The Ultimate Guide to Sapphire Gemstones
Sapphire is one of the world’s most coveted colored gemstones — minerals that come in various colors and appear in jewelry. Although the term sapphire is virtually synonymous with the color blue, this type of precious gemstone actually comes in a wide range of colors, including pink, white, green, yellow, and purple. In the industry, sapphires that don’t have blue as their dominant color are called fancy sapphires. This is not to be confused with fancy color diamonds, which share similar hues but are chemically different (to learn more, read our guide to the types of diamonds).
Along with ruby and emerald, sapphire is one of the Big Three, a trio of the most valuable colored gemstones in the world. It’s also the traditional gift for a 45th wedding anniversary and September’s birthstone. (If you’re unsure about your birthstone, check out our birthstone chart.) This guide will teach you everything you need to know about sapphire, including its origin, symbolism, and price per carat.
The Ultimate Guide to Sapphire Gemstones
Before you purchase a sapphire, it’s important to understand exactly what it is and the factors that affect its worth. That way, you can make an informed decision and get the best value for your money. Below, we answer common questions about sapphires and provide all the information you’ll need to purchase a beautiful stone or piece of sapphire jewelry.
What Is Sapphire?

Sapphire is a variety of the mineral species corundum, which also forms ruby. A mineral species can form several types of gemstones that we classify by color, which is determined by the trace elements they contain. For instance, corundum with red as its primary color — caused by traces of chromium — is considered ruby. All other colors of corundum are sapphire.
The most historically significant source of sapphire is the Kashmir Valley in northern India, surrounded by the Himalayas. Kashmir sapphires are the finest and, therefore, the most expensive. They have intense color saturation and a medium-dark blue hue with a velvety appearance. The industry refers to this color as “cornflower blue” because it resembles the flower’s blue petals (which we discuss further in the sapphire colors section).
Other important sources of sapphire include Myanmar (Burma) and Sri Lanka. Burmese sapphires have intense color saturation and appear darker than Sri Lankan sapphires. Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon, is famous for producing padparadscha, a pink-orange sapphire. Blue sapphires from Sri Lanka are called Ceylon; they are lighter and brighter than Burmese sapphires.
Today, the primary sources of sapphire are Madagascar, eastern Africa, Sri Lanka, and Australia. Madagascar is the most significant producer of good- to fine-quality sapphire. American and African mines are known for producing fancy sapphires. Australian sapphires are usually very dark and have a bluish-green color with strong pleochroism, reflecting different colors from various angles.
The Different Types of Sapphire
Sapphire can have an altered appearance, thanks to two phenomena: color change and asterism. Corundum with these characteristics is extremely rare and valuable.
Color-Change Sapphires

Color-change sapphires shift color depending on the lighting. These sapphires reflect various colors, including blue, violet, pink, purple, and red. The most covetable color-change sapphire is medium-dark violet or blueish green that shifts to a reddish purple, purple, or pinkish hue. Color-change sapphires originate from Sri Lanka and East Africa and are often compared to fine alexandrite, one of the most expensive birthstones.
Star Sapphires

Star sapphires display asterism, a starlike reflection caused by tiny inclusions in the gemstone. They’re extremely desirable, specifically those with blue or black (which is actually very dark brown) body colors. The most valuable star sapphires have sharper and straighter rays and a purer blue hue (no grayness). Black star sapphires are the most fragile of this sapphire category and are, therefore, the most affordable. Star sapphires originate from many countries, and high-quality ones can cost tens of thousands of dollars per carat.
What Colors Do Sapphires Come In?

Blue Sapphire
Blue sapphire contains traces of titanium and iron. Generally, the term “sapphire” refers to blue sapphire. Blue sapphires come in countless shades; the most popular are cornflower blue, ice blue, and teal. Cornflower blue sapphires are the most coveted because of their rich, velvety appearance. Ice blue sapphires are semitransparent with a light blue shade, whereas teal sapphires contain yellow and gray undertones. This results in a blue-green pleochroism that reflects more blue or green depending on the cut.
Pink Sapphire
Pink sapphire has traces of chromium and iron. Padparadscha, which has a beautiful salmon color, is the rarest variety of pink sapphire.
White Sapphire

Corundum that doesn’t contain any trace elements reflects white. This variety is also called colorless sapphire. In general, sapphires score a nine out of 10 on the Mohs scale, which measures a mineral’s hardness. White sapphires are an affordable alternative to diamonds because they’re transparent and very durable. However, their appearance is worlds apart from the brilliance and sparkle of dazzling diamonds.
Green and Yellow Sapphire
Green and yellow sapphire contain traces of iron. Depending on how the iron interacts with the corundum, a green or yellow sapphire will form. Sometimes, a green sapphire forms when corundum contains traces of titanium in addition to iron, although this is not necessarily the case. The finest green sapphires come from Australia and Thailand; the best yellow sapphires originate from Sri Lanka.
Purple Sapphire
Purple sapphire forms due to several combinations of trace elements, including chromium, iron, titanium, and vanadium. The primary element in purple sapphire is usually chromium. Traces of iron cause the sapphire to have a deeper and more bluish shade of purple, whereas titanium will give it a lighter, violet hue. Only a small amount of vanadium is necessary to give sapphire a rich purple color.
Synthetic Sapphires

Synthetic sapphires grow in a laboratory environment rather than deep within the earth’s crust. The most common and affordable process to produce synthetic sapphire is flame fusion. It’s very easy for gemologists to tell the difference between genuine and flame-fusion sapphires because of the obvious inclusions this process yields.
In the 1960s, flux-grown sapphires emerged as a new type of synthetic sapphire. The flux method is more costly than flame fusion and involves heating and cooling a chemical mixture in a controlled environment until it crystallizes. Flux-grown sapphires are more difficult to distinguish from natural sapphires. However, gemologists can detect their inclusions using specialized equipment. Other synthesizing techniques include hydrothermal and Czochralski pulling.
Treated Sapphires
Heat-treated sapphires are not only accepted but also common in the industry. This process involves heating sapphires to improve their color and clarity. Lattice diffusion and irradiation are other treatments for sapphires, although their effects are nonpermanent. This means that the resulting color will tarnish or fade away when the treated gemstone is polished or exposed to sunlight. Sapphires with lattice diffusion or irradiation are the most affordable for treated sapphires. La Patiala prefers untreated sapphires, especially for sentimental purchases such as engagement rings.
Sapphire Meaning

In ancient times, people believed that a paste made of ground sapphire could heal poisonous bites. They also thought that sapphires could cure fevers, ulcers, and colds — oftentimes using them to ward off plagues. Another common belief at the time was that sapphires calmed and strengthened the mind. Other values attributed to sapphires include promoting fidelity, love, and tranquility.
Fast-forward to the Middle Ages when the clergy began wearing ecclesiastical rings with sapphire gemstones because the color blue is associated with heaven. This sparked sapphire’s association with royalty — specifically, the belief that wearing sapphire protected royal families from envy and harm. Sapphire was also used medicinally to treat eye conditions such as cataracts. In fact, in the 14th century, King Charles V of France had an oval sapphire ring he used to touch people’s eyes to heal them. Today, it remains symbolic of royal distinction, notably with the late Princess Diana’s sapphire engagement ring.
Are Sapphires Expensive?

The average cost of an unheated, high-quality sapphire is between $2,000 and $10,000 per carat. Kashmir sapphires are incredibly rare and can cost up to $200,000 per carat. “Top quality Kashmir sapphires are a true collector’s gem,” says Marco Hadjibay, creative director of Bayco Jewels, a high-jewelry brand specializing in rare colored gemstones. “They were only mined for a short period of time in history, starting in the 1880s and ending in 1946, which makes them very scarce. In the gem trade, owning a Kashmir sapphire is a status symbol.”
The primary determinant of a sapphire’s value is color. Sapphires range from very light to very dark violetish blue to greenish blue. Those with a velvety appearance, violetish blue to blue color, strong to vivid saturation, and medium to medium-dark tones have the highest prices per carat. Untreated sapphires are more valuable than treated sapphires.
The Most Expensive Sapphires in the World
In the industry, provenance refers to where a gemstone comes from or who previously owned it. Provenance, in addition to size, clarity, and intensity of color, can have a major impact on the value of sapphire, as the world’s most expensive jewelry demonstrates. The following sapphires reached new heights in the auction world due to their exceptional qualities and provenance.
Jewel of Kashmir

The Jewel of Kashmir ring features an unheated 27.68-carat emerald-cut sapphire of Kashmir origin. The ring is made of 18K white gold and has small pear-shaped diamonds weighing a total of 5.7 carats framing the magnificent jewel. In 2015, it sold for 52,280,000 HKD ($6.7 million) at a Sotheby’s auction in Hong Kong — setting the record for the highest price per carat ($242,145) for a sapphire.
Richelieu Sapphires

The Richelieu Sapphires are a pair of drop earrings that highlight unheated cushion-cut Kashmir sapphires weighing 26.66 and 20.88 carats, respectively. Each sapphire is suspended from a “star” that’s made of cushion-cut and pear-shaped colorless diamonds. These sapphires were originally part of the collection of Odile de Richelieu, which belonged to a royal family in France between the 18th and 19th centuries. In 2013, the spectacular earrings sold for 7,669,000 CHF ($8.4 million) at a Sotheby’s auction in Geneva.
114.7-Carat Unmounted Sapphire

In 2013, this unmounted sapphire of Burmese origin weighing 114.739 carats sold for 6,549,000 CHF ($7.2 million) at a Sotheby’s auction in Geneva. Burmese sapphires, especially of this extraordinary size, are incredibly rare since their mines mainly produce rubies — making them very expensive. The grading report from the Swiss Gemmological Institute describes its color as “royal blue” and notes that it has a few inclusions that are only noticeable under magnification.
Oscar & Heyman Sapphire Ring

The centerpiece of this ring is a natural blue sapphire that weighs 28.18 carats. This exceptional stone is surrounded by 32 tapered baguette diamonds. It has rich saturation and a velvety blue color, both telltale signs of a Kashmir sapphire. The sapphire is mounted in a ring designed by Oscar & Heyman, a noted New York-based fine-jewelry company. In 2014, the ring sold for $5.1 million at a Sotheby’s auction in New York.
Ceylon Sapphire Necklace

This double-strand necklace showcases an unheated cushion-cut 102.61-carat sapphire of Ceylon origin. It is made of 18K white gold and contains brilliant-cut diamonds that weigh approximately 60 carats in total. In 2014, this Ceylon Sapphire necklace sold for 32,600,000 HKD ($4.2 million) at a Sotheby’s auction in Hong Kong.
Sapphire Buying Guide

If you’re shopping for a sapphire, you should first decide what color you want. Whether you’re looking for a blue or fancy sapphire, you’ll want a highly saturated stone that isn’t dark. Blue sapphires tend to have inclusions, which can make them more susceptible to damage, although stones with few to no inclusions are extremely hard to find and very expensive. Another important factor to consider is the cut of a sapphire, which can affect its color and reflective qualities. According to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), an oval cut with triangular and kite-shaped facets is common for corundum, as it unleashes its rich color. Cushion-cut sapphire is also a popular choice.