How durable are sapphires? Sapphires are actually quite hard and score 9 on the Mohs hardness scale.'Given their diversity of colors, sapphires look wonderful against white metals like platinum and white gold, and depending on the shade of stone you select they can look lovely against the warm hues of yellow and rose gold.' What settings and metals work best with sapphires? 'Sapphires look stunning in both contemporary and traditional ring settings,' says Earlam-Charnely.

She explains, 'Oval cuts allow the most light to travel through the gemstone, enhancing its color and making sure the sapphire does not appear flat.'

What stone cut works best with sapphires? Although sapphires can look beautiful cut in any way, the oval cut shows off a sapphire's vibrant color best.

Unheated sapphires, for example, can cost more than double the price of a similarly heated sapphire.

What is the most important factor of sapphires? Earlam-Charnley explains, 'While all sapphire engagement rings are graded by foundational factors such as cut, clarity, color, and carat, a sapphire’s quality is primarily determined through its color and shape.' Whether or not a sapphire is heated is also hugely important and has a great deal of impact on pricing.

Typically, sapphires cost slightly less than diamonds and can range from about $500 to $2,000 per carat, but Earlam-Charnley admits, 'the sky’s the limit.'īailey Mariner/Brides What to Look For in a Sapphire Engagement RingĬonsidering a sapphire for your engagement ring? Here are a few questions and answers you should know before you look for the perfect stone. The cost of a sapphire engagement ring can vary greatly as well as it is dependent on carat weight and quality. The variety and range of color ensure that each gemstone has subtle differences.' Earlam-Charnley says, 'The rarest type of fancy sapphire is the Padparadscha, a delicate balance of orange and pink. However, some of the lesser-known sapphire colors are incredibly rare. Another plus? Sapphires come in a variety of colors (not just blue!) such as purple, pink, yellow, green, orange, brown, black, and even white- although Kashmir and Ceylon blue are the most sought-after. 'A sapphire is the perfect balance of classical beauty and contemporary expression, allowing you to choose one that reflects you or your partner’s personality,' says Earlam-Charnley of choosing this gemstone for an engagement ring.

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Sapphire diamond band