The original “true blue,” sapphire is one of the world’s most valuable gemstones. It’s one of the world’s most popular gems too since its rich velvety blue color delights the eye and soothes the spirit. But what if you have sapphire jewelry that you’ve inherited or been given that doesn’t suit your style? You need to make sure that you do everything you can to sell sapphire jewelry at the best price.
Here at Worthy, we help people sell their unwanted diamond jewelry for the best possible price. What we’ve learned about selling diamonds can help you when you are selling sapphires as well. Here are a few FAQs with the answers to all your questions about selling sapphires.
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Antique 5.11 ct. Oval-Cut 3-Stone Sapphire Ring. Sold for $20,105.
What Makes a Sapphire Valuable?
The most important quality factor for sapphire is color: the best sapphires have a rich, saturated vivid blue. A common myth is that sapphires should have a dark navy blue color: these dark sapphires actually sell for much less than sapphires with a medium blue color. The second most important value factor is clarity, with sapphires that are transparent with no obvious inclusions being the most valuable. Sapphires with a hazy transparency from microscopic inclusions can still sell for a high price because it helps to make the color glow with intensity. Buyers also prefer sapphires that have been well cut to show brilliance and an even color across the gem.
How are Sapphires Graded?
There is no generally accepted grading system for sapphire: although some people use quality grades like AAA to describe sapphires, these systems don’t refer to any accepted standards that are the same across vendors. Similarly, fanciful descriptions like “cornflower blue” don’t have formal criteria. Clarity for sapphire is judged with the eye, not a loupe as with diamonds. Other factors that affect the price of a sapphire are carat weight, cut quality, country of origin, treatment, and whether the sapphire is naturally mined or synthetic. Before selling sapphires above a carat in size that you think may be fine quality, you may need a professional gemstone appraisal, as the subtleties of color and clarity can be difficult for a non-professional to evaluate.
How Do You Tell If a Sapphire is Real?
Identifying synthetic sapphires is a task best left to professionals. The distinguishing characteristics that identify a synthetic sapphire are visible under a microscope. Because synthetic sapphires have been produced for more than 100 years, even sapphires set in antique jewelry that has been in your family for centuries might have been lab created. There are also synthetic star sapphires.
Unheated 6 CT Oval-Cut Sapphire and Diamond Pendant Necklace. Sold for $3,726.
How Much Do Sapphires Sell For?
The price that sapphires sell for depends on quality. It can range from a few dollars per carat to thousands. In 2015, a 27.68-carat cornflower-blue Kashmir sapphire set a world auction record for the price per carat for sapphire at Sotheby’s Hong Kong. The emerald-cut sapphire sold for $6.7 million, or $243,702 per carat.
More About Sapphires
Sapphire and Diamond Bracelet. Sold for $1,984.
Types of Sapphires You Can Sell with Worthy
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