What Should I Look for When Buying a Sapphire?

A handpicked sapphire will last you a lifetime, and it will perpetually command the attention of anyone who lays eyes on its mesmerising beauty. This is why it’s become a top pick for statement jewellery, including sapphire rings from Melbourne. But how do you choose the right stone? To find the best sapphire to fit your style and budget, you must consider its colour, clarity, carat, and cut. 

What to Look For in a Sapphire

The quality and value of sapphires are judged with the same criteria used for diamonds, although the assessment is slightly different. It’s important to understand the four characteristics known as the four Cs—colour, clarity, carat, and cut—when buying a sapphire.

Colour

Assessing the colour of a sapphire can vary from stone to stone. In general, they’re appraised based on their hue, saturation, and tone. Hue refers to the basic colour of the gem, saturation is the lightness or darkness of its shade, and tone refers to the intensity of its hue.

The most valuable sapphires are those with vivid, vibrant, and pure colours. In the case of blue sapphire colour grading, the finest ones are also often in medium or dark-medium tones.

Clarity

Sapphires will always have inclusions as a result of their natural formation. Similar to diamonds, the most valuable ones are the clearest. These are known as “eye-clean” and have no inclusions visible to the naked eye. These gems are extremely rare, though, so anything with “very slightly included” or “slightly included” gradings are still outstanding.

Carat

Carat is the weight of the gemstone. The larger the carat, the finer the sapphire is. That said, this criterion differs depending on the colour of the stone. For example, yellow sapphires above five carats are generally abundant, but the same can’t be said for blue, pink, and padparadscha sapphires. Even if two gems have the same weight, you can expect to pay more for a rarer sapphire than a yellow one.

Cut

Sapphires in the rough are very valuable, so the gemstone rarely comes with the same precision cuts you’d expect of fine diamonds. Instead, a sapphire’s cut refers to its faceting style (shape), proportion, and finish. Gem cutters will fashion sapphires to maximise their colour, brilliance, carat, and inclusions, as well as whatever the consumer demand is for certain styles.

Tips for Buying Sapphire

Aside from understanding the four Cs, here are some useful tips to follow when buying a sapphire.

Know the Source

Ask for certification to ensure that you’re getting genuine sapphire and that you’re paying the right amount for a good-quality stone. You may also want to get details on where the gem was mined–those coming from Kashmir and Sri Lanka are often the best quality.

Go Beyond Blue

Blue sapphires are the most coveted stone, but there are other types of sapphire available in different colours. These variations can come in pink, purple, green, yellow, orange, white, and even black. Explore your options and consider going beyond blue, especially if you want something more unique or budget-friendly.

Choose the Right Metal

Whether you’re putting the sapphire on a ring, bracelet, or necklace, you must choose the right metal to go with it. Pick one that emphasises and complements the colour of your gem so that it shines even more.

Sapphire Jewellery From Holloway Diamonds

If you’re thinking of buying sapphire jewellery but need help choosing the right stone and the best pieces to go with it, book an appointment with a professional jeweller from Holloway Diamonds today. We can help you find a sapphire that fits your criteria, style, and budget—and the perfect jewellery setting to go with it.