How to Select a Sapphire

While sapphires are typically thought of as blue, they may also come in yellow, green, orange or purple. They are precious stones with a high price tag attached, so when buying a sapphire, make sure that you get what you are paying for. When dealing with expensive gems like sapphires, if the price sounds too good to be true, it is. Ask plenty of questions before deciding which stones you want to purchase.

Instructions

1

Inspect the sapphire's color under good light. The purer the stone's color, the more valuable it is. A blue sapphire should be as blue as possible, with no green or yellow clouding the surface. Hold the stone over both a white and black surface to ensure that it does not have color flaws that are invisible when held over the jewelry counter.

2

Turn the sapphire in the light, looking at the cut and the faceting of the gem. The cuts should be clean and smooth, and each facet should be cut evenly. This affects the gem's ability to reflect and refract light.

3

Look through the sapphire. A sapphire should not be completely transparent. Instead, looking through a sapphire should cause things to look hazy. TheDiamond.com states that you should not be able to read fine print through a sapphire.

4

Ask to have the stone cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaner and inspect it after it has been cleaned. A cleaning will show any imperfections that were hidden by oiling.

5

Ask what treatments the sapphire has undergone and get it in writing.

6

Have the stone appraised before purchasing. This eliminates any doubt regarding the value of the stone, and it also allows you the comfort of knowing that you are getting what you are paying for.