Sapphires are generally categorized as blue sapphires (any sapphire with a predominantly blue hue) or fancy sapphires (sapphires of any other color).

While ruby is the red form of the mineral corundum, sapphire is defined as any other color variety of corundum. Sapphire is a colored gemstone and exists in a variety of colors. ColorĬolor is one of the most important attributes that will affect the worth of your gem. There are a few major factors that affect the value of your stone: 1. These colorful stones are among the most popular and desirable gemstones on the market today. This long and illustrious history of sapphires only adds to their appeal today. In contemporary times, Princess Diana and Kate Middleton’s blue sapphire engagement ring has captivated the public. The British crown jewels features many sapphires, including the famous 104-carat Stuart Sapphire and St. Ivan the Terrible, the Tsar of Russia who lived from 1530 to 1584, was a huge sapphire lover as were many Persian emperors, who coveted and traded these gemstones. Ancient Greeks believed that sapphires had a strong connection to the spiritual world, and they wore sapphires when consulting the Oracle at Apollo’s Shrine. In the 1 st century B.C., King Solomon was known to have worn a sapphire ring which gave him magical powers. In the 12 th century B.C., Helen of Troy kept a star sapphire that was believed to be the root of her desirability. Traditionally, sapphire was a symbol of faith, nobility, wisdom, and good fortune. The name “sapphire” stems from the Greek word “sappheiros”, which likely denoted lapis lazuli. Sapphire, the September birthstone, has great historical and cultural significance. Prized for their pure color and durability, they are incredibly valuable and highly coveted.īut first, let’s learn a little bit about the history of these precious gemstones. This record-breaking sale is a testament to the rapidly growing gemstone market and the high value that sapphires can command during a sale.įound primarily in Kashmir, Burma, and Sri Lanka, sapphires are made from the mineral corundum. In November 2014, the Blue Belle of Asia, a 392.52-carat Ceylon sapphire, was sold for over $17 million, setting the record for the most expensive sapphire ever sold at auction. If you have a sapphire, you may be wondering: how much is my sapphire worth? Where can I sell my sapphire? In this article, we will answer some of the most common questions about sapphires and their value.