The blue color of sapphire comes from the presence of traces of iron and titanium in corundum, of which it is a variety.

These gemstones exhibit an important gemological characteristic called pleochroism, which results in the presence of slight variations in color depending on the angle from which they are viewed. Sapphire is also notable for its hardness, which ranks at 9 on the Mohs scale, just below diamond.

COLOR

Blue sapphire can exhibit a range of different shades and hues. Here are some of the most common color variations of blue sapphire:

Royal Blue: A deep, intense shade of blue.

Sky Blue: A lighter, softer shade of blue, reminiscent of the sky.

Bright Blue: A bright, vibrant blue color.

Pale Blue: A light, delicate shade of blue.

Dark Blue: A darker, deeper shade of blue.

ROYAL BLUE AND CORNFLOWER

There are two highly coveted varieties of blue sapphire: royal blue sapphire and cornflower sapphire, which are extremely rare and prized.

“Cornflower” sapphires mainly come from the Kashmir region of India.

“Royal Blue” can be described as a saturated blue, either pure or slightly purplish. The term has historically been used to refer to the finest quality sapphires from the Mogok region of Burma. However, sapphires from other metamorphic deposits, such as those found in Madagascar and Sri Lanka, may also exhibit the properties required to qualify as "Royal Blue" sapphires.

PINK SAPPHIRE

The pink color is probably the most delicate and soft among the colors of sapphire.

Although pink sapphire and pink ruby ​​are both members of the corundum family, pink sapphire is distinct from the latter. They are very similar in composition, but a slight variation, especially in the chromium oxide content, can lead to the formation of a ruby ​​or sapphire.

The price of a pink sapphire varies depending on several criteria, such as the number of carats, purity, provenance and the size given to the stone, as with all precious and fine stones.

SIZE

Lapidaries can cut raw sapphires into different shapes and sizes depending on the original raw piece and their intentions. Their main goal is often to bring out the most beautiful color possible on the sapphire, while minimizing material loss by cutting the raw crystal appropriately.

CHOOSE YOUR SAPPHIRE

Several criteria must be taken into account when choosing a sapphire.

First of all, the color must be intense and deep. It is important to note that sapphires lose their luster under an incandescent lamp, but reveal their full beauty in natural sunlight.

Transparency is also an important factor. It is preferable to favor a stone with great clarity.

Finally, the size is a difficult criterion to determine because raw sapphires are rarely homogeneous. The lapidary must therefore choose the part that is most
beautiful of the gem to cut it, according to the desired shape.