9.75 Carat Kashmir AGL 2010 No Heat Sapphire Two of the four precious stones, Sapphires and Rubies are closely related, both in terms of their tremendous aesthetic appeal as colored, precious gemstones, and their origin. Both Sapphires and Rubies come from the mineral corundum and are usually found in the same geographic areas when they occur naturally. They are also the hardest natural gemstone after diamonds. Sapphires and Rubies have long captivated because of their otherworldly beauty. The term, Sapphire, has a rich cultural heritage, with origins in Latin, Greek, Hebrew, old Iranian, and most notably Sanskrit, which translates into “precious to Saturn” (shanipriya). Ruby more simply hails from the Latin word Rubens, which means red. 5.19 Pigeons Blood Ruby Ring When choosing a colored gemstone such as a Sapphire or Ruby, in addition to carat, cut, and clarity, one must consider the three elements of color: hue, saturation and tone. Hue is the color of a gemstone, saturation is the vividness of the stone, and tone refers to the contrast between light and darkness in the stone. When considering a Blue Sapphire, the primary color is blue. The bluer the stone, the more valuable. Common secondary hues in a Sapphire are purple, violet and green, with purple and violet being more acceptable, and green being negative. The higher the percentage of the primary color (blue) the more valuable the stone. It requires a very skilled cutter to cut a Sapphire or Ruby exactly the right way to bring out its most favorable color. When considering a Ruby, the richer the color, the more valuable the stone. The most valuable Ruby is the pigeon blood-red. The most favorable undertone in a Ruby is violet, because it enhances the richness of the primary red color. Sapphires also come in colors other than blue (pink, orange, and beyond); however, we’ll save that for another post. To understand the value of a stone, one must also consider its origin. Although Sapphires occur naturally around the world (Australia, Africa, Thailand, Burma, Vietnam) the most prestigious and highly coveted sapphires are the Kashmir Sapphires, also known as Kashmiri Sapphires, which were discovered in Kashmir in 1880 after a landslide. Kashmir Sapphires are a pure intense blue. Other highly coveted Sapphires hail from Burma (Burmese Sapphires) and also Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). The most valuable Rubies are Burmese Rubies, which hail from Burma (now Myanmar). They can also be found in Thailand, India, Nepal and the United States. 9.32 Burma Sapphire No Heat Make sure, when selecting a Sapphire or Ruby, to ask whether it has been heat treated (which lowers its value compared to a natural gemstone). Also make sure you are purchasing a natural, rather than an artificial or synthetic, stone. Famous naturally occurring Sapphires include the 423 carat Logan Sapphire on display at the Smithsonian, the Star of Asia, a 116 carat stone on display at the American Museum of Natural History, and the St. Edward’s and the Stuart Sapphire (104 carats), which are part of the English crown jewels. Also at the Smithsonian is a 23.1 carat Burmese ruby donated by philanthropist Peter Buck and Gerard & Co’s 40.63 heart-shaped Ruby. Looking for a last minute holiday gift that will make a lasting impact? Diamond & Estate Trust has a tremendous collection of rare, high-value Blue Sapphires and Rubies, including Kashmiri Sapphires and Burmese Rubies. Contact us for a private appointment to view any of the gems in this post or to see the rest of our collection. Read more: D&ET Jewelry 101: How To Buy Sapphires and Rubies