Blue sapphire also known as Neelam in Hindi is one of the stunning gemstones. It is from the corundum mineral family with a chemical formula aluminum oxide. These amazing gems come from all parts of the world mainly from Sri Lanka, India, Madagascar, Thailand, Burma(Myanmar), Australia, and more. Sri Lanka, India, Myanmar and Madagascar are amongst the best origins of these sapphires. In India, Kashmir is the best origin for Neelam Ratna.
From beauty to healing benefits, this gemstone is cherished for numerous reasons. They make a beautiful piece of jewelry. Besides this they are considered the most powerful gemstone in vedic astrology. Nilam is associated with the God Shani and is a life changing stone. Individuals who are seeking issues in their relationship or career should wear it. Now your motivation behind your purchase can be any, but when you are planning to buy blue sapphires gemstone online or from a local gem store, it is always considered a wise move to know what you exactly want and how much it will cost you.
Excluding the famous 4 C’s, the origin of the gemstone plays an extremely prominent role in determining its value. Presenting here is Blue Sapphire Price Guide, on the basis of their place of origin. This article will make your shopping more convenient by giving you a brief of all gemstone’s origins. It will not only make your buying experience more effortless and satisfying but also help you develop an expert eye and understanding regarding the beauty, quality, and price of this gemstone.
Types of Blue Sapphire (Neelam) Gemstone
The major types of Nilam Gemstones that has value across the world are as follows.
KASHMIR BLUE SAPPHIRE
Popularly known as Kashmiri Neelam, it is considered a rare precious gem. These gems are found in the snow capped valley of Kashmir and have low accessibility. The Zanskar region of Kashmir where these gems are found have a characteristic feature making them exclusive stones of this region. The metamorphic rocks, environmental conditions and trace elements like iron and titanium give amazing color to them. Thus, making Nilam from Kashmir origin more rare. On the account of their massive rarity, super velvety luster, and remarkable clarity, Original Kashmir Blue Sapphires are immensely adored throughout the world.
Due to heavy mining, the mines in this area are thoroughly exhausted. Henceforth, no more corundums are brought out from the Kashmir region. It is the key reason for the excessively high price of Kashmiri Neelam in comparison to other origins and varieties. In general, a Kashmiri nilam price commences from $2,500 per carat (approx. ₹ 2 lakh) and goes as high as $60,000 (approx. ₹ 5 lakh) per carat depending upon the quality of color and clarity level. The velvety luster for which these gems are known is due to the presence of inclusions and this makes it the key factor in determining original Neelam.
BURMESE BLUE SAPPHIRE
Burma, now Myanmar, is known for producing the finest quality gemstones. In the international market, the per carat price of Burmese sapphire starts from $60 per carat (approx. ₹ 5,000) and goes up to $8,000 per carat (₹ 5 lakh approx.) or more on the basis of quality factors. However, most of the gems of this origin are heat treated, and hence those who are particularly looking for a natural Neelam Ratna, tend to overlook this origin.
Sri Lanka is a prominent source of premium quality sapphire gems. Neelam extracted out of the popular Ratnapura mines are measured to be of fine grade sapphires. This is due to the formation of these gems in this particular area. These stones are of secondary origin which means both igneous and metamorphic rocks get separated due to weathering. They are transported to low lying areas with the help of running water. These sapphire deposits feature hexagonal crystal structure and have higher durability.
The price of Ceylon gems ranges from $60 per carat (₹ 5,000 approx.) and can reach up to $2,500 per carat (₹ 2,00,000 approx.) and even above based on the overall quality.
Similarly, Africa is also noted for delivering fair quality nilam, especially in terms of clarity. Madagascar Blue sapphires per carat prices are generally accessed anywhere between ₹ 5,000 to ₹ 5,00,000 according to the cut, color, claret, and of course carat weight.
Be it, Neelam or Ruby, the place of origin does affect the cost of any precious gemstone. Together with other quality parameters, for instance, color, clarity, cut, and carat weight, the relevance of source roots is strongly reflected in the monetary value of these gems. These gems are found in a number of locations in the world, including Kashmir (India), Myanmar (Burma), Sri Lanka (Ceylon), Madagascar, Thailand (Bangkok), and America.
Where KashmirI Neelam fetches the highest price in the market because of their excessive rarity, the price of Burmese and Ceylon nilam also remains higher. The prices of other sources such as Thailand and Bangkok are lower. In general perception, Kashmir, Burma (Myanmar), and Sri Lanka (Ceylon) are measured to be the most valuable origins of blue gemstones owing to their high quality. On the monetary ground, Thailand or Bangkok neelam are evaluated as less worthy since they arise darker in shade.
Regardless of the sources, if you are looking for an original nilam, make sure to buy it from a trusted gemstone website or store that provides you with proof of the originality of the stone. In the international gem market, a certified These gemstones get a better monetary value relative to a stone without any certification or from an undefined origin even if the quality is the exact same.
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