The deep burnt orange color of this sapphire mimics that of a dying fire’s glowing embers, thus its name. The sheer size of this sapphire makes it special on its own, but when coupled with the outstanding color, it really is a one of a kind gem.
The perfectly cut cushion shape springs out the brilliant facets of the stone and allows for the color to shine through and bounce off into multiple rays of shine and sparkle.
The stone has been set with 2 trapezes on either side with a halo of melees around the sidestones. The band has also been channel-set with princess-cut diamonds, to provide the ring with an extra fancy touch. Additionally, the thin double-claw prong setting allows for the centerstone to really stand-out.
This magnificent piece is an intense color, unlike any we’ve seen in the sapphire genre. Everyone immediately thinks blues and pinks when it comes to sapphire, but this rare and unusual ember-orange is also a special option for a rare jewels collection.
Tourmalines come in a wide array of colors and this unique gem is a genre called “indicolite.” The indigo hues are the reason for the name behind this stone as one can see it is darker than a paraiba with more deep blue tones to it. The blue tones come from the presence of iron in the tourmaline. Purer blue tones are typically found in smaller carat weights where larger indicolites will have more green hues to them.
This high-quality indicolite also originates from Brazil (like the paraibas) but can also be found in regions such as Mozambique, Madagascar, and Nigeria.
The premium clarity and cut of this indicolite provide for maximum sparkle and brilliance and truly brings out the color of the stone.
Tourmalines are popular gems to be worn in a variety of fine jewelry and this particular stone was set on its side in a micro-pave diamond halo. The size of this stone allows for the ring to be quite impressive even when set horizontally and provides for a unique look to an otherwise classic oval-shape.
If paraibas are out of your price-point, then a good alternative might be the indicolite as they are in the same blue/green family but only missing that neon tint that we see only in paraibas (result of traces of copper). This small but important quality is the reason for the large difference in price of indicolites and paraibas.
Yet another gem to add to your collection of winners. This ruby is a little over 10 carats and the shape is a unique elongated cushion-cut that almost looks like an oval. The color and carat weight is nothing like we’ve ever seen in comparison to similar stones and definitely one-of-a-kind!
The color is a magnificent pigeon’s blood red and even shows hints of magenta in different lighting. In a previous post, I talk about how rubies are the red variety of corundum (what sapphires are composed of) and there are many debates between what constitutes a dark pink sapphire vs a ruby.
This stone is magnificently vivid and as true red as they come. It would be very difficult to make the case that this stone is a dark pink sapphire.
The unique elongated cushion shape of the stone allows for a variety of different designs and settings. Sidestones could be added to the centerstone to create a more unique and substantial design. This stone would be suitable as a ring or a beautiful pendant on a necklace.
This stone is truly the creme de la creme – an untreated, natural Burma sapphire in one of the most popular shapes of this season, the oval. The color of this natural gem is a rich deep blue that would complement any wearer beautifully.
This stone has not been enhanced and radiates a true blue color across the entire gem without any visible bands. The color doesn’t change throughout the stone but maintains a clear vivid hue from end-to-end.
As precious gemstones other than the diamond are increasing in popularity as a choice for engagement rings, the blue Burma leads the pack. It is certainly well-suited for a classic halo platinum setting or for 3-stone settings with various sidestones such as half-moons, pear-shapes, or even hearts.
Sapphires are right below diamonds on the Mohs scale, therefore highly durable and wearable. At 3.59 carats, this stone is the perfect size for the average woman.
Emeralds are one of the four major precious gems and the birthstone of the month of May. The gemstones are a variety of the mineral beryl and the green color from from trace amounts of chromium.
Colombia is the world’s largest producer of emeralds followed by Zambia. As with all colored stones, color is the most important component of the emerald. Emeralds range from yellow-green to blue-green to rich deep forest greens. Gems that are in the medium-dark tones are classified as emeralds while the lighter colored stones are commonly classified as green beryl.
The stones are softer than diamonds, rubies and sapphires and are usually heavily included. Therefore, if an emerald has no visible inclusions, it is graded “flawless” in clarity.
Many emeralds are treated with oil to fill-in any surface-reaching cracks to improve clarity. The grading of this type of enhancement is noted in levels by the terms none, minor, moderate, and highly. Again, these categories indicate level of oil-enhancement and not clarity. An enhanced emerald may very well have a number of visible inclusions.
The stone in this video is classified as “minor” with a vivid true green color and the inclusions are also minimal compared to similar sized stones of this carat weight. One can wear this solid rock in a ring or even as a statement necklace or bracelet.
Not too many consumers are familiar with yellow sapphires but they’re actually as popular or even more popular as the pink variety. The stone is a perfect alternative for people searching for a vivid yellow diamond but are on a more limited budget.
The cause of the yellow coloring in a sapphire is from the trace element iron. In general, higher concentrations of iron in the stone will produce a greater saturation leading to a richer color.
This intense true yellow of these gems really light up one’s hand and are easily paired with both white and yellow gold. Celebrities like Jenny McCarthy are also hopping on the yellow sapphire train and getting the sunny gem as engagement rings.
Yellow sapphires come in a wide range of shades from pale yellow to greenish yellow to orange-y yellow to heavily saturated intense yellows. The stone featured here is an intensely vivid yellow, cut brilliantly for some major sparkle. Stones such as these with a bright color and great cut for maximum sparkle are some of the most valuable yellow sapphires you can find.
Centerstone: Royal Blue Sapphire
Carat/Cut: 10ct Emerald-cut
Origin: Burma
Lab: AGL Lab-certified
MOHS Hardness: 8
Price: below $600,000-
This is a ring truly fit for royalty. The precise step-cut on this 10ct royal blue sapphire brings out the clear rich blue of the gem and complements the trapezoid sidestones perfectly. The large carat size has been toned down with a humble but classic three-stone setting.
Sapphires come in a wide-range of colors but everyone knows that the blues are the most popular and classic. After Princess Diana (and now Kate Middleton) wore blue sapphire as their engagement ring, the popularity of sapphires rose dramatically.
This ring is versatile and can go from day to night from being a classy power ring during the day to being a statement cocktail ring at night. Dress it up, dress it down, either way you’d want to add it to your collection!
Paraiba Tourmalines are one of the rarest and most valuable gems in the world. Not many consumers even know about the paraiba but it is definitely a must-have addition to anyone’s fine jewel collection.
Paraibas were first discovered in 1989 by gem miner, Heitor Dimas Barbosa, in the Brazilian state of Paraiba. They are just one of many tourmaline varieties available on the market today. What makes paraibas stand out from the rest is its unique glow. They possess a striking glow that can only be described as “neon” and “electric.” The copper content in paraibas is credited for it’s splendid and glowing color.
Paraiba Tourmalines are rare because they have only been found in copper rich areas such as Brazil, Nigeria and Mozambique. In Brazil, the Paraiba tourmaline mines are hand excavated, and interconnected tunnels are dug up to sixty meters deep. Paraiba tourmalines from Africa are also mined manually, with the process being almost as arduous. The difficulty mining Paraiba Tourmalines is what makes this gem rare, and very valuable.
To the untrained eye, the difference between similar Brazilian and African gems are unnoticeable. Even gem experts have to run multiple tests to differentiate between the stones.
It has been a long-term industry debate whether the term “paraiba” should be used for the gems originating from Africa. Some argued that the Brazilian and African material were chemically similar, if not identical. Others argued that “Paraiba” was a location name and should be reserved for the Brazilian material only. Thus some gem dealers started to use the term “African Paraiba”.
Finally, in 2006, the LMHC (Laboratory Manual Harmonization Committee) agreed that “Paraiba” should refer to a type of tourmaline and not indicate a geographic origin. The term “paraiba” should not be capitalized and now the term “paraiba tourmaline” refers to all relevant tourmalines.
Paraibas from Brazil are very fragmented and rarely do you see one produced over one carat in size. Paraibas originating from Africa, however, tend to be larger. Paraiba tourmalines from Brazil are among the rarest and sought after gems in the world. Needless to say, they are also one of the most expensive.
This brilliant oval-cut paraiba is from Mozambique and is nearly 5 carats. The color is really striking and has the neon glow unique to paraibas.
Most rare and exotic gemstones vary wildly in price depending on the origin. A spinel of this size and color originating from Burma is the creme of the crop and is more valuable than your average ruby or diamond.
This particular gem is natural and unheated, meaning there are no traces of any treatment done to this stone to enhance its color. Large carat weights of Gem Burma Spinel is extremely difficult to come by and this stone is truly in a class of its own.
Because of its rareity, the price per carat of these gems continue to rise and be a hot item in all the international gem shows. The hardness of the spinel (9 on the Mohs scale) makes it a very popular item to wear as a ring.
This stone can be crafted into a beautiful cocktail ring or even a very formidable men’s ring or a statement necklace. The deep rich red color of this Burma spinel rivals that of a vibrant ruby and would be an valuable addition to any collection.
Pink sapphire comes in a variety of colors from a pale baby pink to intense hot magentas. The most valuable and rare pink sapphires are classified as being “hot pink” or “bubble-gum pink”.
Many consumers assume that sapphires only come in shades of blue but pink is another beautiful option that is becoming increasingly popular. Rough pink sapphire deposits were discovered in Madagascar in the late ’90s releasing more of these fine gems into the market. They are now often found not only in Madagascar but also in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and East Africa.
The cause of the pink coloring sapphires is due to the presence of chromium (like rubies). Lower concentrations of chromium produce pink sapphires. If there are traces of titanium in the crystal, then the sapphire will have a more purplish-pink hue.
As with most gemstones, color is of the utmost importance and the stones with the highest saturation and color-quality are the most valuable. Because color is such an important trait in the pink sapphires, untreated stones are difficult to come-by and priced extremely high. Moderate heat treatment is common practice to bring out the color of the stones.
The heating process does not alter the internal characteristics of the gemstone which makes the detection of heat treatment difficult for gemologists. In some cases, it can be very difficult to determine if a pink sapphire from Madagascar has been heated. Even the most respected professional laboratories have been known to disagree when evaluating the same gemstone.
The popularity of pink sapphire can also be attributed to the fascination with pink diamonds. Because pink diamonds are rare and extremely high in price, pink sapphire is a more affordable alternative, though still rare and hardly inexpensive.
Sapphire has become very popular as engagement rings as well due to its luster and hardness (9 on the Mohs scale). Blue is the classic sapphire color that everyone is familiar with, but pinks in larger carat weights are actually much more rare and valuable.
This particular pink sapphire has been set in a classic micropave halo with matching thin micropave band for a timeless look.
