Last Updated on May 16, 2022
Sapphire is an exquisite gem that comes in multiple types. It is a beautiful piece of jewelry that is rare on the market. If you want to buy this item, you must understand its worth.
Understanding the price will also help you if you have a sapphire for selling. So here’s a concise guide about how much sapphire is worth.
How Much Is Sapphire Worth?
The price of this item varies depending on multiple factors. Some are as cheap as $25 per carat, while others can cost $11,000 per carat. Blue sapphire is one of the most expensive types. One carat of this item is worth $450 to $1,600. The price of this stone relies highly on the quality of the gem and its color.
Depending on the type, sapphires can also cost more than a few thousand dollars. This stone has been sold for $135,000 per carat in the past. Meanwhile, the most expensive sapphire was sold in November 2014 at an auction.
The Blue Belle of Asia is the most expensive sapphire sold for $17 million. It was about 392.52 carats and had a pure structure with a beautiful design. The price changes with time, but you can expect to get a high amount for a rare sapphire with pure color and high durability.
How Do You Price A Sapphire?
Pricing a sapphire correctly is essential if you want to earn high without the customer feeling you’re asking too much. The best way to price this stone is by understanding the grading system. Grade AAA sapphires are the rarest and most valuable on the market.
The second best sapphire your will encounter is one with AA grading and a medium-rich blue color. Remember that any sapphire with a grey undertone qualifies for the A category. Finally, stones with deep opaque blue come under B grade. Type 1, 2, and 3 classification also affects the pricing.
How Can I Tell If My Sapphire Is Real?
To understand a sapphire’s authenticity, you can conduct multiple tests such as the breathing test, scratch test, and air bubbles test. The breathing examination is the fastest and involves breathing on the stone to create fog. If the mist disappears within less than a few seconds, the sapphire is real and made of natural components.
If the fog takes more than a few seconds, it is made of synthetic material and will not value high. You can also check for air bubbles inside the stone. The bubbles indicate that the item was made artificially in a lab. The scratch test is also helpful if you have two sapphires.
It involves scratching the suspicious stone with a real one. If the other item is real, it won’t get any marks because gems with equal hardness don’t scratch one another.
Are Rubies And Sapphires The Same?
Many people consider rubies and sapphires to be the same, but they are not. The former is mainly a red stone that contains chromium and comes in multiple shapes. Meanwhile, gems other than red are called sapphires and have a high value. Sapphires can be blue, pink, colorless, yellow, purple, and black.
Blue sapphires to medium violet stones are worth more than the other pieces. You can get $450 to $1,600 per carat easily for them if the condition is good. A ruby is worth less than sapphires as its starting price is $1 per carat. Of course, this can rise to a greater figure depending on the grading.
How Do You Tell The Carat Of A Sapphire?
The material’s specific gravity (SG) affects the weight of sapphire and its carats. This stone with an SG of 4 will weigh about 1.14 carats. The best way to tell the carat of sapphire is by getting it appraised by a reliable dealer. You can also get it checked out at a jewelry store instead of a private expert.
A dealer or jewelry expert will inspect the stone to confirm its authenticity, components, and weight. The greater the weight of your sapphire, the higher its price will be. You can also follow the general rule of thumb to measure the weight of this stone. One carat of sapphire measures more or less 6 mm.
