The higher concentrations of titanium in the sapphire, the more color saturation. Too much color saturation can create a dull or overly dark effect in the blue sapphire which is not desirable and lowers the price of the stone. Most commercial quality sapphires are in fact not blue but black in color.
The most valued blue sapphires are velvety blue to violetish blue, in medium to medium-dark tones. Sapphires with these qualities command the highest prices per carat. Less valuable blue sapphires might also be grayish, too light, or too dark.
Blue sapphires that have vivid and uniform colouring with medium to medium-dark tones are usually considered to be the most beautiful.
Sapphire Price
Sapphire prices can range greatly, depending on many factors. Sapphires can come as cheap as $25 per carat, to over $11,000 per carat. A blue sapphire around 1 carat is likely to cost from as little as $450 to $1,600, depending on quality.
The faceted black sapphire price per carat range (at wholesale) starts at $4 per carat and reaches $290 per carat, with most under $40 per carat.
Black Sapphire is a beautiful and mystical stone that has been prized for centuries. The black color of the stone is said to represent strength, power, and protection—as well as good luck and fortune. In addition to its beauty, the stone's benefits extend to both the physical and metaphysical realms.
Black star sapphire, also known as 'natural star sapphire' is a type of corundum (aluminum oxide). It is usually cut into a dome shape to show a star feature.
The blue color in a blue sapphire comes from the mineral titanium that is within the crystal. The higher concentrations of titanium in the sapphire, the more color saturation. Too much color saturation can create a dull or overly dark effect in the blue sapphire which is not desirable and lowers the price of the stone.
Both blue and fancy sapphires come from a variety of exotic sources including Madagascar, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Australia.
The sapphire can be simply blue, but when differentiated, it can have a more light blue tone or a deep blue. Preferred hues for sapphires vary from hue to hue, but most fine sapphires have a medium to medium-dark hue. Sapphires that have a very dark hue, for example, are often referred to as 'inky'.
Diamonds will typically appear more sparkly than sapphires of similar qualities because of the differences in how these stones reflect light. In smaller sizes, the differences are typically less apparent.
However, natural sapphires come in almost every color of the rainbow including pink, rose, violet, yellow, orange, green, blue-green, or white (colorless). The special color combination of pink-orange or orange-pink is known as Padparadscha sapphire, the rarest sapphire color, and a special rarity.
Kashmir Sapphire; Kashmir sapphires are widely considered to be the most valuable and desirable sapphires in the world. They are named after the region of Kashmir, where they were first discovered in 1881. Kashmir sapphires are known for their rich, velvety blue colour and their exceptional clarity.
India. The locality considered to produce the finest blue sapphires in the world is Kashmir, India. These amazing stones are mined at 16,500 feet in the Zaskar region. Kashmir blue sapphires are known to have a velvety or sleepy quality that is very desirable.
It is believed as a source of bringing positive change and great success in people's life. But before you wear it, consultation with an experienced astrologer is necessary. An off-handedly taken decision may land you to new problems. Studded in iron or gold, it should be worn on the middle finger of right hand.
Ceylon stones have a true cobalt blue color, unlike an Australian or Thai stone that has more of a black-blue color. Because Ceylon sapphires tend to be on the lighter side of the color spectrum, they are generally cut very deep in order to bring out the saturation of color. We look for stones with a medium depth.
Additionally, Australian Sapphires are an extremely durable stone with a hardness of nine on Mohs' scale, which makes them an extremely versatile and high quality piece for everyday wear.
The most famous engagement ring in history
Diana chose her sapphire engagement ring from Garrard in 1981. Encircled by a halo of diamonds set in 18 carat white gold, the deep, intense blue of the 12-carat oval Ceylon sapphire is magnificent, enhanced by its exceptional lustre.
Professionals consider blacks sapphires low-grade, low-quality gemstones. They are considered low-grade because they are abundant and mined in large quantities. All of this contributes to its low price.
To identify if your sapphire stone is real, stay in total darkness and use a flashlight to shine a light on it. If you have a genuine sapphire, the same color as the sapphire stone should reflect back. However, if it is a fake sapphire (usually made of glass), you will see other color reflections in the crystal.
Purple sapphires are actually caused by trace amounts of the mineral vanadium that alter the colors of the corundum. Purple sapphires have a few different names depending on where you go, but are universally recognizable for their lovely hue.
Stones Similar to Spinel
Red, pink, and blue spinel gems are frequently confused with rubies and sapphires, so much so that some famous gems were initially mislabeled as ruby or sapphire. For black spinel gemstones, black tourmaline can be a solid stand-in.
And Bangkok sapphires are generally heat-treated and also have a slightly deeper color as compared to Ceylon sapphires. Ceylon sapphires are not that generally available, and that's why these gems are offering a higher selling price than other Sapphire.
The blue sapphires from Sri Lanka, now referred to as Ceylon Sapphires (and Sri-Lankan Sapphires) are known for being lighter, brighter, and more vivid than the dark blue sapphires that come from other countries.