How to choose a sapphire: colour, clarity and cut
· Stones
What to look at when choosing a sapphire, and which questions to ask the seller.
Colour
Colour matters most in a sapphire. A saturated, even tone without grey or green is valued. Compare stones in daylight and under warm artificial light.
Clarity
Most natural sapphires have inclusions. What matters is that they are not visible to the eye and do not weaken the stone.
Cut
A good cut returns light and keeps the colour lively. A stone cut too deep looks dark; one cut too shallow looks washed out.
Treatment and certificate
Many sapphires are heated, which is common practice. A report from an independent laboratory states whether a stone has been treated.