Saphirs

Which sapphire to choose ?

That's the question to ask yourself as September approaches. Sapphire belongs to the very exclusive club of precious gemstones that includes only four members: diamonds, rubies, emeralds and sapphires.

At Pierres de Julie, we offer a wide range of sapphire jewelry in different colors to suit every taste.

Indeed, the best-known sapphire is blue, but did you know that there are other colors of natural sapphires, or even colorless ones?  Green, pink, yellow, orange, black or even colorless, sapphires amaze us with their wide range of hues. So, how much do you really know about sapphire? Let's take a look at this fascinating stone. 

The history of sapphire

This stone is said to be "precious" when it's blue. So when we talk about "sapphire", the word is associated with this hue, otherwise we always have to specify its color: pink sapphire, yellow sapphire, orange sapphire, green sapphire...

Chemically speaking, it's an aluminum oxide colored by titanium (which gives it its blue color) and iron (which darkens the gem to a greater or lesser extent, depending on the iron content).

In ancient Greece, sapphire was known as hyacinth, the name given to the blue iris.

By the way, sapphire and ruby are the same stone, but the former is blue while the latter is red, and they both belong to the corundum family.

Corundum is the most scratch-resistant gem family after diamond, with a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale. 

Sapphire prices

Many criteria go into determining the price of a sapphire, which can vary from a few hundred euros for a carat to tens of thousands of euros for high-value stones.

To determine the price of a sapphire, five main criteria are examined: weight, purity, color density, cut and whether or not it has been treated.

Sapphire meanings and beliefs

A gemstone may be chosen for its color or shape, but sometimes it's the gem's meaning that determines the choice. Sapphire, for example, is a symbol of truth and wisdom.

Choosing the setting for your gift

It's important to be aware of the wearer's tastes: is he or she a fan of yellow gold? Does she prefer the more discreet look of white or gray gold? Rose gold goes particularly well with certain stones such as diamonds, of course, but also sapphire, ruby, citrine, garnet, rose quartz and aquamarine.

Sapphire expertise and certified gemologist

Pierres de Julie will help you make the right choice. A sapphire ring for an engagement, a distinguished wedding band, elegant sapphire earrings for a birthday, a refined bracelet, a diamond sapphire watch as a gift: you can trust Julie Mialet, expert gemmologist, always attentive to your desires and preferences.

Thanks to a rigorous selection of sapphires, Julie Mialet, a gemologist trained at the Institut National de Gemmologie in Paris, offers you a wide choice of high-quality stones, heated or unheated, most of which are certified by leading laboratories (LFG, Gem Paris or Carat Gem Lab).

If you are interested in sapphires, don't hesitate to discover what Les Pierres de Julie has to offer in store...

We are also available for free appraisals of your sapphire jewels. Just send an email with your photos to contact@lespierresdejulie.com.

Free appraisal of antique jewelry

Do you own a piece of antique jewelry and would like to know its value? Pierres de Julie will give you a free initial appraisal. Why not exchange your gold (18 carats in all forms) or your damaged jewelry for a new item of your choice? It's a great way to gift jewelry or treat yourself while keeping your budget under control. Contact us to make an appointment at the boutique, or simply to arrange a phone call.

So, what are you waiting for ? Explore our new jewelry collection today and find your next favorite piece.