Blue sapphire is among the most desired gemstones around the globe due to its beautiful deep royal blue shade, strong astrological advantages, and classical appeal. Considered the Neelam stone in Vedic astrology, it is thought to offer wealth, prosperity, and safeguard its owner when purchased after proper consultation. Nonetheless, the price of blue sapphire stones vary significantly, from a few lower thousands to several lakhs per carat. Discussed below are the most important elements determining the value of this captivating stone.
1. Origin of the Stone
The blue sapphire gemstone’s location of origin has a significant impact on its price.
Kashmir Blue Sapphires – Highly sought after for their velvety blue hue, they are the rarest and most expensive, often commanding the highest premiums.
Burmese Blue Sapphires – They are renowned for the vivid saturation and brilliance, commanding premium rates.
Sri Lankan (Ceylon) Blue Sapphires – Well known for lighter brighter blue tones, they are priced lower than Kashmir sapphires.
Madagascar Sapphires – Gaining notoriety, they are of good value and quality.
2. Color Quality
It is likely that Color is the most important consideration in determining value. The best Neelam stone has:
Deep and rich royal to velvety blue.
No visible patches, zoning, or uneven distribution.
Saturated vivid tone that is neither overly light nor dark.
Sapphire gems that are dark, dull or poorly colored lose value even if they are clear.
3. Clarity and Transparency
The transparency and clarity of the blue sapphire is important to the price as with any other gemstone.
Highly transparent and eye-clean stones are in high demand.
Minor inclusions are tolerable but must not disrupt the stone’s transparency and are best ignored.
Cloudiness, cracks, and excessive inclusions diminish value and in turn, the astrological benefits.
4. Cut and Shape
Having a blue sapphire gemstone that is well cut makes it great for reflecting light, increasing luster and overall attractiveness.
Brilliance and inclusion concealment is achieved with precision cutting.
Sapphires are mainly cut to oval, cushion, and round with rings being most popular to feature oval cut stones.
Color and clarity cannot make up for poorly cut stones which lowers their price significantly.
Image Resource : Navratan Gemstone
5. Carat Weight
As with other gemstones, price per carat is most often highly variable with size. A high quality Neelam stone is difficult to find in larger sizes and thus, it is that much more valuable than smaller stones.
6. Treatment and Enhancement
Untreated blue sapphire stones are sought after and are extremely valuable. It is common practice to use heat treatment to enhance the color and clarity of the stone. Although treated stones are valuable in their own right, they are not as valuable as untreated stones.
7. Certification and Authenticity
Always purchase a blue sapphire stone with a gemstone certificate issued from a reliable gemological laboratory. A blue sapphire gemstone certificate assures buyers of authenticity, natural origin, proper grading, and most of all, untreated.
Final Thoughts
The balance of origin, color, clarity, cut, carat weight, treatment, and other factors determine the price of a blue sapphire. Whether the purchase is for astrological reasons or as a luxurious investment, is of no concern. Regardless, a better understanding of the factors leads to a better purchase. A high-quality Neelam stone is more than a purchase, but a lifelong treasure.
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