What to Know Before Getting a Sapphire Engagement Ring?

The are a variety of reasons why a person may opt for a sapphire engagement ring. Often times this simply comes down to the decision to have a different gemstone (other than diamonds) at its centre. But in practice, the choice to go for a sapphire comes down to many factors. And unless you know why you are opting for this gemstone type, it is best you have a foundational understanding of this precious mineral. Which is what we will seek to establish in this post.

What are Sapphires?

Any kind of discussion concerning sapphires, sapphire engagement rings and sapphire jewellery, in general, must begin by understanding the core elements of the gemstone. So the first question to ask is: What are sapphires? Sapphires are corundum crystals, which are hardened minerals that formed deep within the Earth’s surface hundreds of millions of years ago. Technically sapphires are referred to as corundum gems: that feature a particular mineralogical character, notably the presence of aluminium oxide with other trace minerals.

Over the years arguably the most notable feature that has come to distinguish sapphires in the world of gems and gemstone jewellery has been their distinct colour. Sapphires are best known for their rich hues and varying tones that make them a true standout in the world of gems. When it comes to sapphire colour, it might be interesting to know that sapphires get their colour from the presence of trace minerals. Thus famous corundum stones like the blue sapphire get their colour from the presence of iron and titanium in various amounts.

Indeed this is true for all coloured sapphires, which get their distinct hues from the presence of trace minerals at various levels in various types. Which in turn affects not just the specific colour or the lack thereof of the sapphire in question, but also the quality of the hue. Which takes us to sapphire colours.

Top Sapphire Colours for Engagement Rings

When it comes to buying a top sapphire engagement ring the colour of the prospective gemstone or gemstones is a key consideration. It is vital that you get this part correct. As noted blue is the most popular sapphire hue in the gemstone world. However, it is not the only one, nor indeed the rarest of the hues in the sapphire family.

Today sapphires come in a variety of hues from pink, yellow, orange, purple, green and even purple. Actually, sapphires can be found in virtually all major colours in the rainbow. This is because of the ability to stone to absorb many types of trace minerals during its formation. This is why sapphires are relatively more abundant than the famous red gemstone: the ruby, which is technically a red corundum stone. This owing to its red colour causing trace minerals is considered a distinct gemstone category.

However, colour-conscious gemstone buyers, who may be out looking for a special gemstone colour for their sapphire engagement ring, might be glad to know that sapphires in rarer hues, stand apart from the rest. Notable here is the famous Padparadscha sapphires: which feature a distinct orange-pink hue with tinges of yellow depending on the stone. This lotus-flower-coloured sapphire is one of the rarest gemstones in the world and makes a great choice for prospective engagement rings buyers who are looking for a rare and premium option. If you wish to learn about exotic gemstones like the Padparadscha sapphire, check out our Education pages.

Cornflower and Royal Blue Sapphires

In the blue sapphire range, sapphires come in a variety of hues. This might sound confusing to new buyers but it is an important point for consideration. Given the wide variety of blue hues that are out there, certain blue sapphire types have come to dominate the market for sapphire engagement rings. These are the Royal blue and Cornflower blue sapphires.

The Royal blue sapphires are known for their deep, distinctively rich tone that is a clear standout in the blue sapphire family of gemstones. Long considered a choice of royalty, the deep rich blue, though not necessarily dark, generates this vivid rich colour that makes this variant in the blue sapphire family a great choice, and a must for new sapphire engagement ring buyers to consider, particularly if your aim is to go for high end sapphire engagement ring Australia.

Next, we have the cornflower blue sapphire engagement, this blue gets its name from the actual Cornflower in nature, which features a distinct blue hue, that is different in terms of tone and vibrancy, whilst featuring a slightly purplish hue. A stone that is shiny and alluring with a captivating tone and is a great choice for engagement ring buyers, but it is somewhat hard to come by unless you know where to look for.

Sapphire Engagement Ring Buying Tips

When it comes to buying a good quality sapphire for your engagement ring there are a host of factors to consider. Presuming that you have settled on a specific colour (blue, pink, yellow, or white) then you have to consider the quality and character of the stone.

Most sapphires sold in the market today are natural gemstones. Meaning they were mined from the Earth and then cut, polished and then made ready for fine jewellery like sapphire engagement rings Australia. However today there are artificial sapphires, known also as lab-grown gemstones that are available in the market today. Which are generally a cheaper option, and are supposed to contain few inclusions on average. Though sapphire engagement rings buyers who opt for this type, tend to miss out on the magic of owing a natural Ceylon sapphire engagement ring.

Next, we have the quality factors that determine the value of each individual sapphire gemstone. Sapphires and other top gemstones like emeralds and rubies don’t have the fixed gemstone quality measure such as 4Cs, that are found in the world of diamonds. Sapphires do come with their own set of gemstone quality measures. Such as the vibrancy of the gemstone’s colour: lighter, darker or dimmer. The presence of colour in gemstone: is it centred in one area or is it spread out evenly? The type of colour: where blue sapphires and Padparadscha sapphires dominate. Or more unique sapphire colours, like white sapphire which compete against some of the best diamonds, and make a great choice for buyers of sapphire engagement ring Australia.

Keep an Eye on the Gemstone Cut

Whilst the process of picking a top gemstone cut is of great consideration in the diamond engagement rings discussion, this too applies in the world of sapphire engagement rings. Though in a somewhat different way. Whilst brilliant cut variants like the round cut dominate the world of diamond rings, in the world of sapphire, the gemstone is often cut in a step-like way, often to maximse the colour regions of the gemstone. This is important as it may affect the general cut (shape) of the gemstone such as emerald cut, cushion, oval cut, etc. So customers best inquire about it first hand.