FAQ Related To Sapphires

Are Green sapphires expensive?

Green sapphires are not as expensive as classic teal sapphires and are definitely priced less than diamonds, padparadscha or emeralds. Green sapphires have often confused buyers, over their valuation. To put it simply, green sapphires are the smartest investments you can make this year. They are rare and are coveted because they are still a niche gemstone and their supplies are relatively limited, as compared to teal sapphires.

Their similarity to teal sapphire is also a big USP. For instance, this lot (look below) of Madagascan coloured stones exhibits a beautiful marine green-blue, a beautiful melange of blue and green notes. Even in colour-changing specimens, their primary colour in any lighting condition is teal, which is ideal.

Green sapphires, in spite of belonging to the same colour family, have a selling point of their own. Unlike the very popular teal sapphires, green sapphires are still quite undervalued, even though some specimens can offer ideal light performance. They are a great collector’s stone because experts can evaluate them correctly eventhough their commercial prices aren’t as high as other varieties.

*A green sapphire engagement ring can be wearable and modern*

Opting for a green sapphire can enable you to get a much larger centre stone for your engagement ring since they’re more modestly priced, as compared to emeralds or green diamonds. Moreover, the timeless green makes it easier to opt for classic, old-world silhouettes. It’s also important to remember that green sapphire may have a pretty pronounced pleochroism. This means certain specimens (usually lighter, minty hues) may exhibit a very fine distinction of light when observed at different angles. This doesn’t only make it a great engagement stone but also makes it the perfect pick for bespoke jewellery.

Their rarity is a key factor

The supply of green sapphires is less abundant than other popular options like teal sapphires. Their key countries of sourcing are Australia, Sri Lanka and also Montana in the United States. Owing to their relative rarity, they are considered quite a niche and due to the overabundance of emeralds and also green diamonds, this particular natural green gemstone has not flooded the market as of yet.

Due to the limited demand, green sapphires are priced significantly lower than blue, pink, and yellow sapphires and also, of course, the highly coveted padparadscha sapphires. When it comes to price, eye-clean green sapphires with a larger carat and few inclusions are considered investment-grade sapphires.

In their natural state, green sapphires range from mild yellow-green to a mossy yellowish-green hue and often feature secondary colours. These secondary hues of green or blue can actually help enhance the sapphire’s light performance.

What causes their colour?

As is the case with teal sapphires, the prevalence of colour in green sapphires is a result of the combination of other trace elements that are found within the corundum. In the case of green sapphires, it is the presence of iron, at various levels, that is the major contributor to its unique hue along with the low colour saturation.

The colour zoning in green sapphires can make a difference and they can range from light mint green to teal-like dark bluish elements. Teal-green sapphires, for instance, are highly valued and sought-after. Some of them could be a perfect 50/50 mermaid sapphire or a parti sapphire. But the most uniform green sapphire has a base hue that’s similar to a flashier olive tone. Remember, the lighter the green sapphires will be valued more highly because they usually allow better light reflection. Buyers who prefer teal sapphires will most likely also like eye-clean green sapphires with balanced inclusions.

How much is a green sapphire?

A 3-carat, untreated, cushion-cut, green-coloured Madagascar sapphire can cost you something between $730-850. Just like in most sapphires, the four Cs (cut, clarity, colour and carat weight) are key factors in determining the value of green sapphires too. You should, of course, start by looking for a reliable wholesale platform that only sticks to ethical, eco-friendly sourcing methods and can offer credentials of authenticity.

The Gem Society explains that clarity and optical performance are of utmost importance when it comes to zeroing in on a coloured gemstone for bespoke jewellery. But when it comes to green sapphires it’s also important to consider the cut and understand what the cut does for the colour of the gemstone. Instead of trendy, angular cuts, go for classic, big cuts for green sapphires that allow cutters to retain more carat weight.

However, if you’re opting for lean angular silhouettes like shield cuts or hexagons, seek help from a consultant. An expert-led platform will help you seek out the gemstones which can feature symmetrical edges so the facets look more remarkable. This sharp, shield-cut blue-green sapphire (below) by Navneet Gems plays up its dimensions with its angular cut.

Remember, clarity-boosting gemstone forms with big, clean facets and sculptural edges are more valuable because they promise the best optical performance. Colour saturation does not play a big role when it comes to most green sapphires. But a skilled cut doesn’t just balance out the inclusions in the sapphire but also enhances their brightness.

A smaller 0.50-0.99 carat natural, oval-cut green sapphire can be priced between $1,000-$1,500, if they are precision cut or boast extraordinary clarity, which is still lesser than the prices of similarly graded teal sapphires or diamonds.

Are teal sapphires real?

Yes, teal sapphires are natural and 100% real. The classic teal sapphires have emerged as one of the most sought-after variants in the gemstone market owing to their overall versatility. The intense and distinct cyan-like hue is noticeably warmer than other bluish notes and is completely natural. Natural teal sapphires can exude the most striking tonalities, from regular dark blue or cornflower blue sapphires. Teal derives its terminology from the Eurasian winged duck, which has a striking blue-green stripe on its head.

Sapphire formation can be mainly grouped into metamorphic and basalt related. These factors factor in the appearance of the stones. Teal sapphires usually display a varying gradient of ocean blue and vivacious green. Natural teal sapphires show a gradient of shades, in varying degrees of blue. They may also have green, yellow, and space grey colour zoning.

The most valuable teal sapphires have an almost 50/50 or near equal composition of primary blue and green colours with hints of yellow. They are known as mermaid sapphires and they usually offer an intriguing light performance.

What should you look for while shopping for teal sapphires?

If you’re a traditionalist, you can’t go wrong with a classically cut (possibly cushion-cut or emerald-cut) mermaid teal sapphire that has been ethically sourced and sustainably mined. One of the reasons why teal sapphires are becoming so popular with modern buyers can be attributed to their responsible sourcing methods. In fact, teal sapphires have been the hallmark of regulated and ethical mining.

The principal source of teal sapphires is in Australia. Some of the biggest mines of teal sapphires are found in Australia and the mining practices are regulated and entirely mechanical. Sapphire mining in Australia is governed by strong legislation which makes it a leader in the ethical sapphire market. Australian teal sapphires offer an intense hue with high saturation, so you’ll notice some green zoning within the sapphires.

Teal sapphires produced in Montana, United States, however are more unsaturated and paler as compared to Austrlian teal sapphires and often host some pronounced inclusions (Ceylon or Sri Lanka is one of the primary sources of investment-grade sapphires but is not traditionally included in the list of teal sapphire mining countries due to the paucity of iron in the soil).

Some wholesaler platforms that offer cutting and fitting gems stones to precisely fit a casting, re-polishing facet-worn gems back to perfection or special cutting from rough material, can also offer some help when you’re browsing teal sapphires. Like this stunning lot of teal sapphires (a mixture of blueish green Thai Sapphires to perfect mermaid sapphires) have been sourced from a smaller mine in Thailand by Navneet Gems and have been cut with precision under expert supervision.

Are teal sapphires natural?

The striking teal hue often makes buyers think they’re too good to be true! But teal sapphires occur naturally and are some of the most highly coveted gemstones in the world at the moment. Their unique colouring is a result of a natural phenomenon; to put it simply, their colouring occurs due to a balance of titanium and iron. They offer a deeper undertone in addition to the classic blue sapphire and a more noticeable refractive index which makes them a superstar in the engagement stone market.

The main sources of natural teal sapphires are in USA’s Montana, Australia, Madagascar, Ethiopia and Nigeria. All these locations offer a difference in tonality, intensity and clarity.

Just to put things in perspective, the more intense the colour and the lesser the number of zones of a secondary colour(s), the more valuable the sapphire.

Bi-colour zoning should ideally be gradual, featuring a complementary hue. For instance, this stunning 5.62-carat Australian parti sapphire has a gorgeous (and near-perfect) colour zoning of green, yellow and orange. These hues totally complement each other and accentuate the sheen of the sapphire.

Are sapphires expensive?

Sapphires are less expensive than diamonds, in spite of offering a lot more aesthetic value. Besides the 4Cs, durability and colour-zoning are crucial factors that determine the value of this regal, hard-wearing gemstone. Sapphires are rarer than diamonds because their supply is more controlled and regulated, and they aren’t exactly hoarded. This also means it’s difficult to manipulate the prices of sapphires, which makes this gemstone one of the best investment-grade purchases, especially in an inflated market.

Sapphires rank 9/10 on the hardness scale, which makes them an ideal engagement stone. Experts have unanimously agreed that more and more luxury buyers are steering towards coloured gemstones over diamonds. In fact, even in diamonds, coloured specimens are preferred more frequently. A good example would be Jennifer Lopez’s new green diamond engagement ring, which is making waves across the world.

If you’re considering coloured gemstones, sapphires are your best bet. The gemstone’s biggest appeal is definitely its gorgeous and striking blue shade. Sapphires are corundum and exhibit a range of colours depending on what transition metal is present.

A premium-quality, precision-cut Australian teal sapphire, for instance, would be a smarter purchase than a diamond, at the moment. An untreated 2.74-carat oval-cut Australian diamond will cost you something around $1.900, while a 2.74-carat round-cut diamond can cost you upwards of $6137. Find more about the price comparisons here.

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