The facts
What sapphire actually is
Sapphire is classified as corundum, with the composition Al₂O₃. It crystallises in the trigonal system.
Colour comes from iron and titanium for blue; every other colour has its own chromophore, which is also what a laboratory looks at when it is asked whether a colour is natural.
Refractive index 1.762–1.770. Specific gravity around 3.95–4.03. Cleavage: none. Those three numbers separate it from most of what imitates it.
Where sapphire comes from
Sapphire is produced at Ratnapura and Elahera, Sri Lanka, Mogok, Myanmar, Ilakaka, Madagascar, Kashmir (historic) and Yogo Gulch, Montana, USA.
The locality is part of the description, not a footnote — two stones of the same weight from two of these places are not the same stone.
How sapphire is treated
Heating is standard and accepted. Beryllium diffusion, lattice diffusion and fissure filling all exist and all change the value.
Treatment changes value, sometimes by a multiple, so it belongs in the description before the price and not after the sale.
What sapphire is confused with
In the trade sapphire is most often mistaken for, or substituted by, Tanzanite, Iolite, Blue spinel, Benitoite or Synthetic sapphire.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.762–1.770 and specific gravity 3.95–4.03 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What sapphire is used for
Demand for sapphire comes from jewellery, watch dials, technical and precision components, optics and medical instruments, which is why one price per carat never covers it.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the carat, by the disc or by the piece.
Durability and care
Sapphire is 9 on the Mohs scale, with none 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 sapphire costs
As a guide, sapphire trades around $50–50,000/ct.
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 sapphire treated, and how?
Heating is standard and accepted. Beryllium diffusion, lattice diffusion and fissure filling all exist and all change the value.
Where does sapphire come from?
Ratnapura and Elahera, Sri Lanka, Mogok, Myanmar, Ilakaka, Madagascar, Kashmir (historic) and Yogo Gulch, Montana, USA. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is 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 sapphire cost?
Indicatively $50–50,000/ct. 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 sapphire confused with?
Most often Tanzanite, Iolite, Blue spinel, Benitoite and Synthetic sapphire. A refractive index of 1.762–1.770 and a specific gravity near 3.95–4.03 separate it quickly.
What is sapphire used for besides jewellery?
watch dials, technical and precision components, optics and medical instruments. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for 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 sapphire