Sapphire

Sapphire
Sapphire

Sapphire! A name that is known throughout the world as a precious blue stone of great value. The birthstone for the Septemberites, but only if it’s blue! But this material comes in every colour or the rainbow, from black to clear. Red, yellow, pink, red ruby, grey, orange, green; you name it and there is a Sapphire in that colour, hues and saturations; from pale to almost opaque, from dull to amazingly sparkly. White sapphires were used for centuries as a substitute to replace Diamond in durable, affordable fashion jewellery for the middle classes.

And who in the gem aficionado world has not heard of the legendary Burmese Cornflower Blue Sapphires? It was, and is, the pinnacle of the Sapphire pyramid; the most sought after and elusive subspecies of this gem. A certified natural, untreated, flawless 4.6 carat, cushion cut, Burmese Sapphire sold recently at auction for almost a million dollars US. It was magnificent and it is not likely to be seen on the market again for a long time. Princess Dianna had a ring with a similar, slightly darker, stone.

And yet, tastes do change. What was too clear and not dark enough in days gone by is now in high demand. The almost black/blues have dropped in value very quickly. Sri Lankan, formerly Ceylon, gems now dominate the field since the Burmese mines have been worked out for decades. Sapphires from Thailand and Australia are running a very close second but they both lack some of the brilliance and sparkle of the Sri Lankan stones.

We have a wide variety of unset repair and center stones in stock, as well as many pieces already set up in Sterling Silver, Gold and Platinum. Please come in at your convenience and see or amazing selection.

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