What Colour Is a Sapphire?

The colour of sapphire is blue: true and false. Blue sapphire is simply the best known. In reality, this precious stone offers a palette of hues, each available in a multitude of shades ranging from light to dark. This can make choosing rather difficult at times, but we shall explore a few particularities that may help guide you.

What colour is sapphire normally?

The blue sapphire is not the rarest, nor always the most prevalent in deposits across the globe. It does not originate from any one specific part of the world. It is not necessarily the most expensive or the least expensive. It is not invariably the most desirable stone in jewellery. Blue sapphire is simply not the only variety that exists!

It is not the "normal" colour of sapphire, but the most traditional. This stems in part from the Ceylon sapphire, coveted for centuries and quite frequently blue. One might say that the most celebrated sapphire colour is blue, which can itself present different shades, such as teal sapphire, indigo, cornflower, royal blue, or a blue so deep it is almost black. Today, coloured sapphire rings are created in an extraordinarily wide variety of hues. Bear in mind that it is sometimes necessary to identify a genuine sapphire from another stone.

The many colours of sapphire

Sapphire belongs to the corundum family, and the origin of the word "sapphire" can be misleading, as it means "blue stone". It is natural that "sapphire" should evoke a blue stone, and if it is of another colour, this will be specified.

The fact is that sapphire is available in an entire spectrum of colours.

• Pink sapphire: highly prized when vivid, it is growing in popularity, yet remains relatively rare and prices can sometimes be considerable.
• Green sapphire: while not particularly common, it has undeniably grown in desirability of late, especially as the range of green shades offers considerable choice.
• Yellow sapphire: beloved by some, particularly when it displays a rich, deep yellow, it is more sought-after than before, without yet having become a star of the jewellery world — unless it is an unheated yellow sapphire.
• The violet sapphire: a colour considered original, though more often blue-violet than truly violet, even if various shades do exist.
• The orange sapphire: one of the rarest (the majority of orange sapphires found in jewellery have been treated), most notably the Padparadscha sapphire from Sri Lanka, though examples are found in several countries.
• The white sapphire: this colourless sapphire is rarer in its natural state than coloured sapphires, yet less sought-after than the blue sapphire. It is distinguished by its purity and serves as an alternative to diamond.

Which sapphire colour is the most sought-after?

Classically, the most sought-after sapphire colour is blue, and the meaning of the sapphire is associated with great virtues. It is one of the most cherished stones for an engagement ring.

Royal blue sapphire is extremely rare, and a large unheated royal blue sapphire is arguably the most coveted of all. Burmese sapphires are the finest examples in this category.

After blue, the pink sapphire is truly appreciated in fine jewellery — though bear in mind that every stone is unique. Certain sapphires in less popular colours can nonetheless command great value, owing to their naturally splendid clarity and a relatively significant carat weight.

Why do sapphires exist in different colours?

Sapphire colours vary because the elements that make up each stone differ. This gives rise to different colour perceptions. All sapphires are composed of aluminium oxide, yet other chemical elements cause variations in hue. For instance, there is more chromium in a green sapphire than in a pink one, and more iron in a blue sapphire than in a yellow one.

Also worth reading!

• Cleaning a sapphire jewel: how to go about it?