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A Bit of History

Blue sapphire has been revered by nobility for centuries as a representation of sincerity and honesty. Lady Diana Spencer chose blue sapphire for the betrothal ring when she wed Prince Charles. Today, people routinely select blue sapphire as an engagement gemstone.

The Sapphire, beloved for centuries as the ultimate blue gemstone. The ancient Persian rulers believed that it was the sapphire reflection that gave blue color to the heavens. The Latin name "Sapphiru," means blue.

The Sapphire is one of Nature's most durable gemstones, and shares this quality with its sister, the Ruby. Red corundum is Ruby; all other members of this mineral species are called Sapphire.

Sapphire is found in many parts of the world, but the most prized Sapphires are from Myanmar (Burma), Kashmir and Sri Lanka. The purer the blue of the Sapphire, the greater the price the gemstone can command.

Color

Soothing, sensuous blue; liquid blue; evening sky blue; cornflower blue ... these are among the many shades of this lovely gemstone.

The color of a sapphire is measured using three terms - tone, hue, and saturation. The tone is a measure of the deepness of the blue color. It describes whether the blue is dark, medium, or light. Medium to medium-dark are considered the best tone of blue. The hue describes the slight presence or hue of other colors. And the saturation describes the how well the gem has been saturated with the blue colors and how free it is from any brown or grey colors.

The perfect Sapphire is as rare as the finest work of art. Thus, over the centuries, we have evolved methods to enhance the purest hues of Sapphire. This is often achieved by controlled heating of the gemstone to improve its clarity and color. Heating Sapphires is a permanent enhancement, as lasting as the gemstones themselves.

At the Diamond Design Co. we only use the finest quality vivid blue sapphires.

Color | Cut | Clarity

Clarity

Clarity is another important issue to consider when buying a Sapphire. As with diamonds, a Sapphire's clarity can have an impact on its rarity and thus price. Sapphires, like diamonds, usually have the presence of some trace minerals. These flaws or marks are called inclusions.

Fine quality, untreated gemstones are the rarest to be found and thus draw premium prices. Most Sapphires are heat treated to remove some imperfections and impurities, and may also serve to enhance the color. Permanent "heat" treatment is a common industry practice that does not significantly detract from the value of the Sapphire. Although there are some "temporary" enhancements that should be avoided.

At the Diamond Desing Co., we do not work with any gemstones that are temporarily enhanced with color agents or other "filling" enhancements such as oiling or resin infusion. Review the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) list of gemstone enhancements. Ask your jeweler to disclose any and all enhancements.

CLARITY GRADING:
At the Diamond Design Co., quality and client satisfaction is of the utmost importance to us. To ensure our clients receive the "quality and value" promise that we stand behind, we grade our gemstones as strict as we grade our diamonds.

The scale we use is based on 10-power magnification (hand held loupe or microscope). This means that for all practical purposes, any imperfection that is too small to be seen with x10 magnification does not "exist" when grading a Sapphire.

The purer a Sapphire, the greater its value. Most gemstones contain characteristic inclusions that provide proof of their natural origin. Those inclusions should not be so visible that they detract from the beauty of the gemstone. All of our fine quality products will only contain gemstones in the LI - MI categories as described below:

FI Inclusion Free
The highest clarity grade given. The Sapphire in question will be without imperfections visible with x10 magnification.

LI Light Inclusions
The LI inclusion in question may be difficult to detect unaided, visible to an experienced gemologist using x10 power magnification.

MI Moderate Inclusions
The MI inclusion in question may be difficult to detect unaided and visible easily to the gemologist with the aid of x10 magnification.

HI Heavy Inclusions
Inclusions and imperfections in this group may be visible without the aid of x10 magnification to an experienced gemologist.

Color | Clarity

Cut

The cut contributes to a polished gemstone's beauty. As with diamonds, cut is perhaps the most over-looked in gemstones. How does cut affect a Sapphire's value and beauty? A good cut gives a Sapphire its brilliance, without maximum brilliance, the "life" of a beautiful Sapphire is less thus the price less.

The particular angles and finish of any Sapphire are what determine its ability to handle light, which leads to brilliance.

In a poorly cut Sapphire, however, the light that enters through the table reaches the pavilion facets and then 'leaks' out from the sides or bottom of the Sapphire rather than reflecting back to the eye. Shallow and deep cuts should be avoided.

Finish:

Finish refers to the qualities imparted to a Sapphire by the skill of the Sapphire cutter. The term "finish" covers every aspect of a Sapphire's appearance that is not a result of the Sapphire's inherent nature when it comes out of the ground. The execution of the Sapphire's design, the precision of its cutting details, and the quality of its polish are all a consideration when a gemologist is grading finish.

Color | Clarity | Cut

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