Sapphires

Sapphire Sourcing

Sapphire is mined and harvested from countries mostly in the eastern hemisphere. Sapphires do require special conditions for mining, unlike diamonds which have been found in warm, cold, wet, dry and many other climates. Buy Diamond with Clarity sapphires are sourced from Sri Lanka, Australia, Madagascar and Thailand. While sapphire can be found in other countries as well, we work with suppliers and mines from these nations because of their commitment to supporting no conflict mining and community development practices.

Sapphires are a rare mineral and sapphire mining helps create jobs, infrastructure and it also funds hospitals, schools and community centers. Our sapphires come from no conflict zones. We work closely with suppliers to ensure that best environmental practices are followed. We do this by verifying the Mine locations and have visited many of our sources. Our Sapphire is manufactured locally in New York, which also supports our local economy and gives us extra control of the quality process.

Sapphire are an optimal choice in engagement rings and other jewelry for anyone concerned about conflict minerals. They have been the number one alternative to diamonds and are less expensive, which provides more value for those considering a non diamond option.

Sapphire Certification

Often times, sapphires are not certified by a laboratory. Because there are no standardized grading practices, consistency is difficult to achieve. Sapphire examination is more of an art than a science and beauty is often in the eye of the beholder (some prefer a light color, and some a darker color). The science purely lies in the identification of treatments and whether it is a natural corundum or lab created.

All Buy Diamond with Clarity sapphires are 100% natural gemstones. We do not work with labs to create any of our gemstones and we independently test every sapphire with tools in our gemologist offices. That's our promise. No matter which jeweler you choose, you need to be confident about how they examine their sapphires and how they source them.

For large or rare sapphires, there are labs that specialize in colored gemstone grading. This labs include GIA, AGS, and AGL, among others. We recommend certifying sapphires above 2.50cts. Often times, a more cost effective route will be to have a certified appraiser verify the gemstone. The appraiser will most likely identify the same things the lab will. The one thing though that the lab can tell you is the country of origin. For some, this is important and can actually affect the value of the sapphire. For example, Sri Lankan Sapphire has a more royal blue color than African sapphire, which has a darker blue color.

In general, we always recommend natural gemstone as jewelry is a meaningful and emotionally driven purchase. Synthetic gemstones also never look visually as appealing as natural gemstones. Even inclusions, up to a certain extent, also add to the appeal of a sapphire.

Sapphire Treatments

Almost every gem quality sapphire will undergo basic or standard treatments that will slightly improve their quality. Such treatments include heating, oiling, diffusion. Buy Diamond with Clarity will never use oiling, irradiation or diffusion treated sapphire. We believe these are temporary treatments to mask inclusions and can create structural problems in the long term. Untreated natural sapphire can be more than 10 times more expensive than treated sapphire, in larger sizes such as 5ct or higher.

Heating is literally exposing the sapphire to high temperature, which can improve the depth of color. This is a permanent treatment that is required for many sapphires, otherwise the colors would look far too light.

Other treatments include oiling, dyeing, bleaching, waxing, irradiating and laser drilling. Buy Diamond with Clarity does not source gemstones that undergo these treatments. Our gemologist examine every sapphire with a microscope and other testing equipment to check for treatments other than heating.

Sapphire Buying Guide

Buying a Sapphire requires guidance because there is no standard certification process. Without a standard certification process, you may not be able to easily price compare gemstones. Even photographs of gemstones don't always paint the correct picture as lighting can make gemstones appear better than they actually look in natural light. Consider these steps when choosing a sapphire for your jewelry.

1. Budget: Always start by setting a budget and try not to exceed the budget. Focus on the quality of the sapphire. Otherwise you may end up spending your budget on something that doesn't even look like a genuine sapphire. Remember that sapphires are a premium precious gemstone so they're not inexpensive like semi precious gemstones.

2. Shape: To choose a sapphire, first select the shape. Sapphires come in all shapes, but some shapes are more popular because of the sparkle or the way they bring out the deep blue sapphire color. Round sapphires have the highest value because they result in the most rough wastage and are the most popular shape. Consider round sapphires for engagement rings, bands, earrings and necklaces. Ovals are also very popular for rings and necklaces.

3. Size: Sapphires are measured by millimeter size, which allows one to approximate the carat weight. When sapphires are manufactured, the cutter focuses on cutting to specific size dimensions. If you're looking to buy a sapphire online, compare the measurements to a small object for a better understanding and if buying in store, use our millimeter charts as guidance for size. The price of sapphire increases exponentially with larger sizes.

4. Quality: It is ideal to purchase higher quality (AAA). Lower quality Sapphire (Single A or Single B) will look lackluster, dull, too dark or light and washed out and/or opaque. The color (and clarity) is one of the largest factors in Sapphire pricing. By selecting AAA or at least AA, you will balance your goal of minimal inclusions and vivid blue color.

5. Natural vs. Nonnatural: We recommend purchasing natural Sapphire. The difference between natural and synthetic sapphire can be very visible and lab created sapphires have treatments to which the gemstones don't always react well. Natural sapphire has a fascinating visual appeal and is a lifelong piece of jewelry. Sapphire color is one of the best among gemstones and has minimal inclusions often masked by its color.

6. Online or Store: You can purchase a sapphire online or in store. Be sure that both your online and in store jewelers have a great return policy. Online jewelers prefer to avoid returns as they typically may not hold all the inventory and so you can often expect higher quality. The perk about in store shopping is physically seeing the sapphire first so there are no surprises. The compromise is often selection limitations for the in store jeweler. That is where your online jeweler may have extra selection or flexibility. When choosing a jeweler, make sure they have a good reputation for gemstone jewelry. Be sure they have positive reviews from legitimate sources and review sites. Ensure their return policy is flexible without restocking fees. Don't be afraid to ask questions about sourcing, color, treatments, origin, inclusions, and see pictures of the stones. If the jeweler is truly an expert in the space, they should have no problem providing all the information you require.