The facts
What colour-change Sapphire actually is
The species behind colour-change Sapphire is corundum, Al₂O₃; it forms in the trigonal system.
Vanadium, sometimes with Cr and Fe, produces a transmission window that shifts between daylight and incandescent light — blue to violet is the classic change is responsible for the colour — and the chromophore, not the name, is what decides whether a colour is stable.
On the instruments it reads a refractive index of 1.762–1.770 and a specific gravity of about 3.95–4.05, with none; parting cleavage.
Where colour-change Sapphire comes from
Commercial material comes from Ilakaka, Madagascar, Ratnapura, Sri Lanka and Songea, Ruvuma, Tanzania.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How colour-change Sapphire is treated
Usually heated like other sapphire, and the heating is undetectable in low-iron material. Beryllium-diffused and synthetic colour-change corundum are both on the market, so a laboratory report matters more here than for ordinary sapphire.
We state the treatment on every stone, including when the honest answer is that it cannot be determined. A treatment disclosed is a fact; a treatment discovered later is a refund.
What colour-change Sapphire is confused with
Watch for Alexandrite, Colour-change garnet, Synthetic colour-change corundum and Tanzanite — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.762–1.770 and specific gravity 3.95–4.05 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What colour-change Sapphire is used for
The trades that buy colour-change Sapphire are jewellery and mineral collecting. They do not want the same thing, and they do not pay in the same unit.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the carat or by the specimen.
Durability and care
Colour-change Sapphire is 9 on the Mohs scale, with none; parting cleavage.
With no cleavage plane to worry about, the practical limit is abrasion rather than breakage, and it takes daily wear well.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What colour-change Sapphire costs
Expect roughly 200–3,000 USD/ct depending on the strength of the change, depending on quality.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is colour-change Sapphire treated, and how?
Usually heated like other sapphire, and the heating is undetectable in low-iron material. Beryllium-diffused and synthetic colour-change corundum are both on the market, so a laboratory report matters more here than for ordinary sapphire.
Where does colour-change Sapphire come from?
Ilakaka, Madagascar, Ratnapura, Sri Lanka and Songea, Ruvuma, Tanzania. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is colour-change Sapphire hard enough to wear every day?
Yes. At 9 on the Mohs scale with no cleavage plane, it handles daily wear well. The practical limit is gradual abrasion rather than chipping.
How much does colour-change Sapphire cost?
Indicatively 200–3,000 USD/ct depending on the strength of the change. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is colour-change Sapphire confused with?
Most often Alexandrite, Colour-change garnet, Synthetic colour-change corundum and Tanzanite. A refractive index of 1.762–1.770 and a specific gravity near 3.95–4.05 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for colour-change sapphire?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about colour-change sapphire