Red emerald: the gemstone

Red beryl is an extremely rare type of beryl that gets its red color from traces of manganese. It is known to most, however, by the name red emerald. In the entire world, crystals suitable for gem cutting have only been found in one place, the Ruby Violet Claims in the Wah Wah Mountains of Beaver County, Utah. The Utah Geological Survey estimated that one crystal of red beryl is found for every 150,000 gem-quality diamonds.

• Rare beryl type
• Red colour due to traces of manganese
• Only in the Wah Wah Mountains of Beaver County, Utah…

Wah Wah Mountains Utah

Buy Gemstones: Value & Price

Gemstones have always been and will always be a sought-after commodity. Even when the economy is in shambles, the prices of gemstones continue to rise. And there are always people willing to buy them. If you have the money to invest, gemstones might be a good move. The key to investing is buying and selling at the right time. This means that you want to buy your gems when the price is low, and then sell them when the price goes up. Sometimes you need to hold onto the gems for a while to get the best profit.

• Gemstone prices rise constantly
• Buying and selling at the right time

Bixbit Jewellery: Rings & Chains

Because of its rarity, bixbite is above all a sought-after mineral for mineral collections or jewelry. Red beryl is almost exclusively processed into gemstones, but due to its rarity it is often replaced by irradiated or fired beryl varieties or syntheses. Faceted, pure stones with the coveted “stoplight” red are highly sought after. If they weigh more than 1 carat, they are extremely rare and have a corresponding price.

• Coveted mineral for mineral collections
• Popular gemstone
• Also fired beryl varieties or syntheses
• Over 1 carat is very rare

Grandidierite gemstone: origin

Grandidierites are lagoon and deep ocean blue gemstones discovered in Madagascar in 1902. Besides Madagascar, there are other deposits of grandidierite in Algeria, Antarctica, Canada, Czech Republic, India, Italy, Malawi, New Zealand, Norway, Sri Lanka, Suriname, and the United States. Despite all this, faceted grandidierites larger than one millimeter were found only in Madagascar and Sri Lanka. Despite the number of sources, grandidierite remains extremely rare; pockets are usually small and quickly depleted.

• Lagoon and deep ocean blue
• Discovered in Madagascar in 1902
• Facetable Grandidierites only in Madagascar and Sri Lanka
• Very rare gemstone

Buying Grandidierite: Value & Price

Grandidierite is a very rare gemstone that can fetch up to $20,000 per carat. It is often found as a companion mineral on aluminous, boron-bearing rocks with a pearly, semi-transparent, bluish-green hue.

Once you have a translucent piece of grandidierite rough, this is only the beginning of the challenge, as cutting and faceting this gemstone is difficult. The cutter will try to maximize the effect of pleochroism, which flashes two or three colors when turned to different angles, while retaining as much weight as possible. In addition, the gemstone tends to break in two directions if it is not cut with great care. This is another reason why anything larger than a carat of grandidierite becomes enormously expensive.

• Up to $20,000 per carat
• Accompanying mineral on alumina-bearing, boron-bearing rocks
• Difficult grinding and faceting

Jewellery: Grandidierite as a gemstone?

A rather rare mineral, a beautiful blue-green grandidierite is rarely found in gemstone or jewelry collections. Translucent material is sometimes cut into cabochons. Faceted pieces are very rare, but recent discoveries of translucent material may bring more to market. As cabochons, translucent grandidierites can range from 1 to 10 carats and up to about 1 inch in size. A lot of material is generally opaque.

• Rare in gemstone or jewelry collections
• Translucent material sometimes in cabochons
• Mostly 1 to 10 carat

Painite: Rarest gemstone in the world

Until 2001, only three painite crystals were known. Since then, further discoveries have yielded many more specimens of this deep red gemstone, but faceted material remains very rare. The color of painite varies between orange-red, red, red-black, red-purple, green-brown, red-brown to red-black.

Origin, occurrence & localities

The mineral Painite is named after the British geologist and mineralogist Arthur Charles Davy Pain, who discovered the mineral Painite in 1956 near Ohngaing in Myanmar. Myanmar remains the only source of painites. In addition to Ongaing, the type locality, Kyauk-Pyat-Thet in Mogok and Namyazeik in Kachin State have produced gem quality material.

Buy Painite: Value & Price

Since the rarest stone in the world is virtually priceless, the likelihood of finding Painite on the market is slim. And should you find it, Painite costs $50,000 – $60,000 per carat. Comparatively, you have to say that a diamond costs $3,500 – $4,500 per carat. Thus, a painite is worth about 13 times as much as a diamond.

Painite as a gemstone

Although Painites have a hardness of 8, great brilliance, and attractive red colors, they present some challenges for gem cutters. Even gem quality rough stones tend to be heavily enclosed and fractured. As a result, facet cutters tend to cut these gemstones small and flat, which can affect their brilliance.

Painite vs. Other Rare Gemstones

To understand just how rare painite is, a comparison with other precious gemstones helps:

• Painite: Fewer than 1,000 specimens known worldwide — most unfaceted
• Red Diamond: Only about 30 known — also extremely rare
• Alexandrite: Rare, but more accessible than painite
• Tanzanite: Found in one single area in Tanzania

No other gemstone combines this degree of rarity with a documented price history of $50,000–$60,000 per carat.

Painite as an Investment

For serious gemstone collectors and alternative investors, painite represents one of the most compelling opportunities:

• Finite supply: Myanmar remains the only source; supply cannot increase significantly
• Price appreciation: Values have risen steadily since the 2000s
• No mass market: Painite never appears in retail stores — only specialist auctions and private sales
• Documentation matters: A certified painite with provenance documentation commands significantly higher prices

How to Buy Painite

Painite is almost exclusively traded through gemological auction houses or specialist dealers with direct Myanmar connections. Key steps for a safe purchase:

1. Request a GIA or GÜBELIN certificate
2. Verify the cut quality — faceted painite is extremely rare
3. Confirm Myanmar provenance documentation
4. Compare carat weight vs. price (minimum $50,000/ct for gem quality)

Painite: Key Facts at a Glance

• Color: Orange-red, red-black, red-purple to brown-red
• Hardness: 8 on the Mohs scale
• Origin: Myanmar (formerly Burma) exclusively
• Price per carat: $50,000 – $60,000
• Named after: Arthur Charles Davy Pain, British geologist (discovery 1956)
• Known specimens: Under 1,000 — most unfaceted

Interested in other rare gemstone investments? Also see: Jade price and investment value.

Musgravite: gemstone, hardness, origin

Musgravite is one of the rarest of all gemstone types. Tested and certified faceted Musgravite is exceptionally rare. Musgravite is closely related to Taaffeite and the separation between the two is based on magnesium content. It is very difficult to distinguish musgravite from taaffeite. Their physical and optical properties are almost identical, and the only sure way to determine one from the other is by Raman spectroscopy. Musgravite and taaffeite are two of the hardest of the extremely rare gemstone species, with a hardness of 8 – 8.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness.

Musgravite has been found at the type locality 16 km north-northeast of Ernabella Mission, Musgrave Ranges, South Australia; along Casey Bay, Enderby Land, Antarctica; and at Dove Bugt, northeast Greenland. The only sources of faceted crystals are at Tunduru, Tanzania, and a very limited find in 2009 at Mogok, Burma.

• One of the rarest types of gemstones
• Very similar to the Taaffeit
• Hardness grade 8 – 8.5
• Origin: South Australia, Antarctica, Northeast Greenland, Tunduru, Tanzania, Burma

Buy & Price of Musgravite: 4 Cs

The most important quality factors of gemstones that determine their value and price are color, weight in carats, cut and clarity. In English, these four factors are called the 4 Cs – Color, Carat, Cut and Clarity. Musgravite is also experiencing an increase in value. Color diamonds have been experiencing a financial upward trend for quite some time; blue and red diamonds are the most sought after and are offered at top prices.

But even minerals that are comparatively unknown can turn out to be a lucrative investment, especially if they belong to the rarest gemstone types, like musgravite. Musgravite is so rare that only eight gem quality stones were mined in 2005. Valued at nearly $35,000 per carat, its color spectrum ranges from translucent olive green to a grayish purple. Comparatively, a diamond can be said to cost a mere $4,500 to $6,000 per carat.

• Quality factors: Color, Carat, Cut and Clarity
• Increase in the value of musgravite
• 35,000 dollars per carat
• Olive green to greyish purple

Use: Jewellery, Decoration & Healing Crystal

Because of its rarity and its beautiful color spectrum, the Musgravite is also very popular as a jewelry stone and is usually worn on a chain, necklace or earrings. A ring with a beautiful Musgravite is also very popular, especially among connoisseurs.

Since ancient times, there has been a cultural belief that musgravite crystals can supposedly cure ailments in humans. Aside from their everyday use in embellishing ornaments and decorations, one specific therapy involves using crystals to heal chronic ailments. This practice, which utilizes the healing properties of musgravite, is known as crystal healing.

• Gemstone on chain, necklace or earrings
• Embellishment of ornaments and decorations
• Therapy with crystals against chronic suffering

Gemstone Taaffeit & Occurrence

Taaffeite is known as colorless, purple, red, green or blue. The most common colors are fairly unsaturated mauve and lavender. Deeper reds and purples, colored by traces of chromium and iron, are extremely rare. The largest taaffeite to hit the market was a 33 carat stone sold at auction in Hong Kong in 1999.

The source of the taaffeite was unknown for a long time. Eventually small fragments were found in Sri Lanka and southern Tanzania. Material also came from Myanmar, and some low-grade taaffite was found in China and Russia.

• Colour: colourless, mauve, lavender, violet, red, green or blue
• Largest carat: 33 carat
• Origin: Sri Lanka, Southern Tanzania, Myanmar, China, Russia

Taaffeit Buy: Value & Price

The question of how expensive a gemstone is, can not be answered in a general way. The price of minerals and gemstones results from the interaction of various factors – namely color, purity, weight and cut.

Light pink and dark purple taaffeite are priced from about $800 to $2,500 per carat. Finer colors with higher saturation can cost as much as $5,500 to $7,500 per carat, while stones with intense color that are clean inside can sell for as much as $15,000 per carat. A diamond, by comparison, costs about $4,500 to $6,000 per carat. Most buyers invest in jewelry with Taaffeit stones because the value of the gemstone increases due to its rarity.

The purity of minerals is essential, especially for stones with translucent transparency. Inclusions of other minerals, gases, liquids or growth lines have a disturbing effect on the brilliance and play with light in the crystal. Such defects can also be repaired with firing, so that a flawless quality exists.

• Colour, purity, weight and cut
• Average price: $3,500
• Prices from $800 to $15,000
• Errors can be corrected by burning

Gemstone and precious stone poudretteite

The natural color of poudretteite varies from colorless to a saturated pink or purple. Manganese is the primary component in this gemstone and it has a Mohs hardness of 5. The very rare poudretteites from Myanmar achieve gem quality in transparency, color and size and are traded as gemstones, but due to its rarity, poudretteite is not a common gemstone. However, those who are in possession of a Poudretteite know that this is a good investment because the value of rare gemstones is constantly increasing.

• Colour: colourless, saturated pink or violet
• Primary ingredient: manganese
• Mohs hardness: 5
• Good investment because of rarity

Buy Poudretteite: Price & Value

Gem-quality poudretteite did not appear on the market until the early 2000s, when a few specimens were found in Mogok, Burma. This is also where some of the most valuable rubies are found. Most of the poudretteites found were mistaken for scapolite. Therefore, it is possible that poudretteite is not as rare as currently thought. Despite this threat emerging in the markets, the current price for a high quality pale pink poudretteite is in the range of $3,000 per carat.

• On the market since the early 2000s
• 3000 dollars per carat

Amethyst – the popular healing and gemstone

The two questions that are asked most often are: How much does an amethyst cost? Is an amethyst a gemstone?

Amethysts are minerals of hydrothermal origin and crystallize from weakly ferruginous solutions at temperatures of 100 to 250 °C. Accordingly, amethyst crystals are found in effusive rocks, in veins and fissures, or as fillings in druses or geodes.

• Hydrothermal origin
• Crystallises at 100 to 250 °C

Origin of the name of the amethyst – Greece

The name comes from the Koine Greek amethystos from a, “not” and methysko/methyo, “intoxicate”, a reference to the belief that the stone should protect its owner from drunkenness. The gemstone itself is found in many countries around the world, even in Germany. Amethyst is also a feminine given name of Greek origin, referring to the beauty of the gemstone.

This is what an amethyst looks like as a raw material (stone):

Amethyst crystal worth $50,000 – Video

In this video you will see the excavation of several amethysts, including a very large crystal worth $50,000.

Price – Where to buy amethysts?

There are many different online shops for amethysts and collectors also offer great specimens. Most valuable are amethysts in a transparent, pure, medium to dark purple that doesn’t play into blue or red – although flashes of blue or red color are highly sought after in amethysts.

• Online shops for amethysts or healing stone collectors
• Most valuable: transparent, pure, medium to dark purple

A large amethyst druse – a true treasure

An open mineral cavity of a certain quartz variety is called an amethyst druse. The term “druse” is derived from the Old High German and stands for “gland” or “bump”. The larger the gemstone the higher the price. In addition, the value depends of course on the coloring and the quality.

The color of the amethyst – different purple

Amethyst is an extremely popular gemstone because of its attractive purple color. The purple color can be so light that it is barely noticeable, or so dark that it is almost opaque. It can be reddish-purple, violet, or purple-violet. Amethyst comes in this wide range of colors.

Amethyst crystals grow slowly and the composition of the water they grow from can change over time. As the composition of the water changes, different amounts of iron are incorporated into the surface of the crystal. Later, radiation emitted from minerals in the surrounding rock modifies the iron to produce the purple color. This can result in the crystal having zones of varying color intensity. Each of these zones records a time interval in the growth of the crystal, much like the growth rings of a tree.

• Very light to very dark purple
• Wide range of colors
• Composition of the water determines the coloration

Green amethyst – the quartz mineral prasiolite

Prasiolite is a yellow-green to green variety of quartz that is cut into faceted stones used for jewelry or purchased by gem collectors. Most prasiolite is made by heating natural amethyst in a laboratory furnace to about 500 degrees Fahrenheit. This heating changes the color of the amethyst from purple to green or yellowish-green.

A small amount of prasiolite is produced by irradiating natural amethyst. This produces prasiolite with a light green color. The green color is often unstable and can fade to colorless when the stone is exposed to temperatures above about 150 degrees Celsius. Another small amount of amethyst is heated by natural processes. It occurs where an amethyst-bearing rock unit has been heated by younger lava flows or nearby intrusions.

1. Heat treated amethyst
2. Irradiated amethyst
3. Naturally heated amethyst

Excavation of green amethysts in Canada – Video

In this video you can see the excavation of various green amethysts, i.e. prasiolites.

Effect & spiritual meaning of the amethyst

Amethyst is the perfect stone for any spiritual seeker, as it is the stone of spiritual awakening and growth. It cleanses and protects by placing a shield around the physical body and energy field. It is said to increase mental acuity and concentration. The most common use of amethyst is to increase intuition and psychic abilities.

It also strengthens our connection with the Higher Self, spirit guides and the angelic realm. The gemstone provides psychic, mental and emotional protection and balances the nervous system. It is the birthstone for Pisces and the month of February and the gemstone for the 6th anniversary of marriage.

• Stone of spiritual awakening and growth
• Increases mental sharpness and concentration
• Increasing intuition and psychic abilities
• Psychological, mental and emotional protection
• February birthstone, Pisces

The magic of the amethyst crystal – Video

Learn more about the spiritual power of amethyst here.

Jewellery – Amethyst Rings, Necklaces & Bracelets

For centuries, amethyst has been one of the most popular stones that are made into jewelry such as rings, earrings, necklaces, pendants and bracelets. Those who wear amethyst on their body often feel as if they are surrounded by a positive aura. Amethyst is best worn on a ring because it attracts a lot of attention with its unique color. Jewelry with amethyst stones you do not have to look long, because at almost every jeweler there is a small selection of amethyst jewelry.

• Rings, earrings, necklaces, pendants, bracelets
• Positive aura through jewelry
• Available almost every jeweler
• Custom-made products are possible

Red color of ruby – difference ruby and sapphire

Corundum, which is considered a gem quality and has any shade of red or pink, is considered a ruby. In the United States, there are specific requirements regarding the saturation of a ruby. It must meet certain standards to fall into the ruby category, otherwise it is called a pink sapphire.

These include hue, saturation and tone. Hue refers to the color of the ruby as we see it. Saturation determines the visibility of the color. Is it light? Dark? Or somewhere in between? Finally, hue tells us the purity of the color. If it is a pure tone, there are no secondary colors. If it is not a pure tone, it may contain one or more secondary tones such as pink, purple and orange.

• Saturation requirements
• Specific standards: Hue, saturation and tone
• Pure tones or secondary tones like pink, purple and orange

Crystalline structure in close-up:

Mineral group corundum – colourless with trace elements

In its purest form, the mineral corundum is colorless. Trace elements that become part of the crystal structure of the mineral cause variations in its color. Chromium is the trace element that causes the red color of ruby. Rubies are a red variety of the rock corundum. Corundum is the second hardest mineral after diamond, with a Mohs hardness of 9. You probably already know this mineral from our article about the blue, green, pink or orange mineral corundum, i.e. the gemstone sapphire.

• Colorless mineral corundum
• Trace elements give the ruby its colour
• Second hardest mineral

The grinding of a ruby – video

In this video you can see the process and the result when a ruby is cut.

Origin of the ruby – India

India was classically considered the country of origin of ruby for more than two thousand years. More recently, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Afghanistan have uncovered substantial ruby deposits. In Southeast Asia, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam have also long been considered sources of fine rubies.

• Country of origin of the ruby: India
• Otherwise from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.

Origin of the name of the ruby – the king of gemstones

The name ruby comes from the Middle Latin word “rubinus” = ruby (red stone), or from the Latin “ruber” = red. In Sanskrit, the ruby is called “ratnarai”, which means “king of gems”. Ruby is also a common Hebrew first name for boys and means something like “Behold, a boy!”.

Spiritual meaning of ruby – birthstone July

The ruby is filled with the essence of pure, loving energy. In ancient times, the ruby was considered one of the most powerful gemstones in the universe. In addition, the ruby cleanses the aura of toxic energy and fills one with a sense of bliss, passion, protection and prosperity. It strengthens both the physical and emotional heart. When one is unable to focus, this stone helps one to achieve a more focused consciousness, mental clarity and wisdom. Ruby is the birthstone of July and therefore the birthstone of the zodiac sign Cancer.

• One of the most powerful gems
• Cleanses the aura from toxic energy
• Bliss, passion, protection and prosperity
• More focused consciousness, mental clarity and wisdom
• Birthstone July, Cancer

Use and spiritual significance of the ruby – Video

Here you will learn about the spiritual meaning of the gemstone ruby and its uses.

Buy rubies – quality factors of gemstones

Rubies can fetch the highest price per carat of all colored stones. This makes the ruby one of the most important gemstones in the colored stone market. There are 4 important factors that determine the value of a stone – the 4 Cs. The 4 Cs stand for Color, Clarity, Cut, Carat.

Color is the most significant factor affecting the value of a ruby: fine gemstones are a pure, vivid red to slightly purple. When a ruby’s inclusions affect its transparency or brilliance, they significantly reduce the gemstone’s value. Rubies are usually produced as a mixed cut with brilliant cut crowns and step cut pavilions. Fine quality rubies of more than one carat are very rare, and the price increases significantly as the size increases.

• Color – color of the ruby
• Clarity – Purity of the gemstone
• Cut – Gemstone Cut
• Carat – Carat weight

Recognize real ruby – measure the value of a gemstone

First you should look for blemishes or inclusions. The second step to check if it is a real gemstone, a breath test. To do this, you should hold the ruby in front of your mouth and exhale. A real gemstone does not fog up, because the heat is distributed directly on the stone. For a breath test, however, the ruby must not be dirty or greasy, because this would affect the result. Another test to find out if a ruby is real would be to shine a light through the stone. For this, you just have to hold a flashlight to the ruby to detect small blemishes or air bubbles in the gemstone.

This test is followed by the scratch test. After diamonds, ruby is one of the most durable gemstones used in jewelry. It has a hardness rating of 9 on the Mohs scale. This means that a substance of equal or lesser hardness cannot scratch a ruby. So if you scratch the stone with a coin and it leaves a scratch, you can be sure that it is not a real ruby.

Nevertheless, the most reliable option is of course to have the stone certified by a jeweler. This way you can be one hundred percent sure that it is a genuine sapphire that is worth its money.

1. Look for blemishes or inclusions
2. Breath test
3. Shine a flashlight through the sapphire
4. Perform scratch test
5. Get Saphir certified

Top 5 most expensive rubies in the world – video

Check out the top 5 most expensive rubies in the world sold at auction here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0E–w2P-JAs

Origin of the name – the typical blue tones of the sapphire

The name sapphire comes from the Greek “sappheiros”, which is derived from the Hebrew “cappiyr”. This word was used to describe blue stones like the sapphire but also the lapis lazuli. Sapphire means “blue” in Greek – an interpretation to the typical blue tones of sapphire. Sapphire is also a Hebrew girl’s name, which is derived from the gemstone and means “the beautiful one” in Hebrew.

• From the Greek
• “blue” – an interpretation on the typical blue tones

History – the sapphire from ancient Greece

In ancient Greece and Rome, kings and queens were convinced that blue sapphires protected their owners from envy and harm. In the Middle Ages, clergy wore blue sapphires as a symbol of heaven, and common people believed that the gemstone attracted heavenly blessings. In other times and places, people instilled sapphires with the power to preserve chastity, make peace between enemies, influence spirits, and reveal the secrets of oracles.

For centuries, sapphire has been associated with royalty and romance. The association was strengthened in 1981 when Britain’s Prince Charles gave Lady Diana Spencer a blue sapphire engagement ring. Until her death in 1997, Princess Di, as she was known, enchanted and charmed the world. Her sapphire ring helped to connect modern events with history and fairy tales.

Raw material: crystals in stone enclosure

The different colors of the sapphire

Sapphire is commonly known as a blue gemstone, but surprisingly, it comes in a wide range of colors and quality varieties. Generally, the more intense and uniform the color, the more valuable the stone. Sapphires that are not blue are called fancy sapphires and can be any color except red, because that would be a ruby. The different colors of sapphire are: Pink, Orange, Yellow, Green, Purple and Violet. There really is a different color of sapphire for everyone!

The classic blue sapphire

Color has the greatest impact on a sapphire’s value, and preferred sapphires have strong to vivid color saturation. The most prized blue sapphires are velvety blue to purplish blue, in medium to medium-dark tones. Sapphires with these characteristics fetch the highest prices per carat. Less valuable blue sapphires may also be grayish, too light, or too dark.

• Strong to vivid color saturation
• Velvet blue to violet blue
• Less valuable blue sapphires: too light or too dark

Processing typically in jewelry made of gold.

The popular green sapphire

Commercial sapphires may contain a less desirable greenish-blue or strong greenish-blue color that is visible when viewing the gemstone. Uniform green sapphires that are saturated in color are rare indeed and many collectors treasure them. With green sapphires, a mixture of yellow and blue sapphire makes up the color you see. Green sapphires are found in Thailand, Sri Lanka, Australia and Madagascar.

• Mixture of yellow and blue sapphire
• From Thailand, Sri Lanka, Australia and Madagascar

The different shades of blue of a sapphire – Video

This video introduces the different shades of blue that a sapphire can have.

Meaning – the gemstone of heaven

The sapphire is also known as the “gemstone of heaven”. Traditionally, the sapphire symbolizes nobility, truth, sincerity and loyalty. For centuries, it has adorned the robes of royalty and clergy. Its extraordinary color is the standard by which other blue gemstones – from topaz to tanzanite – are measured.

The sapphire is a symbol of perspicacity, spiritual power and wisdom, associated with heaven as the guardian of innocence. It cleanses the mind of negativity and promotes insight, spiritual devotion and communication. Sapphire protects those who are easily influenced by outside forces, such as the opinions of others and peer pressure. It helps by fostering a deeper understanding of one’s voice and solidifying a more trustworthy connection to one’s wisdom and knowledge. Worn especially on the neck, it is good at unleashing its spiritual power. In addition, the sapphire is the birthstone of September, the sign of Virgo.

Spiritual meaning of the sapphire – Video

This video introduces the various uses of a sapphire and its spiritual significance.

Sapphire cut – the most famous gemstone cuts

Gemstones have been cut (or polished) for thousands of years. This process transforms raw crystals into stunning gemstones. The art of this process is to shape a gemstone into a specific form, revealing its luster, color, and brilliance. Gem cutters or gemstone cutters can choose one of two basic styles, faceted or non-faceted. Faceted sapphires are sapphires with geometrically shaped, flat, polished surfaces. Non-faceted sapphires are gemstones that do not have geometrically shaped, flat, polished surfaces, for example cabochons. The sapphire shows its beauty best in a faceted cut. Classic gemstone cuts are:

1. Marquise cut – for long and narrow fingers
2. Circular grinding – simple and classic
3. Brilliant cut – classic cut for diamonds
4. Oval cut – the timeless facet cut
5. Drop cut – combination of a round brilliant cut and a marquise cut
6. Carre cut – square cut facet cut
7. Octagon cut – especially sought after by collectors
8. Emerald cut – good for stones of perfect purity
9. Baguette cut – the popular French cut
10. Trapezoidal cut – staircase-shaped cut form
11. Antique cushion cut – square with rounded corners
12. Heart cut – as a symbol of love
13. Briolette cut – the drop-shaped brilliant cut
14. Cabochon cut – other light reflections than with facets
15. Princess cut – most popular variant in the USA

Buying sapphires – the value of a real sapphire

The “4 Cs” describe the beauty of a gemstone and form the basis for the valuation – Colour, Cut, Clarity and Carat. Colour accounts for 50% of the final value of a sapphire. Cut affects how the light is refracted in the sapphire. Clarity refers to whether other materials are included in the sapphire. The beautiful gemstone, like the ruby, belongs to Type II. This means that smaller natural inclusions are usually present, but ultimately give the stone its uniqueness. Carat is probably the best known characteristic of gemstones. One carat weighs 0.2 grams – the heavier the sapphire, the higher its value.

Price of a sapphire – cost factors

Prices for sapphires can vary greatly as they depend on different factors. Sapphires can range from $25 per carat to over $11,000 per carat. A blue sapphire of about 1 carat is likely to cost as little as $450 to $1,600, depending on the quality. The main cost factors are:

1. Color – 50% of the final value
2. Cut – classic gemstone cuts unfold the brilliance
3. Purity – small natural inclusions
4. Carat – the heavier the sapphire, the higher its value.

Genuine Sapphire Stone – Determine the authenticity of a gemstone

First you should look for blemishes or inclusions. The second step to check if it is a real gemstone, a breath test. To do this, you should hold the sapphire in front of your mouth and exhale. A real gemstone does not fog up because the heat is distributed directly on the stone. However, for a breath test, the sapphire should not be dirty or greasy, as this would affect the result. Another test to find out if a sapphire is real would be to shine a light through the stone. To do this, you just need to hold a flashlight to the sapphire to detect small blemishes or air bubbles in the gemstone.

This test is followed by the scratch test. After diamonds, sapphire is one of the most durable gemstones used in jewelry. It has a hardness rating of 9 on the Mohs scale. This means that a substance of equal or lesser hardness cannot scratch a sapphire. So if you scratch the stone with a coin and it leaves a scratch, you can be sure that it is not a real sapphire.

Nevertheless, the most reliable option is of course to have the stone certified by a jeweler. This way you can be one hundred percent sure that it is a genuine sapphire that is worth its money.

1. Look for blemishes or inclusions
2. Breath test
3. Shine a flashlight through the sapphire
4. Perform scratch test
5. Get Saphir certified

Different types of sapphire – gemstone video

In this video you will see different types of sapphires, different cuts and learn about the care of the precious gemstones.

Jewellery – Sapphire Chains, Rings & Earrings

Sapphires are often made into beautiful necklaces or rings and are considered a great gift for loved ones. Since sapphires come in a variety of colors, you can always find the perfect piece of jewelry. Engagement rings made of sapphire have a timeless and distinctive beauty, and you can subtly add some color to an elegant outfit with colorful sapphire earrings. In addition, blue, green and yellow sapphires are in high demand as necklaces, as these beautiful natural hues are calming yet strong. They are exceptional and distinctive.

Sapphire ring – colorful engagement & wedding rings

You can find sapphire rings at almost every jeweler. Especially on engagement rings or wedding rings sapphires are very popular. The blue looks noble, expensive and elegant. Every bride quickly falls in love with a ring with a large gemstone. However, sapphire rings not only look beautiful in blue, but also convince in other colors such as green, yellow, pink or orange.

• Available at almost every jeweler
• Rings with large gemstone in different colors
• Engagement rings or wedding rings

Sapphire necklace – great gift for loved ones

Chains with sapphires are available in all precious metals, i.e. gold, white gold and silver. Precious stones, like the sapphire, shine on a chain. A sapphire necklace is a beautiful gift for loved ones, because it suits everyone. It looks elegant and expensive and attracts attention without looking ostentatious. Faceted sapphire necklaces are also very popular and are offered at almost every jeweler.

• Gold, white gold and silver
• Beautiful gift
• Faceted or with large pendant
• Available at almost every jeweler

Species – the rarest & most expensive sapphires in the world

The origin of sapphires has an impact on their appearance and value. The most common origin of sapphires is Ceylon, Burma or Kashmir. Ceylon is the former name of Sri Lanka. During British colonial times the island was called Ceylon and since 1972 the official name has been Sri Lanka. Burma is a former name for the country of Myanmar, some of which is still current and still used in the United Kingdom, Australia and the United States, for example. Kashmir is a is a disputed region in the Himalayas between India, Pakistan and the People’s Republic of China.

Ceylon Sapphire – distinct colour zoning & light hue

Ceylon sapphires are on average slightly lighter in color than sapphires from other deposits. Characteristic are also a multitude of fingerprint-like “healing cracks”, numerous mineral inclusions as well as clear color zoning. Often, when viewed from the side, it is visible that the color is concentrated in the tip (calette) and the remaining part is colorless.

• Light shade
• Fingerprint-like “healing cracks”
• Numerous mineral inclusions
• Clear color zoning
• Tip concentrated, rest colourless

Burma Sapphire – intense blue & hardly any color zoning

Although it is the rubies for which Burma (Myanmar) is famous, the Mogok area also mines some of the finest blue sapphires in the world. Today, the global gem trade recognizes the quality of Burmese sapphires, but this was not always the case. The stones are characterized by an intense blue and, in addition, Burma sapphires have very little color zoning, which distinguishes them from Ceylon sapphires. Sapphires from Burma are very fine, but like Kashmir, very little material is brought to light today.

• The best blue sapphires in the world
• Intense blue
• Hardly any colour zoning
• Very fine sapphires
• Rare gems

Kashmir sapphire – the most famous sapphires in the world

Cashmere sapphires are a true rarity. The fame of the Kashmir sapphire is due to its incomparable color, which made it highly desirable long before it became so rare. Most describe it as “blue velvet.” While some Burmese and Ceylon sapphires are relatively close in quality, only the Kashmir sapphire continues its reign as king of the sapphire world.

• Incomparable color
• “Blue Velvet”
• King of the Sapphire World
• Rarest, most coveted & beautiful sapphire

Largest sapphire in the world from Sri Lanka – Video

In this video you will see the largest sapphire in the world, a Ceylon Sapphire. This gemstone weighs 1404.49 carats.

Jewellery – Sapphire Rings, Necklaces, Pendants & Earrings

Rubies are common gemstones for necklaces, rings, earrings or pendants. Rubies are primarily faceted, as these cuts accentuate the color and purity of the red gemstone. Cloudy, opaque rubies as well as star rubies, on the other hand, are given smooth cuts to bring out the star effect and color. The eye-catching bright red color is sure to turn heads. Ruby jewelry is instantly associated with passion, desire, love, and even royalty. Historically, ruby as a stone represents power, courage and luck.

Sapphire ring – the perfect engagement ring

Rubies are especially in demand for wedding rings and engagement rings because they stand out and stand out from classic styles. You can find them at almost every jeweler and the red of the sapphire goes especially well with red accessories or red fingernails.

• Wedding rings and engagement rings
• At almost every jeweler
• Matches with red accessories

Sapphire necklace and pendant – anniversary gift

A ruby necklace or a great ruby pendant is a great choice for anniversary, Valentine’s Day and July birthstone gifts. A ruby necklace for special occasions looks very elegant and is guaranteed to catch everyone’s eye. Also, gemstones are often combined to create a beautiful necklace.

• Anniversary, Valentine’s Day and July birthstone gift
• Combination of different gemstones

Sapphire earrings – drop shape or oval gemstones

Ruby earrings look expensive and noble and immediately catch the eye of connoisseurs. Whether the stone has a drop shape, is round or even has the shape of a heart – rubies are real eye-catchers. Earrings with rubies are of course also available with different precious metals, i.e. gold, white gold or silver.

• Different forms of gemstones
• Combination with various precious metals