How Does the Quality of Blue Sapphire Affect its Price

Blue sapphire stone is on the list of most coveted gemstones in the world. These blue-colored gems are from the corundum mineral family. They are referred to as Neelam stone, Indraneelam, and Mayuri Neelam stone in various Indian languages. In the gemstone market, the value of blue sapphire is due to its astrological significance. 

Other than this, as colored gemstones are gaining popularity, vivid blue Neelam is a great investment piece. Since your hard-earned money and beliefs are deeply tied to your investment, purchasing a quality gemstone is important. Also Read Are Gemstones Better Than Gold As an Investment?

In this blog, we will discuss how the quality of blue sapphire affects its price. So that you get what you pay for: 

Factors Determining Blue Sapphire Quality

Four defined factors tell the quality of the stone. These are 4C’s (color, cut, carat weight, clarity). For all colored gemstones, this rule follows. Let's see how these criteria apply to Nilam stone. 

Color

The blue color of sapphires is due to the presence of trace elements like iron and titanium. These impurities replace the Al3+ ions in the Al2O3 structure. The sapphire color varies from light blue to dark, intense blue. This variation of color depends upon the geographical origins of the gemstone, which will be discussed below. The color grading of blue sapphires is based on three primary attributes:

• Hue: In simple words, hue is the color of the stone. The primary color of Neelam stone is blue whereas the secondary colors include violet and green. The color blue is well distributed inside the stone, whereas the secondary colors are present in small proportions. 

Read Here: Significance of Blue Sapphire Color in Astrology

Price Variation as per Color: The sapphire price increases from INR 5,000 to INR 50,000 and more for vivid blue color and decreases for lighter color stones. Lighter sapphires are less expensive compared to their intense royal blue counterparts. 

However, this doesn't mean that all lighter blue sapphires are inexpensive or less valuable.

The expensive Cornflower blue sapphire are valued for their incredible cornflower hue. 

• Tone: Refers to the lightness or darkness of the colors. Medium dark-toned sapphires are highly prized. Extinction is common in sapphires, which means black spots (dark areas) are present inside the stone. The sapphire tone ranges from very dark to very light. Medium-tone blue sapphire with no extinction is preferable. 

• Saturation: The intensity of the color is gemstone saturation. Intense saturation is ideal for sapphires. Lower saturation or too much saturation in Neelam stone decreases its value. This makes the stone too light or dark. 

Also Read: How To Value Blue Sapphire? Price Guide

Clarity 

High-quality Neelmani stones feature few to no inclusions. Highly included sapphires are considered low-quality gemstones. Inclusions affect the brightness of the stone and thus are not recommended for jewelry and astrological purposes. Sapphire Grading System is as follows:

Cut

The value of the cut is often underestimated while estimating the quality of a gemstone. However, this is not true. A precise cut that reflects the brilliance and vivid color of the stone is said to be the best cut for sapphires. It is said to affect the Neelam stone price as well.  

Carat Weight 

The weight of the stone also decides the price of a gem. A 1 carat weight blue sapphire looks more significant than 1 carat diamond but is much more affordable. That is why sapphires are a perfect alternative for diamond engagement rings. 

However, this doesn't mean that IndraNeelam stone is less expensive. The price of these gems differs with carat weight. High-quality Neel mani Ratna with high carat weight has a high price. This also varies with the origin of the stone let's see how:

Origins and Their Influence on Price

The geographical origin of a blue sapphire stone can significantly influence its price. Sapphires are found widely around the world. The best quality of Nilam stone is found in Kashmir, India. The other famous places are Burma, Sri Lanka and Madagascar. The intensity of the color depends upon the type of rocks they are formed in. Read Here: Origins of Blue Sapphire (Neelam) Gemstone

Basaltic-related Neelam gemstone deposits are found in places such as Australia, Nigeria, Thailand, and Ethiopia. Metamorphic-related sapphire deposits are found in Sri Lanka, Burma, Madagascar, and Kashmir. Basaltic-origin blue sapphire stones have dark blue color intensity due to high iron content. Good quality Kashmir sapphire price is exceptionally high. It ranges from INR 50,000 to INR 5 lakhs per carat. Read More: How to Identify a Kashmir Blue Sapphire

Treatments and Their Role in Pricing

Treated sapphires are natural, but they are priced less than untreated ones. No heat natural blue sapphire pieces are rare, and their prices start from INR 5,000 to INR 5 lakhs. It is said that heat-treated sapphires' price is 40% less than natural untreated ones. Also Read: Heated or Unheated Sapphire, which is best in astrology?

Certification and Its Impact on Value

Certification plays a vital role in determining the value of all precious gemstones. A gemstone certification by reputable laboratories such as GIA, GRS, and IGI guarantees its authenticity. 

It indirectly impacts the value of the stone in terms of its genuineness. However, it doesn't mean that a certificate costs you money. The price of the stone depends upon its quality. For instance, if you buy GRS Certified blue sapphire online, you are paying for its quality. 

The Role of Demand and Market Trends

Neelam stone is in high demand. The price fluctuates accordingly. With the increase in the demand for colored gemstones, people are mainly investing in this industry. Also Read: What are the Current Blue Sapphire Trends?

To conclude, whether it's your astrological need or investment, buy authentic blue sapphire stone online only.