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Beyond the Blue: Sapphire Engagement Rings in Rainbow Colours

Author: Lisa Jeeves
by Lisa Jeeves
Posted: Jan 21, 2015

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Sapphire engagement rings continue to grow in popularity, especially after the royal wedding in 2011. Sapphires are beautiful and hard-wearing; they are second to the diamond in hardness and a great choice as an alternative to a diamond ring. Below is some information about how sapphires are evaluated. As with all coloured gemstones, it is the colour that takes precedence in valuation.

Hue

Sapphires are generally thought of as blue; however, the range of different colours is extensive. So, sapphire engagement rings can be found in all the colours of the rainbow. Gemmologists use three terms to describe the colour of sapphires and other coloured gemstones. The first of these terms is called the hue. This is basically the actual colour of the gem. The gem might have secondary colours, which can alter a true blue into either a greenish blue or a yellowish orange.

Tone

This refers to the colour tone and describes how light or dark the sapphire is. The tone is very important in determining the value of the sapphire. It should not be too dark so that the colour is lost or is inky, or too light so that the colour is not vivid. The most desired sapphires have a medium to a medium-dark tone. With the development of heat treatment in the 1990s, the colours of the stones can be modified, rendering sapphires that are too dark lighter and ones that are too light darker. This has resulted in more sapphires being available on the market, and so sapphire engagement rings are easier to find instead of being a rarity.

Saturation

The final criterion to asses a sapphire’s worth is termed its saturation, and this refers to how intense the actual colour is. Determining the sapphire’s colour is the saturation modifier; in blue, green and violet sapphires, the modifier is generally grey. In yellow, pink and orange sapphires, the modifier is usually brown. The results of poor colour saturation result in greyish blues, greens and violets; whilst in orange, pink and yellow sapphires, they are described as brownish. Saturation is vital to a sapphire’s value. Despite its hue, if the stone does not have a high saturation, meaning low levels of saturation modifiers, it has a lesser value.

Cut

The gemstones’ cut will affect the colour and the brilliance in sapphire engagement rings. Various cuts bring out the brilliance of the sapphire, such as the brilliant cut and the vintage cushion cut. The emerald cut enhances the colour, but the effect is less brilliant.

There are a few things to consider when choosing a sapphire: how it is cut, its setting and where it has been mined. The colour, though, is the over-riding consideration in which sapphire you choose; it should not only be attractive, but it should have a special meaning for you.

Frederick Holm writes for the F&L Designer Guides, which hosts a thriving community of independent engagement ring designers in the UK. Inspired by their search for distinctive, one-of-a-kind sapphire engagement rings, F&L now celebrates the works of their favourite designers and helps promote the notion of "Go Bespoke" as a more imaginative and interesting alternative to the limitations of High Street shopping.

About the Author

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.

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Author: Lisa Jeeves

Lisa Jeeves

Member since: Oct 18, 2013
Published articles: 4550

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