The Sapphire Strip
Exotic, vibrant, and luxurious, it's no wonder this gemstone is so highly coveted.
Join us this week as we take a deep dive into the tantalising world of Sapphires.
Watch our 8.30 pm live shows to explore the vivid spectrum of sapphires. Return here daily to discover a new Sapphire reveal!
Pink Sapphires
- Pink Sapphires are a beautiful, feminine gem from Madagascar. Colour variations range from light red to shades of purple.
- The most valued Pink Sapphires have an intense colour saturation with little to no inclusions.
- Blue and Pink Sapphire are typically coloured by Iron, Titanium, or Chromium.
Blue Sapphires
- Sapphires are the second hardest substance on earth, after diamond, rating 9 on the Moh’s Hardness Scale.
- Some of the most valuable sapphires come from Sri Lanka (Ceylon), Kashmir (India), Myanmar (Burmese), Madagascar, and Australia.
- Sapphire is the gem-quality variety of the corundum mineral.
- The word sapphire originates from the Persian word Safir, derived from the Greek word for blue.
Yellow Sapphires
- Yellow Sapphires are mined primarily in Madagascar.
- The finest yellow sapphires are yellow to orange-yellow with vivid saturation.
- Good quality yellow sapphires are among the highest-priced varieties.
Colours of Sapphires
- Fancy (coloured) sapphires make up approximately 40-50% of the sapphire market. Blue sapphires make up the remaining 50-60%.
Purple Sapphires
- Plum Sapphire colour varieties include purplish red, pinkish purple, fuchsia pink, violet and blue lavender. The colour is the product of iron, titanium and chromium elemental impurities in the chemical composition.
- Traditionally, plum and purple sapphires were mined in Sri Lanka (Ceylon) with limited availability. However, in 1998 gem miners detected an incredible collection of sapphires in Madagascar.
- This collection is a combination of both Ceylon and Madagascan plum sapphires.
- Plum Sapphires are one of the rarest ever found.
Ceylon Sapphires
- Sri Lanken Ceylon Sapphires are among the finest in the world.
- Ceylon Sapphires are a rich, vivid blue.
- As an engagement ring, Ceylon Sapphires make a great alternative to a diamond.
