A Guide to Buying a Sapphire Engagement Ring

Traditionally, sapphires are symbolic of faithfulness, which make them a perfect choice for use in an engagement ring. While most people associate a deep royal blue color with sapphires, they are not the only colors to choose from. Whichever sapphire strikes your fancy, there’s no denying the gem makes a beautiful, unique alternative to a traditional diamond engagement ring.

What Colors do I have to Choose From?

Sapphires are known for their brilliant, deep blue color, but they are also available in a variety of other gorgeous shades. In fact, there are several “fancy” sapphires couples have to choose from when selecting a sapphire engagement ring.

• Pink

Pink sapphires are often confused with rubies; however, if the stone has a purple tinge to it, it’s most definitely a sapphire. Pink sapphires are a beautiful alternative to the traditional blue stones.

• Purple

Ranging in shades from light to deep, purple sapphires are a gorgeous alternative to the classic blue stones. The lighter purple sapphires may even look slightly pink in tone when exposed to light.

• Green

Though unique in color, green sapphires are actually the least valuable of all sapphires. Green sapphires range in color from a light yellow-green to a blue-green. If you are looking for a deep green stone, however, you are better off selecting an emerald. Green sapphires simply cannot attain the same dark green shade emeralds can.

• Orange

Orange sapphires are exceedingly rare and valuable, with the most valuable being a stone with a dark red-orange hue. Yellowish orange sapphires are less valuable.

• Yellow

When selecting a yellow sapphire, look for a light yellow hue. Because of the transparency of yellow sapphires, you want to check for visible flaws and imperfections that can detract from the overall beauty of the stone.

Important Things to Consider

Before buying a sapphire engagement ring, you should carefully examine the clarity of the stone. Even though most gemstones will have some type of minor flaw, you should check the stone carefully for any visible cracks that can cause further damage to the stone at a later date. If there are flaws, make sure those flaws do not detract from the overall appearance of the stone. When checking a sapphire’s clarity, the stone should be transparent and the color uniform throughout the gem.

While most people commonly choose ovals or round cuts for their sapphires, other cuts can be used provided it is proportioned to allow the most brilliance possible. Different cuts will be more expensive than others, so compare pricing on a variety of sapphires before you purchase one. Additionally, you should verify the stone’s origins before you purchase a sapphire engagement ring. If the stone has been treated in any way, jewelers are required to disclose this up front. If you are unsure, ask!

Purchasing a sapphire engagement ring is a beautiful alternative to a traditional diamond ring. Deep royal blue sapphires are classic, but other colors offer a distinctive look any bride-to-be would be happy to wear on her finger.

Tags: Engagement Rings, sapphire colors, sapphire engagement ring, sapphires, types of sapphires

This entry was posted on Saturday, June 6th, 2009 at 9:20 am and is filed under Alternative Gemstones. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.