Blue Sapphires: The Dominant Colour

In the world of gemstones, sapphire tends to be synonymous with the colour blue. Whilst sapphires are found in a variety of colours, it is the colour blue that has emerged to become the dominant variant in this type of gemstone. The reason why is this is so is interesting. Historically the world of gemstones has been dominated by sapphires, and two other gemstones: one of them synonymous with the colour green (guess), the other gemstone being associated with its colourlessness and extreme hardness (guess). The colour blue which is associated with intelligence and responsibility and also the coolness and liberating character of water is embodied in the beauty of a natural blue sapphire. For when it comes to blue sapphires there is more than one type, as blue sapphires are found in a variety of shades and tones.

Why Blue Sapphires are Valued

Sapphires, if you have been reading the literature surrounding precious stones, is a corundum based gemstone that is valued for its extreme rarity and hardness. In fact, sapphires are rarer than the all-famous diamond, and since sapphires are found in a variety of colours, in addition to the various shades of blue; quality blue sapphires, notably the top variants such as the luxurious Royal Blue Sapphires, and the beautiful Cornflower Blue Sapphires are even rarer. When a person thinks of blue sapphires a blue gemstone, a certain tint and tone come to mind. The question is why? Why this colour and not a version of blue, or different colour altogether? As the dark to the darkish shade of blue owing to their relative rarity in the sapphire family has become the trademark colour for this particular gemstone. At this point, it is important to understand that the colour in sapphires is the result of external elements that are present within the crystalline structure of the gemstone. With blue sapphires, their colour is the result of traces of iron and titanium that is present in them. With higher iron content lending to a darker hue for the blue sapphire. However, when it comes to the popularity of blue sapphires, there are other more complex reasons why this has come to be.

Blue Sapphires in History

Blue sapphires have been recognized and used as precious gemstones for a long period stretching back thousands of years. From the time of the ancient Romans, and the Greeks before them, blue sapphires were recognized for their uniqueness and beauty. In fact, the very word sapphire is derived from the term used in ancient Rome word for describing the semi-precious stone lapis lazuli: sapphiros. In addition to the various mystical qualities that were attributed to them: such as conferring protective qualities one those who wear them; as time passed, the perception of sapphires as a gemstone with powerful qualities continued to evolve, where its value evolved from its mystical significance to its supposed medicinal powers during the Middle Ages. And in present times, notably in parts of South Asia, sapphires, like other precious stones are believed to contain mystical powers: The blue sapphire, which is believed to be ruled by Lord Saturn in Hindu religion, who is believed to bring forth material success. Needless to say these beliefs and their association with precious stone like sapphires continue to hold sway today.

Where do the Top Blue Sapphires Come From

Sapphires are sourced from a number of countries spread across the world. Whilst the dominant players in the industry today are Thailand, Myanmar (Burma), and Ceylon; with strong contenders from Sub Saharan Africa, notably Madagascar, Tanzania. Newer entrants (or old ones that making a comeback) like Australia and the United States are also starting to a make mark in the market for sapphires. But when it comes to sapphires, notably blue sapphires the key thing to keep in mind is that not all are made equally. Blue sapphires, as noted, come in a variety of tints, with the obvious differences between darker and lighter variants. What is different, however, is that the quality of the blue varies, in addition to its lighter or darker tone. The science of sapphire colour is a key area one needs to learn in determining the quality of sapphire with respect to its colour. However when it comes to the country of origin certain nations have developed a reputation for being the top destination for sapphires with a blue colour that is rich, vibrant. Colours, which at lighter and darker shades, manifest the rich vividness. Ceylon Sapphires (Sri Lanka), sapphires from Thailand, along with those from Madagascar tend to be the top destinations. This is not to say that quality blue sapphire cannot be found in other sapphire exporting countries, but these countries command a vast range of blue sapphires; and when it comes to Ceylon sapphires, they are the top destination for the valuable Royal Blue and Cornflower sapphire varieties.

Blue Sapphires: The Gemstone of Royalty

I reckon many of us have heard about Princess Diana and her famous (or infamous) marriage to Prince Charles. One of the most memorable things about her story, one that has captivated the fascination of many is her famous blue sapphire engagement ring. A Royal jewel that has become something of the gold standard in the world of top-class engagement rings. The famous blue sapphire engagement ring was passed on to her son Prince William, who used to it in his proposal to his future wife, Kate Middleton. Interestingly, the practice of using blue sapphires as the precious stone of choice for royal jewellery has a long tradition, with the practice going back hundreds of years in recent history. In 1796, the French monarch and conqueror Napoleon Bonaparte presented his wife-to-be Joséphine, with a diamond and sapphire engagement ring. And the sapphire that featured in the famous engagement ring was bold blue sapphire.

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Blue Sapphires: The Gemstone with Many Shades Blue

As noted, there is no single type of ‘blue sapphire’. Blue sapphires come in multiple shades and a variety of tints within this particular hue. From the most popular Royal Blue sapphire to the lighter but pleasing Cornflower blue sapphire, in addition to the many shades that blue sapphires can be found, In addition to these popular, but relatively rarer blue sapphire varieties, there are countless other shades and tones of blue in which corundum gemstones are found. Hence one of the main strengths of the blue sapphire gemstone range is the sheer number of options from which to choose, with varying levels of brightness, vividity and glow. With a greater range of choices in terms of quality and price.

Are Darker Blue Sapphires Better?

A widely spread myth about the blue colour in blue sapphires is that the darker the colour the better the sapphire. Because of this, many merchants are selling almost black inky dark blue sapphires for premium prices. These sapphires look very dull unless they are exposed to direct or bright light or observed in well-lighed jewellery showroom setups. The best coloured blue sapphires should showcase their intense true blue hues under ordinary conditions such as indoors, shaded outdoor places, and in a car etc.

Blue Sapphire Engagement Rings

One cannot speak about blue sapphires without engaging the blue sapphire engagement ring. Arguably the strongest challenger to the dominance of diamonds in the market for top quality blue sapphire engagement rings. Blue sapphires, particularly those that score well in the 6Cs of Sapphires are able to manifest a powerful glow that challenges the very best that the carbon-based gemstone is able to offer. To make things better, blue sapphire engagement rings combine well with diamond accent stones, or with other gemstone varieties: which may include sapphires with different colours, or semi-precious stones, for a more affordable but quality option. When it comes to blue sapphire engagement rings

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Some Thoughts on Treated Sapphires

In the market for quality sapphires, there has been some debate on the treatment of corundum gemstones. The treatment of sapphires (known as curing) refers to the heating of sapphires to improve the colour and the physical character of the gemstone. The heating of sapphires is an industry-standard practice, one that has been used to enhance the qualities that are already present in the gemstone as opposed to artificially adding something externally. There has been some debate in certain industry circles on the acceptability of this practice and its effects on the blue sapphire's quality. As some companies have positioned themselves as sellers of "untreated sapphires": with the idea being that sapphires that are not treated via heating as somehow superior in quality. For which our response is this: the heating of a natural sapphire (not lab-grown), is a complex process, involving many stages with a great degree of expertise. And it is one that varies from blue sapphire to blue sapphire. The aim is to improve the quality of gemstone: in terms of its colour, durability and clarity. The advantages one gains by heating gemstones if passed for the sake of preserving their “untreated” character, you must decide if this decision is worth it: For often the price that one will have to pay for the stone with the same qualities, untreated will exorbitant, owing to their immense rarity. So you have to decide if this is worth it.