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Sapphire, this fascinating precious gemstone, is not limited to its famous blue colour as many people believe. In fact, the different colours of sapphire offer an extraordinary palette that has captivated collectors and jewellery enthusiasts for thousands of years. From azure blue to sunny yellow, soft pink and emerald green, sapphire belongs to the corundum family and reveals a true mineral rainbow. This gemstone, whose name comes from the Hebrew "sappir", meaning "the most beautiful thing", has an impressive hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale, which explains its exceptional durability. In this article, we invite you to explore the many chromatic facets of this precious gemstone, understand their origins and discover the regions of the world that offer us these natural treasures.

The Different Colours of Sapphire: A Natural Alchemy

Belonging to the corundum family, sapphire is essentially composed of aluminium oxide. What determines the different colours of sapphire is the presence of trace chemical elements in its composition. This natural alchemy, the result of millions of years of geological evolution, creates the incredible chromatic variety that delights jewellers and collectors.

Blue Sapphire: The Ultimate Royal Colour

Belle Époque platinum ring set with a 4.66-carat unheated sapphire and old-cut diamonds, CREDIT @LESPIERRESDEJULIE

When sapphire is mentioned, the first image that comes to mind is a deep blue gemstone. It is no coincidence that this variety is considered the most precious. Blue sapphires owe their colour to the presence of iron and titanium in their composition.

The shades can vary considerably, from light sky blue to intense midnight blue. The most coveted examples, from Kashmir, display a velvety blue colour with a slight violet undertone, often described as "cornflower blue". It is this highly distinctive colour that can send prices soaring, particularly for Cashmere sapphire, devenus extrêmement rares de nos jours.

Pink Sapphire: Softness and Elegance

Belle Époque yellow gold and platinum ring set with a 1.13-carat unheated Burmese pink sapphire and diamonds, CREDIT @LESPIERRESDEJULIE

Pink sapphire is a particularly sought-after variety for its delicacy and rarity. Its colour, ranging from pale pink to fuchsia, comes from traces of chromium in its composition — the same element that gives ruby its colour, but in smaller quantities.

This gemstone, midway between ruby and blue sapphire, perfectly embodies femininity and softness. It has enjoyed renewed interest in contemporary jewellery in recent years, particularly in engagement rings as an alternative to diamond.

Yellow Sapphire: Solar Brilliance

White gold ring set with a 0.67-carat yellow sapphire and diamonds, CREDIT @LESPIERRESDEJULIE

Less well known than its blue cousins, yellow sapphire brings incomparable luminosity to jewellery. Its colour also comes from iron, but in a different proportion from that found in green sapphire. Shades range from pale yellow to intense golden yellow, sometimes with orange undertones.

These gemstones, often originating from Sri Lanka or Madagascar, offer an appealing alternative to yellow topaz and beryl, with greater hardness that ensures their durability in jewellery.

Green Sapphire: Emerald-Like Rarity

Rose gold ring set with a 2.58-carat green sapphire and diamonds, CREDIT @LESPIERRESDEJULIE

Green sapphires are among the rarest varieties of coloured sapphires. Their colour, resulting from the presence of small amounts of iron, offers an interesting alternative to traditional emeralds, with the advantage of greater hardness.

The colour range extends from soft green to deep forest green, sometimes with bluish nuances. These surprising gemstones remain relatively unknown to the general public, making them treasures for connoisseurs and knowledgeable collectors.

Violet Sapphire: Between Two Worlds

White gold ring set with a 2.07-carat violet sapphire and diamonds, CREDIT @LESPIERRESDEJULIE

Sitting at the chromatic boundary between blue and red, violet sapphire derives its fascinating colour from a combination of elements: iron, titanium and chromium. This combination creates shades ranging from pastel violet to deep violet, sometimes with bluish or pinkish undertones.

These enigmatic gemstones are particularly appreciated for their unique character and their ability to subtly change colour depending on the lighting, a phenomenon sometimes referred to as the "alexandrite effect".

Padparadscha: The Salmon-Coloured Wonder

Among all varieties of coloured sapphires, the Padparadscha holds a special place. Its name comes from Sinhalese and means "lotus flower", referring to its unique colour ranging between pink and salmon orange.

Extremely rare, Padparadscha is considered one of the most precious sapphires in the world. Its unique colour results from a delicate balance of chromium and iron in its composition. Mainly sourced from Sri Lanka, it represents the ultimate prize for collectors of coloured gemstones.

Colourless Sapphire: Crystalline Purity

When corundum consists of pure aluminium oxide, without any colouring elements, it remains colourless. These rare stones, known as Leucosapphires, offer exceptional transparency and brilliance reminiscent of diamond, while retaining the physical properties of sapphire.

Sapphire Deposits Around the World: At the Source of Colour

The origin of a sapphire greatly influences its value and characteristics. Each producing region has distinctive features that delight collectors and experts.

The Legendary Sapphires of Kashmir and Burma

Kashmir sapphires represent the ultimate excellence in the world of blue gemstones. Discovered in the 1880s in the Himalayan mountains, they are characterised by an incomparable velvety blue colour with a slight violet undertone, often described as "cornflower blue".

Unfortunately, these deposits are now virtually exhausted, making Kashmir sapphires exceptionally rare and sought-after collector's gems. According to experts at Gemval, a top-quality Kashmir sapphire can command extraordinary prices at auction.

In Burma (Myanmar), the Mogok mines also produce exceptional sapphires, particularly intense blue stones and remarkable star sapphires. These gemstones, from the same region as the famous Burmese rubies, enjoy an excellent reputation.

Sri Lanka and Madagascar: The New Champions

Today, Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) has become one of the leading sources of fine sapphires. The island produces a wide range of gemstones, from sky blue to highly saturated colours, including the famous Padparadscha varieties.

Madagascar, which entered the circle of major producers more recently, yields gemstones of comparable quality, often difficult for non-experts to distinguish from Ceylon sapphires. This new source has helped meet growing market demand while maintaining a high level of quality.

Special Sapphires: Beyond Colour

The different colours of sapphire are not the only factors that determine their value and appeal. Certain formations create fascinating optical effects.

Star Sapphires: The Magic of Asterism

The phenomenon of asterism, the six-rayed star that appears to float across the surface of some sapphires, results from inclusions of rutile needles arranged in a hexagonal structure. These gemstones are always cut as cabochons to reveal the effect and have a particular fascination.

Here are the main criteria for evaluating a star sapphire:

• The sharpness and definition of the star's rays

• The contrast between the star and the background colour

• The intensity and evenness of the colour

• The centred position of the star on the gemstone

• The overall transparency of the sapphire

Blue star sapphires are the most common, but pink, violet and even black star sapphires can also be found, the latter being particularly spectacular for the contrast they offer.

Colour-Change Sapphires: Mineral Chameleons

Some sapphires have the remarkable ability to change colour depending on the lighting. Typically, they appear blue-violet in daylight and purple or reddish under incandescent light.

This phenomenon, similar to that observed in alexandrite, results from a particular chemical composition that absorbs and reflects different parts of the light spectrum depending on its source. These fascinating gemstones are among the most sought-after by collectors for their unique character.

Natural and Synthetic Sapphires: The Expert Eye

Since the beginning of the 20th century and the work of French chemist Auguste Verneuil, synthetic sapphires have existed. These gemstones are chemically identical to natural sapphires but are produced in laboratories. An experienced gemmologist can identify them under magnification, notably by their curved growth lines, whereas these are straight in a natural sapphire.

The price difference between a natural and synthetic sapphire is considerable, which is why it is important to have your gemstones examined by professionals before any significant purchase. Gemmological laboratories can issue certificates confirming a gemstone's authenticity and precise characteristics.

Sapphire: A Colourful World to Explore

The different colours of sapphire offer us a fascinating journey through the light spectrum, with each shade telling a unique geological story. From the mystical depth of blue to the softness of pink, the solar brilliance of yellow and the rarity of Padparadscha, sapphires are far more than simple gemstones — they are witnesses to nature's infinite creativity.

Que vous soyez collectionneur, amateur de joaillerie ou simplement curieux, n'hésitez pas à explorer cet univers coloré. À Paris, Les Pierres de Julie offers a selection of vintage jewellery showcasing these mineral wonders in all their shades.

For a free appraisal of your sapphire jewellery or to discover our collection, visit us at our Village Suisse boutique (15th arrondissement) or contact us online. Our team will be delighted to share its passion for these extraordinary gemstones with you.