How to Choose a Quality Sapphire Stone

Sapphires are recognized for their durability and exquisite beauty. In addition to their visual allure, sapphires are also considered valuable due to their astrological significance and healing benefits. As per Vedic astrology, sapphires bring happiness, wealth, and balance in one's life. But, before you purchase a sapphire, it’s vital to determine its quality. Because several gemstone dealers provide fake or heavily treated sapphires to their customers. In this blog, we will share some essential tips to help you identify and choose a high-quality sapphire stone. 

Understanding Sapphire Gemstones

Sapphire is a beautiful gemstone that belongs to the corundum mineral family. These gems are used for making all kinds of fashionable ornaments and for astrological purposes. It has a Mohs hardness of 9, which makes it one of the hardest gemstones in the world after diamond. Due to this reason, this gemstone can be worn on a regular basis. 

Natural sapphires are found in several countries around the world, such as Sri Lanka (Ceylon), Kashmir, Myanmar, Madagascar, Thailand, and Australia. However, the best quality sapphires are found and mined in Kashmir(India) and Ceylon(Sri Lanka).

Importance of Color in Sapphire Stone

One of the main factors that should be closely observed before buying sapphire is its color. It helps to determine the quality and value of a sapphire gemstone. High-quality sapphires are generally more vibrant and have a dark shade. 

What to Look for in Sapphire Color

• The color of sapphires should be bright with a vivid color tone
• The color should be evenly distributed throughout the gemstone
• There should be no dullness or grayish appearance
• It must show a natural brilliance under light

It must be noted that a good quality Blue Sapphire (Neelam) has a deep royal blue or velvety blue color. On the other hand, the best Yellow Sapphire (Pukhraj) should show a bright canary-yellow shade. You must know that very dark sapphires may appear blackish, while overly light stones may lack visual appeal and value.

Clarity and Transparency

For best astrological results, you must choose only a a natural and highly transparent sapphire stone. It must be kept in mind that the natural sapphires generally contain small inclusions inside their structure. However, a high-quality Sapphire should appear clean and transparent to the naked eye.

Signs of Good Clarity

• Minimal visible inclusions
• High transparency
• Bright sparkle and brilliance
• No cracks or cloudy appearance

It must be noted that finding completely flawless sapphires is very difficult, because they are very rare. In addition to this, the prices of these kinds of sapphire is also very high. However, minor inclusions inside the structure of sapphires are acceptable. But they should not affect the beauty or durability of the gemstone.

Choosing the Right Cut and Shape

The cut of a Sapphire greatly affects its brilliance and overall appearance. A well-cut sapphire reflects light properly and enhances the beauty of the gemstone.

Popular Sapphire Shapes

• Oval Cut
• Cushion Cut
• Emerald Cut
• Round Cut
• Pear Shape

A properly cut sapphire should look symmetrical and balanced. Poor cutting can make even a high-quality gemstone appear dull and lifeless.

Check the Origin of the Sapphire

One of the major factors that helps to determine the overall price and quality of the sapphire stone is its source or origin.  It must be noted that some origins are more valuable because of their rarity and exceptional gemstone quality.

Best Sapphire Origins

Kashmir

The Sapphires found in the Kashmir region of India are among the rarest and most expensive sapphires in the world. They display a unique velvety blue appearance.

Ceylon (Sri Lanka)

The sapphires sourced from the Ceylon region of Sri Lanka are also famous for their cornflower blue color and great clarity. These sapphire stones are especially used for astrological purposes.

Burma (Myanmar)

Burmese sapphires are known for their rich color and premium quality. But many of these sapphires undergo treatments to enhance the clarity, which decreases their astrological powers. 

Natural vs Treated Sapphire

Nowadays, many sapphires are treated with various procedures to enhance their overall color and clarity. Some of the major treatments include heat treatment, fracture filling, or diffusion treatment to improve their appearance. While treated sapphires may look attractive, they are generally less valuable than natural, untreated stones. In addition to this the astrological effectiveness of the treated sapphires also gets diminished. 

Why Natural Sapphire is Better

• Better astrological effectiveness
• Higher long-term value
• More durability and authenticity
• Natural beauty and brilliance

For astrological purposes, astrologers usually recommend wearing natural and untreated Sapphire gemstones.

Importance of Certification

One of the safest ways to ensure the authenticity of a Sapphire gemstone is through certification from reputed gemstone laboratories. A gemstone certificate contains all the information related to the gemstone such as its Origin, Treatment performed, Carat Weight and Authenticity. Some of the Trusted Gemstone Labs are listed below:

• IGI
• GIA
• GRS
• GJEPC
• IGITL

Always ask for a proper certification before purchasing any expensive Sapphire gemstone.

Sapphire Price and Budget

The price of Sapphire depends on several factors such as:

• Color
• Clarity
• Origin
• Carat weight
• Treatment
• Cut quality

Natural Sapphire prices in India can range from Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 2,00,000+ per carat depending on the gemstone quality.

Premium-quality Kashmir or Ceylon sapphires are usually more expensive because of their rarity and superior appearance.

Tips for Buying a Quality Sapphire Stone

Important Buying Tips

• Always buy certified gemstones
• Choose natural, untreated sapphires whenever possible
• Check the color carefully under natural light
• Avoid overly dark or dull stones
• Buy from a trusted gemstone seller
• Compare multiple stones before making a purchase

Conclusion

When selecting quality Sapphire stones, colour, clarity, cut, and where it was sourced are factors need to be assessed carefully. In addition to this, you should only buy the gemstones from a trusted gemstone seller, who provides certificate of authenticity with the gem. You can buy all kinds of sapphires from RashiRatanBhagya at affordable prices.