#7431 Victorian sapphire earrings and ring.
In previous posts about sapphires, we mentioned that sapphires come in a broad spectrum of colors. True, but it's also true that when we think about sapphires, we think of blue.
I read once that the Japanese have literally hundreds of words for what we call 'blue'. So what does blue mean?
This post will examine a little deeper into varieties of blue sapphires.
Possibly the most commonly seen sapphires are a light blue, often called 'cornflower blue', which is full of light, a delight and a joy to behold. These are from Sri Lanka and known by its previous name: Ceylon.
Even within the family of gems mined in Ceylon, we will obviously get slight variations of color.
Here are 3 examples, with the 3rd gem being slightly darker than the previous two. Should we have words that specify each tone as the Japanese do?
#7304 
#7489 
#7316 
A blue that I'm calling 'middle blue' for now since it comes between light and dark is in this gem, mined in Thailand. What a difference geography makes.
#6998 
One of the most desirable colors is the deep, magical blue of sapphires found in Burma. Like all Burmese gems, these are highly sought after. Look at the velvety tones that conjure rich luxury. Burmese gems always command the highest respect and price.
A deep blue, velvety sapphire that is above most of our means, is the ultra-rare Kashmir. As its name implies, these sapphires were found in Northern India/Pakistan in the 1880's. That's it: after a decade, the source dried up. Kashmir sapphires don't often come onto the market and when they do, they command astronomical prices. That I don't have one in stock to show you is therefore no surprise.
Another kind of blue sapphire that I don't possess to show you, but really should be mentioned, is the Montana sapphire. This is the only sapphire that's proudly mined in the USA. While like other sapphires, they do theoretically come in a variety of colors, they are usually a light, greenish-blue. Often greyish in tone. Often called teal. Usually heated. Almost always very small (under half a carat). I understand that you can go to Montana and try to dig for them yourself.
A variation of all the above is a rare color-change sapphire. Depending on the type of light and the angle it shines on the sapphire, we will see a different shade of blue, which in this case ranges to purple, but might even go to green in another gem.
#6995 
Although this is not the topic of today's post, we must mention that many sapphires are treated, whether by fillers or heat in order to improve their appearance. Ultimately, treated sapphires are not nearly as beautiful as untreated sapphires, so do try to go for untreated, natural (not synthetic/lab-grown) gems with their real light and shine.
Everyone's taste differs and you should look for the tone of blue that appeals to you. Doesn't matter which one. It's your personal taste. Do look for good quality gems with great light and shine, glitz and gleam. Beware of treated stones and the dull ones.
#4203 
Questions and comments: Please email antiques@brendaginsberg.com
Find jewelry on www.brendaginsberg.com