Sapphire - What is sapphire

Sapphire—the most sought-after gem for rings

Sapphire—that gorgeous gemstone seen in fabulous engagement rings worn by royalty—symbolises fidelity, truth, and nobility. The mineral corundum yields two precious gemstones—the red ones are rubies, and the rest are sapphires. One of the “Big Three” coloured gemstones used in jewellery, sapphires are most popular in shades of blue.

Prized for centuries and believed to have healing powers, sapphires were worn by ancient Greeks and Romans as protection from envy and harm. Historically, the most significant sapphires come from Kashmir in India, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar. Sapphires are also found in Cambodia, Madagascar, Australia, the US, and Thailand, which, along with Bangkok, is a primary cutting and polishing hub for sapphires.

Sapphires come in a rainbow of colours

Clarity, intensity, and uniformity of colour determine the price of sapphires. Velvety blue to violet-blue sapphires with vivid colour saturation are the most expensive per carat.

Fancy Sapphires

Padparadscha is a rare pink and orange sapphire, valued as a collectible. Collectors also prize uniformly green sapphires.

Star sapphires in a broad spectrum of colours, marked by the phenomenon called asterism caused by tiny, needle-like inclusions that disperse light in different directions. These are cut as cabochons to display asterism. The more visible and centred the star, the greater the value of the star sapphire.

Parti sapphires are stones that change colour depending on the lighting. These colour-changing sapphires typically range from blue to violet; the colour change varies from purplish- to reddish-violet.

Yogo sapphires, mined in Montana, USA, are a rich cornflower blue.

Mermaid sapphires are teal-coloured with a beautiful 50-50 mix of blue and green.

Interesting facts about Sapphires

The best-known sapphire in recent times is the swoon-worthy 12-carat Sri Lankan gem, encircled by diamonds, in the late Princess Diana’s engagement ring, now passed on by Prince William to his wife, Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge.

Also famous is the stunning 62-carat Rockefeller Sapphire. Acquired by philanthropist Rockefeller from an Indian Maharaja in 1934, it is a rectangular step-cut blue sapphire that has been recut and reset a few times. This spectacular sapphire now shines in a ring with two triangular white diamonds on either side.

Sapphires are the birthstone for September. With a hardness of 9.0 on the Moh scale, sapphires are cut in many shapes, the most popular being round, cushion, and oval. They are durable stones that do not fracture easily, making them perfect for everyday use.

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