Choosing a sapphire beyond the color name
Updated · SOUHAIT GEMS editorial
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Sapphire belongs to corundum. Red corundum is ruby; other colors include blue, pink, yellow, green and colorless sapphire.
Look at the whole color
GIA describes color as the strongest influence on sapphire value. A trade name alone does not show how light or dark the stone is, how intense its color appears, or whether the color is even.
Ask for views in more than one ordinary lighting environment. Compare the center and edges and ask whether darker areas remain when the stone moves. Consider your preference rather than choosing from a color label alone.
Compare like with like
Check measurements, weight, clarity, cut and treatment evidence alongside color. Geographic origin and treatment status need their own supporting information; a photograph is not enough to establish either.
Before ordering for jewelry, give your jeweler the actual stone dimensions and discuss the intended setting.
Source: GIA: Sapphire Quality Factors.