Sapphire Rings and Jewelry
History
Sapphires
are beautiful gemstones that come in many colors, but are most famous
for their blue color. Sapphires come in cognac, colorless, green,
orange, peach, pink, purple, violet, white, and yellow (a red sapphire
would be called a ruby).
On the Mohs scale of hardness, sapphire ranks a 9, highest after
diamonds. It is a very durable gemstone and perfect for everyday
accessories, such as rings or bracelets.
Sapphires are found in Kashmir, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand,
Cambodia, Tanzania, Madagascar, Australia and Montana.
It has been a common practice to heat-treat sapphires. Heat-treating
sapphires helps improve clarity and color. The process is permanent
and stable.
Blue sapphire is September's birthstone and is recommended for
the 5th, 23rd and 45th wedding anniversaries.
How to Buy
When buying sapphire
rings, always comparison-shop to get knowledge on sapphire jewelry
and find the best deals.
Just like diamonds, the 4 C's are important. Compare the cut,
clarity, color, and carat weights of the sapphires you want to purchase.
Blue sapphire should have good, intense blue color that holds
in all different lighting. Avoid buying a dark blue sapphire that
look black most of the time.
The cut should not be too shallow or too deep because the light
will not be refracted efficiently.
A quality sapphire should have clarity that is clear without too
many inclusions or flaws.
The carat weight is also important because it is what you are
paying for. You want to get the best deal for your money.
Some questions to ask when purchasing sapphire jewelry are:
- Has the sapphire been treated?
- Is the sapphire natural or synthetic?
- Are there any noticeable scratches, chips or inclusions?
- Is the color even throughout the sapphire?
- How good is the color?
As with all jewelry purchases comparison-shop and see how much different
retailers are selling the same item. Research information on sapphire
jewelry to make sure you get the best value for your purchase.
Care
Sapphire
jewelry can be cleaned with soapy water or a commercial solvent
and brush. Mechanical cleaners are safe, except for heavily included
gems.
Always store your sapphire rings, sapphire earrings, necklaces
and other sapphire jewelry in a fabric-lined box to keep it safe
from other pieces of jewelry. Never wear your jewelry when doing
rough work or working with harsh chemicals.
With these tips, your beautiful sapphires, blue or not, should
last you for many years.
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