Sapphires are one of the most popular and sought-after gemstones in the world, as they are considered to be one of the “The Big Three”, along with rubies and emeralds. Depending on the sapphire you’re buying, it may rack up quite the cost, so one must be quite knowledgeable about what exactly one is getting. It is afterall, an investment, and the purchase should be treated as such. This ultimate guide on how to buy a sapphire is going to help you choose one for yourself.
6 Points – How to Buy a Sapphire?
Understanding what to look for and what questions to ask a jeweler makes finding the ideal sapphire much easier. Before getting started, keep in mind that color stones do not have a standardized grading system like diamonds do.
Sapphires come in many different colors, shapes, and sizes. It is important to have a basic understanding of these qualities and how they affect the value of the gemstone. This knowledge also helps when you search for sapphires online or in person, making it much easier to narrow down your options.
Without further ado, let’s dive right in.
Color: How Hue Impacts When You Buy Sapphire
Like all other colored stones, the primary pricing factor, when it comes to a sapphire, will depend on its color saturation and intensity. Sapphires can be found in an array of colors ranging from pink, white, to yellow, to teal. The rarest type of sapphire, and the most expensive, is the Padparadscha sapphire. Blue however, is the most popular, and each color has its own grading system.
As mentioned earlier, there is no standardized grading system for color gemstones, however, most reputable jewelers will have their own system for identifying intensities. The most desired color will be a velvety blue to violetish blue. For other colors, such as pink or yellow, a vivid color is more preferred. What one should consider, is if the stone is fully saturated throughout.
If the stone has an oversaturation of color, it will become opaque, and lose some of its value. The other end of the spectrum, is if it’s too light in color, then also it will be less valuable, as it will be lacking in color saturation.
As color is one of the most significant qualities of a gemstone, it is important to understand the color grading system of each jeweler. To view GemsNY’s color grading system for sapphires, click here.
Shape Matters When You Buy a Sapphire
Identifying a desired shape of sapphire will greatly aid in narrowing down any search. Sapphire is a very popular gemstone, so one can find it in a variety of styles. There is a standardized naming system for each shape, ranging from the classic round to the more modern, cushion and emerald cut.
One thing to keep in mind is that colored gemstones are faceted differently as compared to diamonds. Lapidaries cut sapphires based on the stone’s rough material to maximize color, therefore, a deep-cut stone will appear visually smaller, while a more shallow cut stone will appear visually larger, despite its shape. With a wide range of shapes to choose from, you can rest assured that you’ll find one that suits your style. To view GemsNY’s sapphires by shape, just use filters on our website to your desired style with the “shape” tab.
Clarity Check Before You Buy Sapphire
For those concerned with inclusions, understanding clarity gradings will be very beneficial. Clarity refers to the number of inclusions, or imperfections in a sapphire gemstone. Colored stones typically display inclusions under magnification. Experts focus on eye-visible clarity rather than microscopic details. The closer a gemstone is to being flawless to the naked eye, the more expensive it will be. However, if inclusions are significant enough to affect the stone’s durability, then it can affect the pricing quite negatively.
To view GemsNY’s clarity guide, click here.
Carat Balance for a Perfect Sapphire
This is one of the most misunderstood qualities of color gemstones. Many customers often consider diamond sizes when purchasing color gemstones. However, color gemstones are much denser than diamonds, and thus will appear much smaller despite having the same carat weight.
Gem cutters follow different cutting styles for color gemstones. These differences make them appear nearly 30% smaller than diamonds of the same size. Therefore, before you buy sapphire, it is important to note the dimensions of the gemstone, rather than its weight. Dimensions are always listed in millimeters as length x width x depth. A gemstone with larger length x width dimensions will have a bigger table, and thus appear visually larger.
Treatments & Origin of the Sapphire Gem
Many people tend to consider the origin and treatment as a dealbreaker when choosing a sapphire. Industry-accepted treatments, such as heat, do not reduce a sapphire’s quality. In fact, a heat-treated sapphire can match the beauty and durability of an untreated gemstone. It does, however, affect the value as untreated stones are rarer. What’s even more rare, is finding an untreated sapphire in a desired color and clarity.
For those looking to save money and get a sapphire with a beautiful appearance, treated sapphires are definitely a good choice. For those looking for something rare and valuable, untreated is the way to go. There is no wrong answer as to which one to buy. It simply depends on the preference and the investment value you are looking for.
The same holds true for origin as well. While there are some mines that have much greater history and lore surrounding them, mines all over the world produce both high- and low-quality sapphires. Some customers seek sapphires from Ceylon and Kashmir due to their strong history and rarity. Whereas others give importance to the appearance and quality of the stone and not to the origin.
Settings & Styles to Consider
Understanding where and how you will use the sapphire plays an important role in the buying process. Some customers just get loose gemstones and keep them that way. Many people buy sapphire to later set it in different jewelry settings. Understanding settings for each jewelry type can alter the search for a sapphire.
The bezel setting remains a popular choice for rings. In this, jewelers set the gemstone low, enclosing it in metal so it rests close to the skin. Since the stone isn’t visible from underneath, choosing a large, deep sapphire offers little visual advantage.
Conversely, a ring setting with high prongs will work best with a deep, and a bigger stone. The setting raises the gemstone prominently, allowing an unobstructed view. However, smaller gemstones may get lost and appear even smaller in this setting.
Knowing the basics of a sapphire will go a long way in finding the best quality gemstone at the best price. You might feel intimidated when identifying sapphire qualities and making a big purchase, but knowledge empowers you every step of the way.
If you’ve decided to buy a sapphire, browse the extensive collection of untreated heirloom quality sapphires at GemsNY.
