Question 1

What is a royal blue sapphire?

Accepted Answer

Royal blue is a trade term for a vivid, deep, saturated blue sapphire. Laboratories such as GRS, SSEF and Gübelin use it as a defined colour designation, each applying its own criteria, so a stone may qualify at one lab and not another. It is not a GIA grade, and the term describes appearance rather than origin.

Question 2

Are most blue sapphires heat treated?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Heating is a long-established treatment that improves colour and clarity, and most blue sapphires on the market have been heated. It is accepted in the trade when disclosed, and heated sapphire is stable in normal wear. Unheated stones are rarer and priced higher, and a report from a recognised laboratory is needed to support an unheated description.

Question 3

Which origin produces the best blue sapphires?

Accepted Answer

Kashmir, Burma (Myanmar) and Sri Lanka have the strongest reputations, and fine stones from Madagascar are now widely accepted alongside them. Origin influences price, but colour, clarity and cut matter more than the name on the report. Origin is determined by laboratories as an expert opinion and cannot always be established with certainty.

Question 4

What should I check before buying a blue sapphire?

Accepted Answer

Look at colour first: hue, tone and saturation, and whether the stone turns grey or dark in different light. Check face up for colour zoning and windowing. Confirm treatment status and, for important stones, origin through a report from a recognised laboratory. Finally, review the cut proportions, since many sapphires are cut deep to retain weight.

Blue Sapphires