What color is sapphire?

The color of sapphire is blue: true and false. Blue sapphire is only the best known. In reality, this gemstone offers a palette of hues, each of which comes in a multitude of shades, from light to dark. This can sometimes complicate the choice, but let's take a look at a few features that might help you.

What color is sapphire normally?

Blue sapphire is not the rarest, nor is it always the most widespread in deposits around the globe. It does not come from a specific part of the world. It is not necessarily the most expensive or the cheapest. It is not systematically the most desirable in jewelry. Blue sapphire is simply not the only variety there is!

This is not the "normal" sapphire color, but the more traditional one. It comes in part from Ceylon sapphire, which has been coveted for centuries and is often blue. Arguably, the most famous sapphire color is blue, which itself can take on different shades, such as teal sapphire, indigo, cornflower, royal blue or a blue so dark it's almost black. Today, sapphire rings are created in a wide variety of colors. It's important to remember, however, that it's sometimes necessary to distinguish a genuine sapphire from another stone.

The many colors of sapphire

Sapphire is a member of the corundum family, and the origin of the word "sapphire" can be misleading, since it means "blue stone". It's normal for "sapphire" to evoke a blue stone, and if it's any other color, we'll specify it.

The fact is that sapphire is available in a wide range of colors.

• Pink sapphire: highly prized when bright, it is gaining in popularity, but remains relatively rare and prices can sometimes be high.
• Green sapphire: although not very common, it is undoubtedly becoming more popular of late, especially as shades of green offer so much choice.
• Yellow sapphire: some people love it, especially when it's a generous, deep yellow, and it's more sought-after than ever, though it hasn't become a jewelry star, unless it's an unheated yellow sapphire.
• Violet sapphire: a color considered original, but more often violet-blue than violet per se, although there are various shades.
• Orange sapphire: this is one of the rarest (the majority of orange sapphires in jewelry have been treated), especially the Padparadscha sapphire from Sri Lanka, but it can be found in several countries.

What is the most sought-after sapphire color?

Classically, the most sought-after color of sapphire is blue, and its significance is linked to great virtues.

Royal blue sapphire is very rare, and a large, unheated royal blue sapphire is probably the most coveted.

After it, pink sapphire is really appreciated in jewelry, but remember that it depends on the individual stone. Some less popular colored sapphires can be very valuable, because they are naturally splendid and pure and have a relatively high carat weight.

Why do sapphires come in different colors?

Sapphire colors vary because the elements that make up the stones are not the same. This creates different color perceptions. All sapphires are composed of aluminum oxide, but other chemical elements vary the colors. For example, there is more chromium in a green sapphire than in a pink one, or more iron in a blue sapphire than in a yellow one.