Blue Sapphire Engagement Rings
At Deliqa Gems we specialise in creating unique custom-made blue sapphire engagement rings that capture the essence of imagination and passion.
What is a Blue Sapphire?
Blue sapphire is a highly precious coloured gemstone that belongs to the Corundum family and is noted for its beautiful and vibrant shades of blue, hardness (second only to diamonds), ability to resist scratching and its incredible lustre and sparkle. Blue sapphires are revered, especially the famous vivid royal and cornflower blues through to the pastel blues from Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) and the velvety blues from Kashmir. Read more about Ceylon sapphires here.
Is blue the rarest sapphire colour?
Natural unheated blue sapphires and padparadschas (a pinkish-orange lotus coloured sapphire) are the most rare sapphires and are increasingly difficult to find although all sapphire colours are rare particularly in fine quality.
What are blue sapphire engagement rings?
Blue is the most commonly known coloured sapphire and comes in a spectrum of breathtaking hues from the famous cornflower Ceylon Blues to deep velvet royal blues to pastel sky blues. Using a blue sapphire as a central stone, often replacing a diamond, makes an impeccable choice for an engagement ring or alternative engagement ring. Blue sapphire represents trust, loyalty and wisdom - important qualities to take into a marriage.
Are blue sapphires suitable for engagement rings?
Blue sapphires make exceptional engagement rings due to their superior physical properties and incredible sparkle. The beauty of a blue sapphire is not only its colour but also its most notable characteristic - durability or ability to resist scratches. Read more detail here.
Can blue sapphire engagement rings be worn everyday?
Natural blue sapphire engagement rings can be worn every day as they are very stable and do not damage easily under normal wearing conditions. Sapphires are the second hardest gemstone after diamond and this toughness, due to their tight atomic crystal structure means they are not prone to cracking and chipping. They are also remarkably durable and resistant to scratching from dust in our environment and normal wear and tear.
Five tips for when choosing a blue sapphire for an engagement ring
Colour, Clarity, Cut, Carat and Design
Selecting the perfect sapphire for an engagement ring is an exhilarating experience and Deliqa Gems are ready with the knowledge to assist your choice of sapphire colour, clarity, cut, carat weight and design that best compliments your personality, commitment or love story.
Deliqa Gems has an inspiring collection of coloured sapphires including the famous cornflower blues, champagnes, vivid pinks, padparadscha and harmonious greens to name a few and your sapphire engagement ring colour choice may be determined by past shared experiences, personality or tradition.
The shape or cut of a sapphire is as varied as the myriad of colours. Stunning sapphires for an alternative solitaire, soft cornered cushions, precision cut radiants, delicate ovals or skilfully cut pears from our master cutters, along with the carat weight of a sapphire, can influence what best flatters your ring finger and hand size.
Clarity also plays an important role when choosing the perfect blue sapphire. Sapphires can have inclusions, some of which are visible to the naked eye however this is undisputed evidence that the sapphire is natural. Most of Deliqa Gems sapphires have minimal inclusions and are classed as “eye clean” and thus have beautiful transparency and sparkle.
Blue sapphires make excellent engagement rings. Often the style of an engagement ring is influenced by the shape of the sapphire and design is only limited by your imagination. The sapphire that “talks” to you will also inspire the design. The shape of the sapphire might stand alone as a contemporary solitaire, or the central sapphire may be encircled by a halo of diamonds or partnered with identical side stones as a trilogy ring. Or perhaps your desired look is more a floral cluster, play of colour or a modern organic creation, all of which will play an important part in the overall proportion of a quintessentially hand crafted sapphire engagement ring or jewellery piece.
Should I choose a natural or synthetic blue sapphire?
A natural blue sapphire is extremely rare, formed in nature over many millions of years, mined from the ground, and not produced in a laboratory or subjected to any chemical or heat treatments. Synthetic blue sapphires have the same chemical, optical and physical properties as a natural sapphire but are man-made and produced in a laboratory. “Lab-grown” or “created” sapphires are produced in large quantities and therefore, less expensive than natural sapphires, and must be disclosed by the vendor. To select a natural or synthetic sapphire comes down to personal choice and whether you want something just for the look and wear as opposed to value for rarity and investment. Read about blue sapphire quality grading here.
Are heated blue sapphires as durable as unheated blue sapphires?
Heat treatment is a stable process that enhances the intensity of colour and clarity of sapphires and does not impact on their durability or longevity. Read more about heated vs unheated sapphires here.
Does heat treatment diminish the value of a blue sapphire?
Good quality, unheated natural sapphires are increasingly rare to find and for this reason will demand a significant premium price. Heat treatments are permanent and irreversible and used to improve the colour and clarity of a sapphire by recreating the conditions within the earth present during their formation. Heat treated sapphires still have great provenance, however this treatment must be disclosed by the vendor. Heat treatment improves the value of a natural gemstone that may otherwise not be as beautiful, however an equivalent quality unheated sapphire will be more expensive.
Which is more expensive blue sapphires or diamonds?
Blue sapphires are unique as no two are alike. Attributes of blue sapphire such as their incredible richness of colour, brilliant sparkle, durability and fewer visible inclusions increase their value and make them a popular choice for engagement rings. Sapphires are rarer and more affordable than diamonds and thus allows engagement rings to have a bigger sapphire at a lower cost.
Are blue sapphire engagement rings valuable?
The greatest influences on a sapphire’s value is consumer demand, colour and carat weight. Blue sapphires have been a traditional choice and the most valued of these have a velvety royal blue colour with a vivid saturation or the famous cornflower blues from Ceylon. The rarity of larger size natural sapphires in nature also directly affects the price - the larger the sapphire then the higher the price per carat. Sales of untreated natural sapphires both as individual gemstones and presenting in engagement rings and fine jewellery command higher prices as supply decreases and consumers become more aware of their value. Other sapphire colours are also increasing in popularity and value.
How much are custom made blue sapphire engagement rings?
A one carat custom made blue sapphire engagement ring can start from $3,000 and can be up to $10,000 depending on the quality, colour, colour intensity and provenance.
Tips when buying a blue sapphire engagement ring
Do your research and gather as much information as possible on the colour sapphire you most desire, the cut, shape, carat weight and design that most flatters your finger and hand size, know your ring finger size and keep in mind a budget to work towards.
How to care for a blue sapphire engagement ring
Caring for a blue sapphire engagement ring is no different to caring for a diamond engagement ring. The safest way to clean your sapphire fine jewellery is with a soft toothbrush in warm soapy water using a mild dish soap, free of abrasives, then rinse and air dry. Avoid soaking the stone and using harsh detergents. Never clean your sapphire jewellery with solvents such as alcohol, acetone or paint thinner. Read our care and cleaning guide here.
How often should a blue sapphire engagement ring be cleaned?
Dirt and grime can build up and make your blue sapphire engagement ring look dull and foggy. We recommend you clean your sapphire ring regularly - every 2 - 3 months to maintain its brilliance and sparkle.
Does your blue sapphire engagement ring come with a certificate?
All Deliqa Gems blue sapphire engagement ring come with a gemstone certificate of authenticity which ensures that the gemstone you are purchasing is natural and authentic, not lab-grown. These certificates provide information on the sapphires characteristics such as colour, cut, carat weight, dimensions, inclusions etc and document any indications of colour enhancing heat treatment.