Sapphire and Ruby comprise more than half of all Gemstones sold worldwide. Sapphire's popularity is not based on color alone.  Its hardness of 9 places it next to Diamond (10), making it an excellent choice for jewelry worn daily.  It is frequently featured in engagement rings.  Most people relate Sapphire to the color Blue.  But this form of Corundum is readily available in an array of other colors: Pink, Golden, Green, peachy Orange, Purple and Colorless.  Fancy colors in Sapphires are described as being variations of the standard hues.  Color change Sapphires are those which have two colors which are distinct when the light source is changed from fluorescent to incandescent.  Generally, the more clear and vivid the color, the more valuable the fancy sapphire.  If the color is in the pastel range, the clarity should be good: because in lighter tones inclusions are more noticeable, the trade usually prefers the gemstones to be cleaner with fewer visible inclusions.  In a lighter colored gemstone, the cut is also more important: it should reflect light back evenly across the face of the stone, making it lively and brilliant.  With darker more intense colors, the cut isn't as critical because the color creates its own impact.
Ceylon (Sri Lanka) positively produces the finest all-round Sapphires in the world. The very name commands a premium, and Ceylon Gems have constantly increased in price.  We have always been on top of the Gem market in Ceylon and stay up with current prices and new discoveries.  It is a very difficult market due to political unrest. It IS dangerous to go there, and it's more dangerous to go outside the capital city into the countryside where the stones are hand dug from the pits.  We constantly buy fine Ceylon Sapphires when the price is "right."  To be "right" we have the connections to know who needs quick and ready cash.  Every stone is negotiated differently, thereby affecting the price per carat.  We work hard to bring these highly valued Gemstones to you at very very affordable prices.  Sapphire of lesser quality comes out of Australia, Thailand, Colombia, Kampuchea (Cambodia), Kenya, Tanzania and Montana USA, and we do not usually offer these stones.
TREATMENTS - almost all (99%) Sapphire is routinely treated with "heat" to enhance and stabilize the color.  The typical heat treatment process is a permanent process that does not adversely affect the performance and durability of the gemstone, so there's no need to worry when you see this enhancement disclosed.  The typical heat enhancement procedure performed on Sapphire we offer from Sri Lanka (Ceylon) normally refers to the lower temperature wood heat method, and the typical heat enhancement procedure performed on Sapphire from Burma, and other countries in that region, usually refers to the higher temperature furnace fired method that is performed at another location, both heating methods have been accepted trade practices for generations.
CARE - It is usually safe to clean Sapphire in an Ultrasonic cleaner, but risky to use a steamer. We recommend ionic cleaners and/or warm, soapy water and a soft brush as the best way to clean Sapphire jewelry.
We specialize in obtaining Ceylon Sapphires that are natural "untreated" gems, not heated or chemically treated in any way.  The exception is Golden Sapphire, Orange Sapphire as well as some of the darker shades of Blue Sapphire, and these Ceylon stones are typically heat enhanced to stabilize the color. Even though it does not normally adversely affect the performance, durability, or value of the gem, in recent years demand for unheated top quality Blue Sapphire has caused the unheated gems to command a somewhat higher premium, depending on the gem.
Buyers Beware: There is a new treatment process being performed in Thailand that changes a lower quality Sapphires into beautiful color Blue, Padparadscha, Orange, Pink, and Yellow Sapphire.  AGTA and GIA gem labs, after examination of this 'bulk diffused' heat treatment process reveals that the color does not go all the way through the gem, but is only in the outer layer, so if the stone is ever scratched or recut the outer color layer would be removed and the original color would then be visible underneath the outer layer of the gemstone.  Since Asian gem suppliers (and there are many online now) are now disclosing the process, but they are also misrepresenting it as a good thing to happen to the gem industry.  Nothing could be further from the truth, so Buyers please Beware.  For example, you may see a premium Ceylon Padparadscha Sapphire advertised on one of those websites for what appears to be pennies on the dollar, be assured that the stone was most likely altered by one of these Asian factories.  Some of these gem suppliers even go to great lengths to try to convince the public that there is no difference in the value of their artifically colored and/or treated gem, and the value of a natural gem, but any experienced jeweler will verify that a statement like that is totally untrue. 

Although everyone has heard of the fabled Burmese Kashmir Sapphire, few have ever seen one.  We constantly see  appraisals that refer to Kashmir Sapphire, but it's just about always refers to a top gem quality Deep Royal Blue Ceylon Sapphire from Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon).   Once in a great while we are able to acquire a real one, but since the mine has been depleted and these highly prized stones are old stones that are simply brought back onto the market, they don't last long.  Authentic Kashmir Sapphires carry a particularly high cost per carat and are very highly valued Collectors Gemstones.
Kashmir Blue Sapphire from Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) also carries a particularly high cost per carat and these are very highly valued Collectors Gemstones, especially when they are in the super rich Velvety Royal Blue color.
The Blue Sapphire color next on the popularity scale is Cornflower Blue.  The Cornflower Blue color shades vary but all usually allow more light into the stone for a brighter appearance, so these stones are usually cut in the Cushion or Oval shape to make it as brilliant as possible.  Price per carat reflects the size, evenness of the color, the clarity and the brightness of the stone.

A color change Gemstone is one that changes from one color to another due to the light source. The color change comes about in a Gemstone due to the atomic structure of the stone. The ultraviolet rays in sunlight or fluorescent light excite the atoms in a color change Gem, but artificial (incandescent) light does not.  Sapphire is one of the few Gemstones that can have a color change. The more dramatic the color change, the rarer and more expensive the stone. All of our Color Change Sapphires are are very highly valued Collectors Gemstones.

These Sapphires are generally a strong, bright green color, sometimes from green to bluish green or yellowish green pleochroism. They are not the same tone of Green as the Chrome Tourmaline, Tsavorite Garnet, or Emerald, but can at first glance look very similar.  The mixed Oval and Cushion cut are the most common, but you can sometimes find square or rectangular step cuts.  Green Sapphires are excellent choices for mounting in jewelry as well as in any Collection.  Due to the rarity of Green Sapphire it is difficult to find stones of any size.

Pink Sapphires are one of the HOTTEST of the fancy color Sapphires. The Hot Pinks have seen the largest increase in value over the past 5 years of any of the Sapphires. True Hot Pinks are very rare.  Pink Sapphires are treasured Gemstones in any Collection.  Price per carat reflects the size, evenness of the color, the clarity and the brightness of the stone.

Padparadscha is the Sinhalese word meaning "lotus blossom".  Padparadscha is Corundum in the pastel shades of delicate Orange-Yellow-Pink.  Padparadscha can run from a more predominant Pink with nice Yellow-Orange mixed in, to the intense pastel tones of predominantly Hot Pink with Yellow-Orange mixed in, this means the Pink would be the more predominant color in the stone but the others are present and visible.  At the other end of the color spectrum Padparadscha can run from a more predominant pastel Orange with nice Pink-Yellow mixed in, to the darker tones of Orange with Pink-Yellow mixed in.  One color can be more predominant than the others, but never without the others.  The AGTA Lab recently took a variety of stones that dealers suggested met the criteria of Padparadscha and scientifically defined the color range using an imaging spectrophotometer.  Unfortunately, the results of that attempt almost entirely excluded the stones produced from Tanzania’s Umba Valley.  Most dealers and gemologists feel that the Umba stones do not qualify because of their overly dark tones and strong brown (’garnety’) component.  The spectacular “aurora” red-orange stones from Vietnam and Madagascar, even though there are no brown components in those  stones, are also excluded by the AGTA definition because of their oranges of high saturation and/or dark tones, this is mainly because Sri Lanka has traditionally never produced such colors.  In other words, when it comes to getting a gem report on Padparadscha, if it isn't from Sri Lanka and in a pastel shade, it isn't Padparadscha.  Most Padparadscha tends to have slight inclusions, especially in the rich intense tones, so if you see one that is a well cut and eye clean (or better) stone, with rich pastel blended color having all three colors evenly balanced and saturated throughout the stone, you are looking at one of the most expensive and sought after top quality Padparadscha gems available from the mines in Sri Lanka (Ceylon).  We only carry the finest natural Ceylon Padparadscha Sapphire which carries a premium price nearing and sometimes surpassing the price for fine Ceylon (kashmir and royal) Blue Sapphire.  Fine Padparadscha Sapphire is rarer than fine Ruby with a great investment potential!
 

White or "Colorless" Sapphires have a great deal of brilliance, are attractive, durable and well priced. Colorless Sapphires are not common. In fact they are very difficult to obtain, so prices should continue to move upward in the market.  Some Colorless Sapphires have a very light tint of Blue, Yellow, or Pink but are still considered colorless.
Colorless (white) Sapphire (corundum) is a 9 on the Moh's scale, and a refractive index of 1.76 and Diamond is a 10 on the Moh's scale, and a refractive index of 2.41, the highest for colorless minerals.
Colorless (white) Sapphire has been used as a substitute for Diamond for years, but despite it's luster, it is very easily distinguished from diamond since it has less dispersion and fire.  We often suggest Colorless (white) Sapphire as the accent stones in jewelry pieces, and the larger gems make excellent main stones in pendants and rings, but we do not recommend it if you expect it to be as brilliant as a diamond.  White Sapphire is a natural precious gem, and as such, stands on it's own merit as a beautiful precious gemstone.  Brilliant and Clean Colorless  (white) Sapphires are gaining popularity as a highly valued Collectors Gemstone.

Yellow Sapphires are intense, bright stones ranging from medium light Yellow to deep golden Yellow. These faceted Gems are exceptional in jewelry and have become quite popular as an alternative color for Blue.

Sapphire sometimes displays a three-ray, six-point star.  These star sapphires are cut in a smooth domed cabochon cut to display the effect.  The star is best visible when illuminated with a single light source: it moves across the stone as the light moves. This effect, called asterism, is caused by light reflecting off tiny rutile needles, called "silk," which are oriented along the crystal faces.
The value of star sapphires are influenced by at least these two things: 1) the intensity and attractiveness of the body color, and  2) the strength and sharpness of the star.  Of course all six legs should be straight and equally prominent.  Star sapphires rarely have the combination of a fine translucent or transparent color and a sharp prominent star, but when offered, these gems are highly valued and the most expensive.
If you own one and aren't sure if it's genuine, here's a few quick ways to tell the difference... First thing to look at is the bottom, if there is an "L" stamped in the stone, it's a Lindy Star and synthetic... if it passes that test  look for imperfections within the stone, and/or unevenness on the bottom, and/or stripes or lines of color that shows through the top, most naturals have one or more of these natural imperfections... then look at the star itself, using a flashlight, most natural stars do not have a "perfect" star, whereas the natural will most likely have 1 or more of the 6 legs not exactly the same length, or maybe not all 6 are perfectly straight... also the star must travel around following the light source, whereas if the star is stationary it is definitely synthetic, the most common synthetics jump out as way are too perfect looking.  You can also take it to a jeweler that has a diamond tester (with has a needle gauge instead of the ones that just making a beep), the dial should jump to the mark just before a diamond to tell you it's corundum.  These are just simple things you can do to rule out the majority of synthetics, but if you have a perfect star, a super clean stone with great color, the only way to be sure is to send the stone to a reputable Gem Laboratory and ask for a Gem Identification Report.  Prices for this report will range between $100 to $500, depending on how much detail you want on the report.  If you don't know who to contact, here are a few links to Accredited Gem Labs: AGA | AGL | AGS | AGTA | CCGL | EGL | GIA | GQI | GRS | GUBELIN | GUILD | IGI | LPSL | SSEF
TREATMENTS - Star Sapphire is normally "not treated", since the treatment process would dissolve the rutile needles that causes the asterism to form a star.
CARE - It is usually safe to clean Star Sapphire in an Ultrasonic cleaner, but risky to use a steamer. We recommend ionic cleaners and/or warm, soapy water and a soft brush as the best way to clean Sapphire jewelry.
Our source for fine Star Sapphire is Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon), known for producing the finest variety of Sapphire available.  Star Sapphires are highly valued Collectors Gemstones.