells unheated sapphires at a premium.

Sapphire Certification

As with diamonds, gemologists have yet to create a uniform grading system for sapphires. Color grading is the sole grading method accessible, although it lacks the systematic and precise nature of diamond grading. As a result, the grades are subject to change depending on who is doing the grading.

Caring for Your Sapphire

It is more difficult to clean sapphires than diamonds, yet they are still quite straightforward to maintain. Warm water mixed with a small amount of mild dish soap is the easiest way to remove greasy residue.

Sapphire FAQs

Is it true that sapphires are less costly than diamonds?

In general, sapphires cost less than diamonds to mine. While diamonds can be expensive, rare gemstones, such as the padparadscha and rich blue sapphires, can command similar prices. Carat weight is a factor in the price of sapphires and diamonds.

What is sapphire formed of?

Corundum, the mineral that sapphires are formed of, is another name for aluminum oxide. Ruby and corundum are both made of the same mineral. Corundum is the second-hardest substance known to man. It can withstand weathering. Sedimentary rocks and deposits are the most common places to find them, and they are commonly found around heat vents.

Where does sapphire come from?

Elleroses only uses sapphires that have been grown in a laboratory or that have been obtained ethically from mines. Sri Lanka, Australia, and Montana supply most of our sapphires. Conflict-free approaches, such as land reclamation and fair remuneration, are used in these regions.