Sapphires Available In An Array Of Beautiful Colors
Sapphires, one of the four most valuable gemstones stones in the retail market today, are available as a product of nature or can be manufactured scientifically. The natural stone generally has a higher retail value than those that are manufactured. The term sapphire can include any gemstone made of the mineral corundum, with the exception of the red gemstone that is called a ruby.
The blue version of this gemstone is considered the traditional color in most markets. However, it is available in a full array of colors such as the brown, gray, black and colorless versions. Anything other that blue is classified as a fancy sapphire when shopping the gemstone markets. The less traditional fancy gemstones are gaining in popularity with many buyers.
The Blue Sapphire Is One Of The Most Popular On The Gemstone Market
The blue sapphire is the birthstone for the month of September and the 45th wedding anniversary is known as the sapphire anniversary. The popular blue color can be purchased in an array of different shades, the variations a result of the natural combination of titanium, iron in the aluminum oxide crystal lattice. When the color shows a need for enhancement, it is done through a heating method in which the stone is heated to 1800 degrees Celsius. By heating the stone to this temperature, the intensity of the blue color is magnified, as is the value of the gemstone. There are also color shift sapphires, which are considered a specialty gemstone. With these gemstones, the color, which is blue in the natural outdoor light, transitions to a purple under indoor lighting.
Fancy Colors Are A Popular Alternative To Blue
The Fancy colored sapphires are a direct result of the different minerals found within the various stones; each different mineral creates a different color. The pink sapphires have traces of chromium, the purple contain vanadium and the yellow and green have iron. The salmon-colored gemstones often vary from a pinkish-orange to a more orange-pink; these stones are often times more expensive than the traditional blue variety. This color is becoming much more available due to bulk diffusion a new treatment method in preparing the stones for the gemstone market.
Star Light, Star Bright, The Sapphire Star Is Shining Bright
The star sapphire is a rare beauty, which actually contains intersecting lines that appear to be a six-rayed star pattern upon the gemstone. This gemstones value is measured not only in the carat weight but also in the intensity of the star, visibility of the star and the body color of the gemstone itself.
