Sapphire – What It Is, Where It comes From and How to Buy it

blue sapphire from SJ Gems

Sapphire is a gemstone that comes in many different colors. This makes sapphire an extremely popular choice for jewelry and other items of personal adornment. The most common color of sapphire is blue, but red, orange, green, yellow and purple are also found among the natural stones. There are many treatments available to alter the appearance of sapphires; some treatments can make a white or colourless stone change its hue while others can enhance the existing coloration. Sapphire has been mined since antiquity with no end in sight to this day!

What is Sapphire?

A sapphire is a gemstone that can have many colors running through them like blues, purples and oranges. The most common color of sapphires are the blue-purple ones though they also come in pure red or white as well.

Sapphire is a pure form of corundum, which means that it has two other minerals mixed with the aluminum oxide and titanium dioxide to give its colors. Chromium and iron are what cause sapphires to have different shades of purple or reds in their color scheme. Other types of stones like ruby can also contain chromium and iron, but it will be in different proportions.


Where does Sapphire come from and how is it found?


Sapphires are often found in Sri Lanka, Thailand and Madagascar. In general sapphire can be mined from deposits of crystalline rock or from alluvial sedimentary rocks on the earth’s surface.

The term “sapphire” is used to refer both to corundum (aluminum oxide) and to gemstones that are an exceptional color. The most valuable sapphires come from Sri Lanka and Thailand, where they are found in the earth’s surface as well as in deposits of crystalline rock.




Where can I get sapphire stone?

Rough sapphires are sold by weight, meaning you can get a rough stone for just about any price depending on its quality and size. The faceted sapphires are sold by carat weight, size and cut.

The rough stones can be found in a wide range of colors from blue to yellowish green (called “padparadscha”). They’re usually not gem quality because they have too many flaws that affect their clarity or durability. However, if you know someone who is a skilled lapidary, they can create an original piece of jewelry with the stone for you.

Places that sell sapphire are mainly situated in a few different parts of the world with sapphire deposits. The most famous are Sri Lanka and Madagascar in Africa, but there are also significant finds in Tanzania, Burma (Myanmar), Nigeria and Australia.


Why you should buy from an authorized dealer like SJ Gems instead of going through eBay or Gumtree sellers?

You know that the sapphire stone you are buying is authentic and not fake because it has been certified by an authorized dealer.

The price of a sapphire from SJ Gems will always be lower than if you buy one through eBay or Gumtree, because we have got our own import/export discount rates with suppliers.


How to tell if your sapphire is real or fake

There are many methods in which you can tell if your sapphire is real or fake. One of the most reliable and easiest ways to identify a genuine gemstone from its imitation, however, is through identifying characteristics that appear on both.

The best way to tell if your sapphire is real or not would start with looking at it under different light sources like daylight (natural light) and under UV lights. You will see the difference in color when it is in different lighting situations, which can help you to make an educated decision about authenticity.

You can also use basic gemology instruments to determine whether or not the stone is genuine. The two most common instruments that are used to inspect sapphires are a dichroscope and an optical microscope, both of which can help identify flaws in the gemstone’s structure like scratches and cracks.


The different types of stones and their qualities/costs

Sapphires come in many different colors and each color has its own quality. The blue sapphire is the most common, with a range of blues from dark to light or even pastel shades of greenish-blue.

Purple sapphires come in two main types – those that are rich purple on the outside and those that have a blue or pinkish-red color on the inside. The most valuable are called rubies but they can also be found in sapphire stones, which is why it’s important to know what you’re looking for before you go out shopping.

Pink sapphires come from a type of corundum that has a very slight pink color. Yellow sapphires are much rarer than those other colors and they can be found in shades of yellow to brown, sometimes with an orange-pink hue called “padparadscha.”

The most popular green sapphire we have at SJ Gems is the one mined from Myanmar or Burma, which is a deep greenish-blue.
sapphire mining sites on world map

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a reputable dealer to buy your next gemstone, look no further than SJ Gems. We are an authorized retailer of the finest gems in the world since 2018. Whether it is sapphire or any other precious stone, we guarantee that every piece comes from a legitimate source so you can feel confident when buying from us. Please visit our website today if you would like more information on how we can help you find your perfect gemstone!

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