Sapphires are rated from "exceptional" to "poor" quality.
Sapphires, prized for their beauty, are gemstones from the mineral family corundum. Although sapphires are most commonly associated with deep shades of blue, they come in many different colors. The red form of corundum is ruby. Colors in corundum are created by small trace mineral inclusions. There is no standardized clarity scale for sapphires comparable to the Gemological Institute of America's Clarity Scale for diamonds. Sapphires are rated "exceptional" through "poor" based on an overall assessment of their color, clarity and cut. Exceptional sapphires have inclusions that are not visible to the naked eye. Most sapphires sold in jewelry stores are heated to improve their color and clarity.
Instructions
1. Visit a reputable jeweler in your area who deals in sapphires. Ask the jeweler for a selection of loose sapphires, or sapphires mounted in jewelry. Inquire about different qualities, colors and origins of of sapphires in the jeweler's stock and ask to see examples of each. Verify that each stone has a certificate of origin or authenticity. Place sapphires on a white sheet of paper. Examine sapphires in good lighting both with your naked eye and using a jeweler's loupe.
2. Notice external nicks or abrasions on the surface of the stone. Look for small, dots or crystal like inclusions embedded within the sapphire. Compare the degrees of color saturation of different sapphires. Observe the transparency of each sapphire and how well each stone transmits light. Ask your jeweler which cuts create the most sparkle. Examine several different cuts to determine which is the most pleasing to you. (See references, the naturalsapphirecompany.com)
3. Ask your jeweler to identify sapphires that are heat treated or otherwise enhanced to improve clarity. Compare the enhanced stones with natural stones using your naked eye and with the jeweler's loupe. Choose a sapphire of the desired size with good color purity in your price range. Untreated sapphires that are rated "exceptional" are rare and sell for high prices. Your jeweler should disclose any enhancements or modifications to the sapphire's appearance.
Tags: color clarity, each stone, jeweler loupe, rated exceptional, sapphires jeweler, Sapphires rated
