Sapphire is a precious stone of the corundum family. It is an aluminum oxide with a trigonal crystal structure. Sapphire comes in many colors, except red. The price of this precious stone can vary according to several factors. Planetys, an expert in gemstone jewelry sales, explains how to determine the price of a sapphire.
How much does a sapphire cost?
Sapphires are generally priced per carat, or per unit of 0.2 grams of gemstone. On average, the price of normal sapphires varies between 300 and 3,000 euros per carat. For sapphire from the Kashmir region, however, which is renowned for its excellent gemological quality, the price can rise to as much as 50,000 euros per carat. Padparadscha sapphire is another highly sought-after gem. Indeed, the price per carat for this Sri Lankan gemstone can reach 30,000 euros.
Padparadscha sapphires
In some cases, an auction or the prestige of the reputation of the jeweler selling the gemstone drives up the price per carat exponentially. For example, in May 2015, Christie’s sold a Kashmir sapphire weighing 35.09 carats for 6,750,507 euros. In this case, the price per carat was exceptionally set at 192,377 euros. What really counts when estimating the price of a sapphire is the stone’s coloration.
Why is sapphire expensive?
Sapphire is one of the four recognized gemstones alongside diamond, ruby and emerald. This gemstone with its blue lustre has a hardness index equivalent to 9 on the Mohs scale. This makes it the second hardest material in the world. After diamond, which has a hardness index equal to 10 on the same scale.
Sapphire’s rarity explains its high value. The precious stone is not found everywhere on earth. Currently known extraction sites can be found in Afghanistan, Angola, Australia, Brazil, Burundi, the USA, France, Indonesia, Ireland, Kenya, Laos, Cambodia, Canada, China, Colombia and Ethiopia.
Sapphire mines are also located in Madagascar, Malawi, Myanmar, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, Vietnam, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, the UK and Russia. It takes weeks, even months, and very expensive technical resources, to extract 5 grams of raw sapphire. For each sapphire sold on the market, a valid gemological certificate must be presented to attest to the gem’s authenticity. The lapidary spends many hours working the gemstone, bringing out its tiny inclusions. This also explains the gem’s high market price.
How do you determine the price of a sapphire?
The gemologist uses the 4 C’s rule (carat, purity, color, size) to estimate the value of a sapphire. This same rule is applied when determining the price of a diamond.
The color
A sapphire can take on a variety of colors, with the exception of red. Here, blue is the color par excellence for a top-of-the-range sapphire. In sunlight, you need to analyze the depth and intensity of the stone’s blue. The blue should be very intense, uniform, but light enough not to compromise the brilliance of the stone. Sapphires from India’s Kashmir region possess the highest quality of blue, with a beautiful velvety appearance. This explains the dizzying prices for these very rare gems.
Light blue, navy blue, greenish blue, indigo blue and violet blue sapphires are all available. Padparadscha sapphires from Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon), Tanzania and Madagascar are also highly prized on the market, thanks to their beautiful pink appearance with orange highlights. Pink, green, violet, black or yellow gems are the most affordable varieties in this category.
Purity
Here, the specialist analyzes the quality of light passage through the sapphire. The purer the sapphire, the fewer inclusions visible to the naked eye, and the more easily light can pass through it completely. A sapphire of natural clarity has a very high market value.
Cut
Sapphires can be oval, round, cabochon or cushion cut. The cutter takes into account the gem’s pleochroism, clarity and color zoning to achieve the best cut. The more complex the lapidary’s work to obtain the finished stone, the higher the price.
Carat
The carat expresses the weight of a stone. One carat equals 0.20 grams. For each variety of corundum, the higher the carat, the more expensive the stone.
Which is more expensive, diamond or sapphire?
While purity largely determines the value of a diamond, it’s the color of a sapphire that drives up prices. Diamonds are generally more expensive than sapphires. Mineable diamond deposits are not as widespread as those of sapphire. The extreme rarity of the hardest and most brilliant of gems plays a major role in the choice between diamond and sapphire. For example, the price per carat of a top-of-the-range blue diamond averages 250,000 euros per carat, whereas the price per carat of a blue sapphire from Burma or Kashmir is 63,000 euros per carat.
Why give a sapphire as a gift?
The sapphire is associated with fidelity and noble sentiments. The fiancé or the husband can therefore offer a sapphire to his beloved as a pledge of incorruptible love. Orientals consider the blue sapphire, like all blue gemstones, to be an object of celestial clarity that acts against the “evil eye”.
Find a sapphire jewel at a low price
For any occasion, we have the right sapphire jewel for a man or a woman: pendant, ring, bracelet, chain, earring, necklace and more. Why not choose pretty yellow or pink sapphire rings to mark your future engagement in style? Our products are accessible to all budgets. Treat yourself or a loved one to an exceptional piece of jewelry adorned with a beautifully colored sapphire, without breaking the bank. It’s an elegant gift that will retain its charm for a long time to come.
