It’s no secret that sapphires are one of the most valuable gemstones in the world. But did you know there’s an entire family of sapphires that are even more valuable? These gemstones are known as star sapphire, and their unique properties give them a unique story to tell about the Earth’s earliest days and its formation. If you want to learn more about these gorgeous gems, keep reading!
Introduction
There are two different kinds of blue star sapphires: white sapphire with a blue-tint and natural light blue star sapphire. White sapphire is basically white zirconium that has been stabilized with titanium. It’s colorless until heated to about 1000 degrees Celsius, at which point it becomes tinted to blue.
Steps to buying a blue star sapphire
If you’re looking to buy a blue star sapphire, you’ll be taking your first step toward owning one of these beauties. With their regal colors and luster, they make for some amazing pieces – but don’t let their beauty fool you. The truth is that white sapphire look nearly identical to a gem-quality blue star sapphire; here are five tips for finding out whether or not your stone is actually an expensive blue star sapphire
Are you ready?
The rare blue star sapphire is easily one of the most expensive gemstones on earth. The blue star sapphire, when properly cut and set into a necklace or ring, is said to bring wealth and fortune. It also makes for an absolutely stunning piece of jewelry. If you’re ready to buy your first star sapphire, don’t forget to do some research first – there are many scammers looking to take advantage of unsuspecting consumers. Read on for a crash course in how to buy a blue star sapphire at its best price!
Different Types of Sapphires
Sapphires are most commonly described by their color. There are four basic colors: yellow, blue, purple and orange. The last color is extremely rare; for all intents and purposes, when you hear about a sapphire being orange or red, it’s actually referring to pink sapphire. The color scale generally goes from one to ten, with ten being completely saturated and one being so light that it’s almost clear. More or less every other level in between is considered its own unique variety of sapphire as well.
An Introduction to Buying Blue Star Sapphires
For many people, buying a blue star sapphire can seem like a daunting task. There are many things that you must know in order to buy one without getting ripped off by jewelers. This is because there are many people out there who will tell you that what they have is a blue star sapphire, when it really isn’t. In order to help prevent being taken advantage of, let’s go over some guidelines that will ensure you make an informed decision.
How Much Are You Willing To Spend On A Sapphire?
Before we can get to price specifics, you need to determine your budget and preferences. The most expensive sapphires on earth come from Kashmir and range in color from pale blue to deep cornflower blue. But at about $10,000 per carat, these stones aren’t for everyone; just 10 carats will cost you a whopping $100,000. If that’s out of your price range but you still want a good quality stone (with an equally good backstory), then sapphires from Burma might be for you: They are significantly less expensive than Kashmiri sapphires but are equally clean with beautiful clarity.
Do You Have An Idea Of What Size You’re Looking For?
The size you’re looking for will have a direct impact on how much you pay for it. You can even view blue star sapphire necklaces in your local retail shops; but, if you’re trying to get something bigger and better, you may want to turn to online retailers or specialty jewelry stores. Many online retailers are actually wholesalers that are hoping they can clear their inventory before they close up shop. They aren’t necessarily trying to make as much money as possible, so they may be willing to sell at a significant discount while still making some money.
Should Your Gemstone Be Clean Or Included?
One of our most frequently asked questions is about inclusion. When buying a blue star sapphire or other colored gemstone, it’s important to know whether your stone will be included or clean. Our in-house gemologist regularly posts a detailed video on exactly how to tell if your stone will have an inclusion or not – but in summary, look at where you see any dark areas when you’re looking at your stone up against a white background. If that area is more than 25% covered, it will likely not be clean.
How Important Is Shape In A Stone?
Shape is important, but color and clarity are much more important. If you choose a white star sapphire, it doesn’t matter how nice or clear it is; you won’t see any color at all. The same goes for a yellow star sapphire that isn’t very clear: you won’t get to enjoy seeing those bright flashes of violet because they'll be hidden beneath haze and light blemishes.
What About Some Of These Other Factors When Buying A Gemstone Like Color, Clarity And Cut?
What should you look for when buying a gemstone? While color, clarity and cut are all important, many gems buyers don’t realize that there is one other factor which makes an even greater difference than anything else: heat treatment. Heat treatment can improve a gemstone’s color dramatically, while also increasing its durability and brilliance. Despite how great it is, only about 50% of gemstones on sale in most jewelry stores have been heated, leaving you with half as many options. With Blue Star Sapphire’s help though – you can be sure that all sapphires we sell undergo our five-step proprietary heat treatment process to enhance their color and quality!
Are Blue Sapphires Right For Me?
While blue sapphires have been widely publicized, they’re also a bit of a mystery. And part of that mystery is whether or not blue sapphires are right for you. Before purchasing your first piece, you’ll want to answer two questions: Do I love blue? And will blue go with anything in my wardrobe? If you answered yes to both questions, then take heart: The dark (or sometimes medium) blues are some of our favorites and should be considered essential by any jewelry collection. There's no need to feel like you're committing too much money to one gemstone, since blue star sapphires come in every price range from under $100 per carat up to about $4,000 per carat and beyond.
Time To Get Serious About Buying A Stone Now That You Have All This Information.
We’re going to be straight with you. It takes time to read through everything we just told you. And, truthfully, you aren’t really ready to start buying yet. We understand that. It’s perfectly okay if it takes a few days or even weeks for everything to sink in and all your questions are answered—you do want it to be your best decision, right? So here’s what we suggest: bookmark our page and come back later when you’re good and ready! If all goes well, though (which it will), here are some things that might happen next
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