GEM TALK ON SAPPHIRES - BIRTHSTONE FOR SEPTEMBER

When shopping for Sapphires, the factors you must consider are:

1. COLOR - the most significant factor & the more vivid the better. In blue sapphires, the more intense the blue, the better with ‘cornflower’ blue being the best & rarest. In fancy or colored sapphires, vivid hues are what you should look for.
2. CLARITY - it is natural for sapphires to have some inclusions, the less the inclusions the more valuable the sapphire. If you find a sapphire with no inclusions or you can see thru the gem than it is most probably glass or synthetic.
3. BRILLIANCE – the clearer the stone the more expensive. If a sapphire has lots of inclusions which affect the brilliance of the stone than the value will be reduced.  
4. SIZE - the bigger the size the more expensive. Today Ceylonese Sapphires are the larger sized ones as Sri Lanka is known to produce sapphires of 10cts & more.
5. SHAPE & CUT – the shape is your personal preference, the cut must be smooth and of even finish with no chips or scratches.

Sapphires rank 9 on the Mohs scale which makes them a hard gem.

To care for your sapphires:

1. It is best to keep your sapphire jewelry in a separate pouch to avoid scratches. For earrings, wrap each piece in a tissue & then put them in a pouch
2. Always wear your lotions & perfumes prior to wearing any jewelry.
3. Over the time, your sapphire jewelry can get a build up of oils or perfumes which may causes them to loose their lustre and look dull. Simply soak your jewelry pieces in a bowl of lukewarm water with mild suds or detergent.  Use a soft toothbrush to scrub and then rinse & wipe them. I personally recommend doing this while seated at a table & avoid cleaning your jewelry over the sink in case your jewelry piece slips from your hand.