Question 1

What's the single most important thing to check when buying a sapphire?

Accepted Answer

Whether it has been heated. A confirmed unheated stone is rare and commands a large premium, because its colour is the work of the earth alone. After that, a confirmed Ceylon origin and an independent laboratory report matter most.

Question 2

Does heat treatment make a sapphire “fake”?

Accepted Answer

No. A heated sapphire is still a genuine natural sapphire; it has simply been baked to improve colour or clarity. Heating is disclosed, accepted, and far more common, which is precisely why unheated stones are prized.

Question 3

What makes Ceylon sapphires special?

Accepted Answer

Sri Lanka has produced sapphires for over two thousand years, and is especially known for bright, lively blues and rare fancy colours: teal, parti and padparadscha among them.

Question 4

Are teal and parti sapphires valuable?

Accepted Answer

Increasingly so. Once overlooked, these blue-green and multi-colour Ceylon stones are now a connoisseur's choice, and the unheated examples are especially prized.

Question 5

How do I read a sapphire certificate?

Accepted Answer

Three lines carry most of the value: origin, treatment, and an accurate description of the stone. Our certificate guide walks through what GIA, GRS, SSEF and Gübelin reports actually test.

Question 6

Where should I start?

Accepted Answer

With the heated-versus-unheated guide. That single distinction moves a Ceylon sapphire's value more than almost anything except size. Then read up on the colour or cut you're drawn to.

Question 7

What is a padparadscha sapphire?

Accepted Answer

A rare pink-orange sapphire named for the lotus blossom. Fine padparadscha is among the most coveted, and most valuable, of all fancy-colour sapphires; our padparadscha guide covers how the colour is judged.

Question 8

How much does a Ceylon sapphire cost?

Accepted Answer

It depends most on colour, treatment and carat. Unheated, lab-verified stones carry a large premium over heated ones, and price climbs steeply with size. Our price guide gives per-carat benchmarks by colour and treatment.

Question 9

Does origin on a certificate really matter?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Origin affects value: a confirmed Ceylon (Sri Lanka) origin commands a premium over many other sources, and leading labs determine it from a stone's trace elements and inclusions.

Question 10

How do I care for a sapphire?

Accepted Answer

Sapphire is extremely hard (9 on the Mohs scale) and easy to live with. Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush are enough; avoid harsh chemicals and store it so it doesn't scratch softer stones.

Sapphire and jewellery guides

Choosing a Ceylon Sapphire Engagement Ring

The collection of knowledge

Sapphire Hardness: What Mohs 9 Means for a Ring Worn Daily

Settings and Metals for Sapphire Jewellery

Caring for Sapphire Jewellery

Sapphire and Its Look-Alikes: Spinel, Tanzanite, Iolite and Synthetics

Star Sapphires: How Asterism Forms and What Makes One Fine

Sapphire questions, answered

Find your Ceylon sapphire