In this article
Written by Sameer
Reviewed on
Purple sapphire is the same mineral as blue neelam and red yaqoot. All three are corundum, and in this case trace elements give it a violet to purple colour. If you have never bought a coloured stone before, you do not need a gemmology course. You need four or five things to look at, and a short list of claims to ask the seller to put in writing. Here they are, in the order we check them ourselves.
1. See the colour in more than one light
Purple sapphire runs from soft lavender through deep violet to reddish purple. The stones people value most have a rich, even colour that is neither washed out nor so dark it turns black. Look at the stone in daylight and then under a warm indoor bulb. Some purple sapphires change quite a bit between the two, and you should like it in both. Uneven bands of colour visible from the top bring the value down.
2. Check clarity with your own eyes
For a first purchase, look for a stone that seems clean at normal viewing distance. Fine needles or small crystals that only show under a loupe are normal in natural sapphire. They even help confirm the stone is not lab-grown.
3. Ask whether it is heated
Heating is a routine, stable treatment for sapphire and is widely accepted. An unheated stone that looks the same will cost more. What matters is that the seller tells you which one you are buying, in writing.
4. Make sure it really is sapphire
The usual stand-ins are glass and dyed material. Glass shows round bubbles under a loupe and warms up quickly in your hand. Sapphire stays cool and its inclusions are angular. A flawless, brightly coloured stone at a low price is your cue to slow down.
5. Think about how you will wear it
Sapphire is 9 on the Mohs scale, one of the hardest gems there is. That makes it an excellent ring stone for every day, and it keeps its polish for years.
What drives the price
Strength and evenness of colour come first, then clarity, treatment, cut and size. We price every stone on its own.
About astrology
In South Asian astrology purple sapphire is linked with Saturn (Shani) and is traditionally worn for calm and clear thinking. These are beliefs, not guaranteed results. If astrology is why you are buying, agree the weight, metal and finger with your astrologer first. Our rashi guide explains the usual pairings.
Three things to confirm before you pay
The stone is natural, any treatment is written down, and the weight is the weight of the cut stone. We check every stone against these points and photograph each one separately. Browse purple sapphire, or compare tanzanite and black agate. Our Urdu-English gem names page helps with trade names. Cash on Delivery reaches Karachi, Lahore and every other city.
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