The Enigmatic Beauty of Blue Sapphires

For a long time, blue sapphires have entranced and inspired people all over the world. Known for their gorgeous colours, sturdy makeup, and impressive backstory, these gems rank among the most popular in the jewellery world. This article takes you into the captivating blue sapphire world. It reveals the gem’s exotic origins, its essential ingredients that dictate their magnificent colours, and their ancient and modern histories. 

Origins and Formation

A blue sapphire is really a corundum crystal of aluminium oxide that has minuscule amounts of other transition metals that give it colour. A blue sapphire has iron and titanium in its corundum structure but doesn’t look bluish or blueish because of that alone. The gem also doesn’t look blue in your hand half the time unless you have sunlight or a bright enough light source at the right angle. Look at a blue sapphire long enough, though, and it will look blueberry smoothie blue. It is equally likely to be on the pricey side of inexpensive gemstones or to pay almost as much as you would for some bluish diamonds or ugly eyesore toasters.

Notable Sources

The renowned blue sapphires originate from places known for their top-tier gemstones. A few of the most prominent sources include:

• Sri Lanka: Long famous for its stellar sapphires that have medium to light saturated blues—like the lovely one shown here—that are also in very good to excellent clarity.
• Kashmir: World-famous, but they’re among the rarest and most valuable. The blues are so saturated, they’re almost velvety, and the stones also have amazing clarity.
• Myanmar (Burma): Produces very beautiful sapphires with nice rich deep blues.
• Madagascar: A relatively new source, has quickly become one of the leading producers of beautiful blue sapphires.

Characteristics and Grading

The most important attribute of a blue sapphire is its colour, which is judged on three criteria: hue, tone, and saturation.

• Hue: The most coveted blue sapphires have a pure blue hue that sits right at the top of the blue range of the colour wheel.
• Tone: The most valuable sapphires have a medium to dark tone.
• Saturation: The most valuable sapphires have about the maximum saturation that is sustainable for a pure blue sapphire without going overly intense and getting into the “electric” blue sapphire territory.

Cut and Carat Weight

The way a blue sapphire is cut can significantly impact its beauty and brilliance. A well-cut sapphire, reflecting the light construction of its facets, will show an intensity of deep blue glamour that’s hard to match. While common shapes such as the oval and cushion are often employed, the blue sapphire’s actual face-up geometry can be something really special. The cut, which is more than simply shape, has to do with such aspects of a sapphire’s configuration as whether it’s “half” or “fully” bruted and whether it’s trimmed with additional facets. Carat weight measures a sapphire’s size, with one carat equivalent to 200 milligrams. 

Discover more about Caldera Gem sapphires and their unique blue sapphires.

Historical Significance

Across numerous civilizations, blue sapphires have carried immense cultural and historical weight. They were thought to be protective against envy and evil in the ancient world. In mediaeval Europe, blue sapphires were worn by the clergy to symbolise Heaven. Kings adorned themselves with sapphires to keep harm at bay and attract the divine favour necessary for good governance.

Famous Blue Sapphires

• Star of India: A whopping 563-carat star sapphire on display at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.
• Logan Sapphire: A flawless 423-carat stone housed in the Smithsonian Institution.

Caring for Blue Sapphires

Although they are tough and tenacious gems, blue sapphires still require care to keep them looking their best. Like all coloured stones, they must be cleaned without the use of harsh chemicals or ultrasonic cleaners. The best way to clean blue sapphires is with a mild soap solution and a soft brush. Rinse the sapphires in warm water and dry them with a soft cloth. Store blue sapphire jewellery in soft pouches or in lined jewellery boxes; the sapphire could be scratched if it’s stored with semiprecious stones.

If you wear rings made with blue sapphires, take them off before you do anything that could expose your hands to hard impacts and your stones to abrasives. As with any sapphire, a blue sapphire is beautiful but not invulnerable. Its beauty stems from a combination of colour, durability, and rarity. Yet, not every blue sapphire shares the same history—a fact that affects the value of both the stones and their settings.

Conclusion

Understanding a blue sapphire’s origins, appreciating its value while knowing the quality markers that make it rare, and preserving its beauty through proper gemstone care will ensure that the blue sapphire remains a classic and valuable part of your collection. Explore more exquisite gemstones at Caldera Gem.