Question 1

Why are Burma sapphires so highly valued?

Accepted Answer

Fine Burmese sapphires combine deep, saturated blue with good brightness, and the Mogok area has a long history of producing important stones. Supply of fine material is limited. At comparable quality, a documented Burmese origin usually adds a premium over many other sources, although Kashmir stones typically rank higher. The quality of the individual stone still matters most.

Question 2

Are Burmese sapphires heated?

Accepted Answer

Some are and some are not. Fine Burmese sapphires are often offered unheated, which is part of their appeal, but heat treatment is also applied to Burmese material. Treatment cannot be judged reliably by eye, so for any significant stone ask for a report from a lab such as GRS, SSEF, Gübelin or GIA stating whether there are indications of heating.

Question 3

How do labs tell a Burmese sapphire from a Ceylon sapphire?

Accepted Answer

Both come from metamorphic settings, so their inclusions and chemistry can overlap. Laboratories compare inclusion types, colour zoning, trace elements and spectroscopy with reference samples of known origin. Most stones can be assigned an origin with confidence, but some cannot, and reports from different labs occasionally differ. Origin on a report is always an expert opinion.

Question 4

Is royal blue the same as Burma sapphire?

Accepted Answer

No. Royal blue is a colour designation, not an origin. Laboratories such as GRS, SSEF and Gübelin apply it to sapphires that meet their criteria for deep, saturated, pure blue, and such stones can come from Burma, Sri Lanka, Madagascar or elsewhere. A sapphire may be Burmese without qualifying as royal blue, so check both statements on the report.

Burma Sapphires