Fancy Sapphire- Key Concepts

Colored Stones: Key Concepts

• The colors of fancy sapphires are primarily caused by varying amounts and combinations of the trace elements iron, titanium, and chromium.
• Vanadium is the trace element responsible for sapphire's color change.

Sapphire Colors and Values

• Padparadschas typically have the highest per-carat value of all fancy sapphires.
• Fine pink sapphires often command top prices, comparable to padparadschas.
• Purple sapphires are often heat-treated to achieve a more valuable pink or red hue.
• Green sapphire is abundant but has low market value.

History of Sapphire Marketing

• Colorless sapphire was once marketed as an inexpensive natural substitute for diamond.

Corundum Color Change

• The typical corundum color change occurs from blue or violet in daylight to violetish purple to strongly reddish purple in incandescent light.

Star Corundum

• The most valuable star corundum has a body color that provides a strong contrast to the star.
• Star ruby is typically the most valuable type of star corundum.
• Blue star sapphires generally cost less than star rubies of equivalent quality.

Sapphire Production

• Sri Lanka produces a wide range of fancy sapphire colors.
• Madagascar is a significant source of high-quality pink sapphire.
• Beryllium diffusion of sapphire can produce padparadscha colors, as well as highly saturated yellows and oranges.