With their blue hue, sapphires have long been associated with royalty and wisdom. Known for their durability and captivating colours, sapphires are among the most sought-after gemstones, celebrated as the birthstone for September. While the iconic royal blue dominates public perception, sapphires come in an array of hues, including pink, yellow, green, and even rare orange-pink varieties, known as "fancy sapphires".
The Most Valuable Sapphires
Among sapphires, the most valuable are those that combine rarity, exceptional colour, and outstanding quality.
Here’s what makes certain sapphires command higher prices than others:
1. The Kashmir Sapphire
First discovered in the 1880s near the Himalayas, these sapphires are known for their deep royal blue colour and velvety texture, caused by fine silk-like inclusions. Today, Kashmir sapphires rarely appear on the market, and when they do, they are priced exceptionally high at auctions by Sotheby’s and Christie’s.
2. Cornflower Blue Sapphires
Named for their pure, vivid blue hue reminiscent of the cornflower, these sapphires are prized for their intense yet soft colour. Originating primarily from Sri Lanka and Burma (Myanmar), their rarity and colour make them highly sought after by collectors.
3. Padparadscha Sapphires
This mysterious and rare variety, with its unique blend of pink, orange and yellow hues, derives its name from the Sanskrit word for "lotus blossom." Padparadscha sapphires are among the rarest of all fancy-coloured sapphires and are highly valued for their distinctive hue.
What Determines a Sapphire's Value?
Their quality is determined by the 4C’s: colour, clarity, weight and cut.
Colour is judged based on hue, tone, and saturation, with vivid and uniform colors like royal blue, cornflower blue, and padparadscha being the most prized.
Clarity is assessed by the size, location, and appearance of inclusions. The most valuable sapphires in terms of clarity are “eye-clean” sapphires, those without visible inclusions to the naked eye.
Cut influences the brilliance and colour display, with well-proportioned cuts enhancing the sapphire's appearance while minimising inclusions and color zoning.
Carat weight greatly impacts value, as larger sapphires are rarer and more expensive per carat. Fine sapphires over five carats, especially in blue, pink, or padparadscha hues are priced highly at auction houses due to their scarcity and desirability.
(A fun fact: a one-carat sapphire will appear smaller than a one-carat diamond.)
Durability
Sapphires are part of the corundum family which have a hardness of 9 on the Mohs hardness scale, second to diamonds. This makes them incredibly durable and well-suited for everyday wear. Their resistance to chemicals means that your sapphire jewellery will not become etched or lose its polish under normal conditions.
If you are looking to customise your jewellery with Sapphires or other coloured gemstones, feel free to reach out to us on info@stapyltonsmith.com. Our founder, Guillaume is a trained gemmologist and can help you find the most unique and best-quality gemstones.
Comments