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Questions and Answers
What is responsible for the color change in sapphire?
What is responsible for the color change in sapphire?
Which type of sapphire typically has the highest per-carat value?
Which type of sapphire typically has the highest per-carat value?
What is the typical color change of corundum in different lighting conditions?
What is the typical color change of corundum in different lighting conditions?
What is a common treatment for purple sapphires?
What is a common treatment for purple sapphires?
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What is the market status of green sapphire?
What is the market status of green sapphire?
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Which country is known for producing a wide range of fancy sapphire colors?
Which country is known for producing a wide range of fancy sapphire colors?
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What type of sapphire is often produced through beryllium diffusion?
What type of sapphire is often produced through beryllium diffusion?
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Which type of star corundum is typically the most valuable?
Which type of star corundum is typically the most valuable?
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What star sapphire cost much less than star ruby of the equivalent quality ?
What star sapphire cost much less than star ruby of the equivalent quality ?
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What differing amount of what trace elements cause most fancy sapphire ?
What differing amount of what trace elements cause most fancy sapphire ?
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What fine sapphire hues commands top prices comparable to padparadschas ?
What fine sapphire hues commands top prices comparable to padparadschas ?
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The finest star sapphires are ......?
The finest star sapphires are ......?
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What country is the major resource of high quality pink sapphire?
What country is the major resource of high quality pink sapphire?
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Study Notes
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.
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