When it comes to easily-obtained information, the world of sapphire engagement rings is not as well-documented as that of diamond rings, for example. However, as the popularity of this precious stone continues to experience a second wind, more and more people are becoming savvy to the terminology used by experts in the field
One distinction, however, continues to baffle those less in the know that between a natural and an untreated sapphires. And with good reason: at first glance, the two would appear to be the exact same thing. There is, however, a very subtle difference, which it is important to be aware of when shopping for sapphire engagement rings.
On what, then, does the distinction between a natural and a untreated sapphires hinge? The answer lies with commonly used heating and clarity-enhancing processes. These are mostly well-accepted and rather common procedures, whereby a naturally mined gemstone is submitted to certain laboratory measures in order to enhance its look, clarity, brilliance, and other parameters customers often look for when purchasing sapphire engagement rings.
The hitch, then, lies with the fact that, by definition, these treatments automatically make any stone they are applied to cease to be an untreated stone. As such, a sapphire can only be called a untreated' when it combines the requirements of having been obtained from nature and never having been subject to any type of artificial enhancement treatment undertaken in a laboratory.
Stones that do come from nature but have been chemically treated to enhance smoothness or brilliance are often referred to as a natural. When compared to untreated sapphires, these will often have fewer imperfections or inclusions, much richer colors and added brilliance, making for an overall more attractive appearance.
As far as which of these variants is better, or even acceptable, the sapphire market is actually divided. While most jewelers and industry professionals have an accepting stance on chemical treatments in sapphires, there are, of course, those who advocate that the only stones of this kind worth having are those who are sold as they were plucked from the earth, entirely untreated. To those with this point of view, a natural sapphires are tantamount to synthetic ones, as they have been altered in a laboratory setting.
Couples buying stones for their sapphire engagement rings, however, are likely not to be too fussed about the distinction between untreated and natural sapphires. For them, it will be all about the brilliance and beauty of the stone. Still, this is an important subtlety to know about - as they say, the more you know...
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Showing posts with label sapphires. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sapphires. Show all posts
September 6, 2014
September 3, 2014
What Is A Sapphire Gemstone?
What are Sapphire Gemstones?
Sapphires are the second hardest gemstone, after diamonds, and are very similar to, if not exactly the same as, rubies. Both sapphires and rubies are from the mineral corundum, but their colors are what separate them. Rubies are the red colored corundum, where all other colors of the mineral are the gemstone sapphire.
Sapphire Colors
Although all colors of the mineral corundum are sapphire, with the exception of red, the most common color of sapphires is a light blue tint. Other colors include dark blue, purple, pink, yellow, orange, and even green. Some are common, others rare, and some almost impossible to find.
The green and yellow colored sapphires are a result of iron that is mixed in with the stone. Most of the rough sapphires that are yellow are extremely light, but when treated with heat or beryllium become a much darker shade or yellow that is more brilliant. The green colors are a mix of the yellow and blue combined, and although it may appear green to the naked eye, up close there are bands of the two colors.
When the mineral in combined with iron and titanium it turns into a rare purple sapphire. When the stone is a padparadscha sapphire is a mixture of pink and orange giving it just a hint of pink in the light. This rarity is normally purchased for $5,000 per carat. Both of these colors are rare, but can be found in a few countries, especially in parts of Sri Lanka.
The rarest of all the sapphires are the darkest and lightest colors. The rich dark blue gemstones are referred to as the Kashmir and Burmese sapphires, and although some dark sapphires can be found, none of them display the same richness that theses sapphires do. Clear or colorless sapphires are the rarest of them all, and are almost impossible to find. In most cases there is a small hint of yellow or blue in them, but if they truly have no color, they are almost priceless. Colorless sapphires that you will find are generally synthetic and hold a much lower value than if you were to own a rough sapphire with no color or tint.
Where the Best Sapphires are Found
Sapphires can be found in several countries around the world including, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Kenya, and even in some parts of the United States, but not all sapphires are normal gemstones, but instead have become famous due to their impeccable beauty.
The largest sapphire ever found was 536 carats and discovered in Sri Lanka over 300 years ago. This gemstone is named the Star of India and in the recent years was donated to the American Museum of Natural History where it was stolen and then recovered only a few months later. Another large and incredible sapphire can be found at the Smithsonian Museum. This gemstone has been cut into 423 carats and made into a brooch.
If you are looking to mine a rough sapphire, you will find the most deposits in Asia. Here is where almost all the different shades of sapphires are found and where they are the most abundant. The top leading countries for deposits of rough sapphires are Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Madagascar, but the majority of all sapphires are shipped to Thailand to be polished and cut.
History of Sapphires
Sapphires have been associated with truth and peace for centuries, some myths have even developed about them that are still present in our society. It is believed that sapphires were once worn as shield of protection by travelers to protect themselves from dangerous creatures that lurked in the darkness of night. The sapphire was also believed to have powers to affect a person brain by licking the stone.
Although these beliefs are not around today, they are still present in our everyday life. The sapphire is the birthstone of a Taurus (someone born in the month of May) because it will bring the person protection and not allow the brain to lose its sharpness.
Sapphires have also been associated with wealth and power for even longer. Although diamonds are viewed as the most prized gemstone that can be worn, it was not always that way.
Diamonds must be treated, cut, and polished before it becomes the brilliance that you know, but sapphires are amazing straight from the ground. Before technology, unpolished or rough sapphires were some of the most valuable gemstones because they shined so beautifully in the light. Some sapphires even change colors slightly when place in different lights. This is apparent with the Stuart Sapphire that is found on the British Imperial State Crown. This rough sapphire once sat on the crown worn by Queen Victoria after being handed down from kings to cardinals.
Treatment of Rough Sapphires
Although rough sapphires that are mined are amazing gemstones that shine, they are usually treated to enhance their beauty, just as any other gemstone would be. Heat treatment is most commonly used, but sometimes beryllium is used. The treatment does change the color and clarity slightly, but sometime to make the color even more brilliant, lattice fusion is used. This adds natural chemicals such as iron and titanium into the gemstone to further enhance the beauty. It is often argued that any treatment for a rough sapphire makes it a synthetic sapphire, but some treatment must be used to polish and cut the stone.
Sapphires are brilliant and rare gemstones that have been worn for ages and still hold great value and meaning in our world today.
Sapphires are the second hardest gemstone, after diamonds, and are very similar to, if not exactly the same as, rubies. Both sapphires and rubies are from the mineral corundum, but their colors are what separate them. Rubies are the red colored corundum, where all other colors of the mineral are the gemstone sapphire.
Sapphire Colors
Although all colors of the mineral corundum are sapphire, with the exception of red, the most common color of sapphires is a light blue tint. Other colors include dark blue, purple, pink, yellow, orange, and even green. Some are common, others rare, and some almost impossible to find.
The green and yellow colored sapphires are a result of iron that is mixed in with the stone. Most of the rough sapphires that are yellow are extremely light, but when treated with heat or beryllium become a much darker shade or yellow that is more brilliant. The green colors are a mix of the yellow and blue combined, and although it may appear green to the naked eye, up close there are bands of the two colors.
When the mineral in combined with iron and titanium it turns into a rare purple sapphire. When the stone is a padparadscha sapphire is a mixture of pink and orange giving it just a hint of pink in the light. This rarity is normally purchased for $5,000 per carat. Both of these colors are rare, but can be found in a few countries, especially in parts of Sri Lanka.
The rarest of all the sapphires are the darkest and lightest colors. The rich dark blue gemstones are referred to as the Kashmir and Burmese sapphires, and although some dark sapphires can be found, none of them display the same richness that theses sapphires do. Clear or colorless sapphires are the rarest of them all, and are almost impossible to find. In most cases there is a small hint of yellow or blue in them, but if they truly have no color, they are almost priceless. Colorless sapphires that you will find are generally synthetic and hold a much lower value than if you were to own a rough sapphire with no color or tint.
Where the Best Sapphires are Found
Sapphires can be found in several countries around the world including, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Kenya, and even in some parts of the United States, but not all sapphires are normal gemstones, but instead have become famous due to their impeccable beauty.
The largest sapphire ever found was 536 carats and discovered in Sri Lanka over 300 years ago. This gemstone is named the Star of India and in the recent years was donated to the American Museum of Natural History where it was stolen and then recovered only a few months later. Another large and incredible sapphire can be found at the Smithsonian Museum. This gemstone has been cut into 423 carats and made into a brooch.
If you are looking to mine a rough sapphire, you will find the most deposits in Asia. Here is where almost all the different shades of sapphires are found and where they are the most abundant. The top leading countries for deposits of rough sapphires are Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Madagascar, but the majority of all sapphires are shipped to Thailand to be polished and cut.
History of Sapphires
Sapphires have been associated with truth and peace for centuries, some myths have even developed about them that are still present in our society. It is believed that sapphires were once worn as shield of protection by travelers to protect themselves from dangerous creatures that lurked in the darkness of night. The sapphire was also believed to have powers to affect a person brain by licking the stone.
Although these beliefs are not around today, they are still present in our everyday life. The sapphire is the birthstone of a Taurus (someone born in the month of May) because it will bring the person protection and not allow the brain to lose its sharpness.
Sapphires have also been associated with wealth and power for even longer. Although diamonds are viewed as the most prized gemstone that can be worn, it was not always that way.
Diamonds must be treated, cut, and polished before it becomes the brilliance that you know, but sapphires are amazing straight from the ground. Before technology, unpolished or rough sapphires were some of the most valuable gemstones because they shined so beautifully in the light. Some sapphires even change colors slightly when place in different lights. This is apparent with the Stuart Sapphire that is found on the British Imperial State Crown. This rough sapphire once sat on the crown worn by Queen Victoria after being handed down from kings to cardinals.
Treatment of Rough Sapphires
Although rough sapphires that are mined are amazing gemstones that shine, they are usually treated to enhance their beauty, just as any other gemstone would be. Heat treatment is most commonly used, but sometimes beryllium is used. The treatment does change the color and clarity slightly, but sometime to make the color even more brilliant, lattice fusion is used. This adds natural chemicals such as iron and titanium into the gemstone to further enhance the beauty. It is often argued that any treatment for a rough sapphire makes it a synthetic sapphire, but some treatment must be used to polish and cut the stone.
Sapphires are brilliant and rare gemstones that have been worn for ages and still hold great value and meaning in our world today.
September 2, 2014
Spiritual Meanings Of Colored Sapphire Gemstones...
As a stone of protection, prophecy, and spiritual concord, Sapphire has always been the most valuable possession for man. Since times unknown, this magnificent gemstone has been cherished by the royals and gem lovers due to its eternal beauty and metaphysical properties. Its name is derived from Greek term, Sappheiros, meaning precious stone. It belongs to mineral corundum family and is the birthstone for September. All colors of Corundum except red colored Ruby are Sapphires although blue is recognized as the actual color connotative to it. Mineral compounds like iron, chromium, titanium, magnesium, and copper present in corundum gives distinct colors to Sapphires. Sapphire gemstone brings fortune and prosperity. It has the ability to keep the hope alive in its wearer. However, every individual color of Sapphire has its unique properties and benefits.
Colors of Sapphire and their properties:
Blue Sapphire stone:
It is considered to be the real and most admired color of Sapphire. The hues of Blue sapphire stone range from Deep blue to purple blue. It relates to planet Saturn and opens Throat, Ajna's chakra in body. It stimulates the spirituality in mind and brings wisdom. Blue Sapphire stone is also symbolic to love and compassion. It nurtures the relationships and also it is an exceptional healing gemstone. It is one of the hardest stones having 9.0 as its hardness on Moh's scale. The most precious and beautiful Blue sapphire stone is mined in Sri Lanka and is called Ceylonese Blue Sapphire. It enhances creative instincts along with intuition and charisma of the wearer.
Yellow Sapphire gemstone:
It is the stone of abundance and manifestation. The wearer of yellow sapphire gemstone is bestowed with prosperity and longevity. It helps to achieve the goals and earn success, fame, as well as honor in life. It is the birth stone for Sagittarius. Yellow sapphire gemstone carries many cosmic and healing properties. It stimulates energy and detoxifies the body. It heals problems of liver, pancreas, jaundice, flatulence, gall bladder, and catarrh. Yellow Sapphire gemstone is associated with Jupiter and opens solar plexus chakra in body. It aligns the mind and soul with divinity and adds the happiness in life.
White Sapphire stone:
By opening the crown chakra, white sapphire stone stimulates clarity of mind and leads to the spiritual path. Associated with Venus, it endows the wearer with wealth, love, and good luck. It is completely colorless and has hardness of 9 on Moh's. White sapphire stone cleanses the emotions and removes all negativity. It enables the development of self esteem, objectivity, and gratitude. White sapphire stone also relieves mental stress and maintains the balance in body. It heals the pituitary gland and regulates blood circulation and central nervous system in body.
Colors of Sapphire and their properties:
Blue Sapphire stone:
It is considered to be the real and most admired color of Sapphire. The hues of Blue sapphire stone range from Deep blue to purple blue. It relates to planet Saturn and opens Throat, Ajna's chakra in body. It stimulates the spirituality in mind and brings wisdom. Blue Sapphire stone is also symbolic to love and compassion. It nurtures the relationships and also it is an exceptional healing gemstone. It is one of the hardest stones having 9.0 as its hardness on Moh's scale. The most precious and beautiful Blue sapphire stone is mined in Sri Lanka and is called Ceylonese Blue Sapphire. It enhances creative instincts along with intuition and charisma of the wearer.
Yellow Sapphire gemstone:
It is the stone of abundance and manifestation. The wearer of yellow sapphire gemstone is bestowed with prosperity and longevity. It helps to achieve the goals and earn success, fame, as well as honor in life. It is the birth stone for Sagittarius. Yellow sapphire gemstone carries many cosmic and healing properties. It stimulates energy and detoxifies the body. It heals problems of liver, pancreas, jaundice, flatulence, gall bladder, and catarrh. Yellow Sapphire gemstone is associated with Jupiter and opens solar plexus chakra in body. It aligns the mind and soul with divinity and adds the happiness in life.
White Sapphire stone:
By opening the crown chakra, white sapphire stone stimulates clarity of mind and leads to the spiritual path. Associated with Venus, it endows the wearer with wealth, love, and good luck. It is completely colorless and has hardness of 9 on Moh's. White sapphire stone cleanses the emotions and removes all negativity. It enables the development of self esteem, objectivity, and gratitude. White sapphire stone also relieves mental stress and maintains the balance in body. It heals the pituitary gland and regulates blood circulation and central nervous system in body.
September 1, 2014
Let's Talk About September's Favorite Stone Sapphire!!
I love sapphire jewelry. It's one of my favorite gemstones and happens to be my birthstone, and now that september has arrived....perfect timing!! I am dedicating this week to learning all about sapphires!!
After people believe of sapphires they believe the color ought to be blue. This is not always true. Sapphires occur in each color and can extend from colorless, and from colors covering from light pastel pink, green, and yellow to a midnight blue in addition to all shades in between. Colorless sapphires are well-liked to become referred to as white sapphires. Some sapphires can have a color change or known as color shift. This means that any stones could look a teal outdoors and shift to a red pink indoors.
Various people within the trade call color shift "party colors". The powerful medium colors in sapphires are additional valued. I'm not a big fan of dark stones. A dark stone has a difficult time in presenting its brilliance. The medium saturated colors are the most precious and historically most significant valuable gemstones. Red sapphires are called rubies. Sapphires are valued for their strong luster (ability to reflect light like a mirror), and hardness. These expensive treasures are the next hardest stones right after diamonds. Sapphires are excellent for most any sort of jewelry applications. This approaches they are able to be applied in rings and bracelets for centuries having a minimal chance of becoming scratched.
Clarity could be the other most valuable thing in determining the significance of a sapphire. Most on the natural sapphires over an industry these days have some inclusions seen only under magnification or worse. A totally flawless stone would make a fine jeweler doubt if it is true or manmade. High quality sapphires are rare and also the larger stones, are pricey to your alike color, clarity, and cut. The average observed sapphires in rough before becoming cut is close to six carats and also the most part of those people are little sizes. Something more than six carats, in my opinion, is becoming regarded as large. A six carat rough stone would finish around A single to 2 carats give or take in depending over a size on the rough as well as the type used. Of course, the shape of rough along with a closely matched type would yield closer to a forty percent yield.
Majority all sapphires obtainable in jewelry market are poorly cut. Perfectly cut sapphires are usually obtainable inside most effective jewelry stores and their importance reflects a premium. We suggest that you understand how to tell the difference among a poorly cut ("windowed" and/or "fish eyed") plus a premium cut before ordering your sapphire. If the stone you are seeking to get sounds too excellent to be true, then it's probably a fake.
Synthetic and imitation sapphires are always synthesized and imitated by other substances. In addition, almost all natural sapphires undergo some type of heat treatment process. The heat treatment technique is employed to support with color and clarity. One of the most valuable sapphire has an intense and attractive medium color (cornflower blue and padparascha are one of the most valued colors), a perfect cut (very difficult to discover in sapphire), a large size (over 3 carats), and beneficial clarity (sapphires are rarely perfectly clear). For instance, an a single carat finished round brilliant premium faceted (cut) medium cornflower blue sapphire VVS (eye clean) can vary upwards to and more than three hundred a carat. In my opinion such a stone under magnification need to show internal flaws but glimpse eye clean. Prices will start dramatically per carat for sapphire stones which are over one carat.
After people believe of sapphires they believe the color ought to be blue. This is not always true. Sapphires occur in each color and can extend from colorless, and from colors covering from light pastel pink, green, and yellow to a midnight blue in addition to all shades in between. Colorless sapphires are well-liked to become referred to as white sapphires. Some sapphires can have a color change or known as color shift. This means that any stones could look a teal outdoors and shift to a red pink indoors.
Various people within the trade call color shift "party colors". The powerful medium colors in sapphires are additional valued. I'm not a big fan of dark stones. A dark stone has a difficult time in presenting its brilliance. The medium saturated colors are the most precious and historically most significant valuable gemstones. Red sapphires are called rubies. Sapphires are valued for their strong luster (ability to reflect light like a mirror), and hardness. These expensive treasures are the next hardest stones right after diamonds. Sapphires are excellent for most any sort of jewelry applications. This approaches they are able to be applied in rings and bracelets for centuries having a minimal chance of becoming scratched.
Clarity could be the other most valuable thing in determining the significance of a sapphire. Most on the natural sapphires over an industry these days have some inclusions seen only under magnification or worse. A totally flawless stone would make a fine jeweler doubt if it is true or manmade. High quality sapphires are rare and also the larger stones, are pricey to your alike color, clarity, and cut. The average observed sapphires in rough before becoming cut is close to six carats and also the most part of those people are little sizes. Something more than six carats, in my opinion, is becoming regarded as large. A six carat rough stone would finish around A single to 2 carats give or take in depending over a size on the rough as well as the type used. Of course, the shape of rough along with a closely matched type would yield closer to a forty percent yield.
Majority all sapphires obtainable in jewelry market are poorly cut. Perfectly cut sapphires are usually obtainable inside most effective jewelry stores and their importance reflects a premium. We suggest that you understand how to tell the difference among a poorly cut ("windowed" and/or "fish eyed") plus a premium cut before ordering your sapphire. If the stone you are seeking to get sounds too excellent to be true, then it's probably a fake.
Synthetic and imitation sapphires are always synthesized and imitated by other substances. In addition, almost all natural sapphires undergo some type of heat treatment process. The heat treatment technique is employed to support with color and clarity. One of the most valuable sapphire has an intense and attractive medium color (cornflower blue and padparascha are one of the most valued colors), a perfect cut (very difficult to discover in sapphire), a large size (over 3 carats), and beneficial clarity (sapphires are rarely perfectly clear). For instance, an a single carat finished round brilliant premium faceted (cut) medium cornflower blue sapphire VVS (eye clean) can vary upwards to and more than three hundred a carat. In my opinion such a stone under magnification need to show internal flaws but glimpse eye clean. Prices will start dramatically per carat for sapphire stones which are over one carat.
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