Royal Blue Sapphire Quality

Understanding the color of Blue Sapphire is a tricky aspect. Each shade comes with its own quality variation. Typically, sapphires that qualify as “royal blue sapphire” tend to display medium-strong to strongly saturated deep blue tones. But defining a gem’s quality is not just restricted to Color. Therefore, during the overall quality assessment, other important factors such as Origin, Clarity, and Cut are considered as well to determine the best quality Royal Blue Sapphire gemstone.

• Origin

   - Sapphires from Kashmir holds a special reputation therefore Royal blue Kashmir Sapphire is always considered the best. Next comes, the Royal Blue Sapphire Burma (Myanmar). Top quality, inclusions free Burmese Royal Blue Sapphire is rarely found, hence, considered the second-best option. A limited amount of Royal Blue Sapphire also comes from the mines of Sri Lanka (Ceylon), Madagascar, Australia. Recently, Africa has also emerged out as leading supplier of Royal blue sapphires.
  
  
  

  • Color

     – The top quality Royal blue sapphires have deep blue hue, vivid saturation and color consistency. Sometimes, it contains a slight purple overtone which is acceptable. But when the color becomes overly dark or slight greyish blue, the gem lands into the category of Midnight Sapphire blue. The excessively dark Midnight Blue Sapphire stone due to their saturation and tone that reduces transparency.
    
    
    Color Variation in Royal Blue Sapphire

  
  

  • Clarity

     – As a rule of thumb, the transparency of Royal blue sapphires usually follows the same logic as in other colored gemstones. The cleaner (i.e. no or few inclusions only) – the better. Although tiny, microscopic small inclusions are common and welcome feature in Sapphire mineral family.
    
    

    Royal Blue Sapphire with VS ClarityRoyal Blue Sapphire with Good Clarity

  
  

  • Cut

    – A well proportionate cut and good polish is required to optimise the beauty of a Royal Blue Sapphire. Oval cut, Round cut, Cushion cut, emerald cut and Octagonal cut are some common cutting styles preferred for Blue Sapphires.
    
    

    Oval cut Royal Blue SapphireCushion cut Royal Blue SapphireRound cut Royal Blue Sapphire

  
  

  • Uniqueness (Royal Blue Star Sapphire)

    – A unique variety of Blue Sapphire comes with microscopic needle like inclusions called ‘Silk’. When arranged in a definite direction, these inclusions reflect light and create a star like effect called ‘Asterism’ on the gem’s upper surface. Blue sapphires should be cut in cabochon (non-faceted, polished gem) to obtain the effect.
    
    

    Royal Blue Star Sapphire

  Royal Blue Sapphire Price

  The prices of natural Royal blue sapphires vary steeply even within the same variety because of several quality factors. Origin, Color, Clarity, Cut and Uniqueness, collectively influence the per carat price of royal blue sapphire

  
  

  Note: In India, Royal blue sapphire price per carat can range ₹ 3 lakh per carat ($4675 approx.) and goes up to ₹ 10 lakh per carat ($15500 approx.) and even above. The price of Royal blue sapphire in UK, United States and Dubai may vary greatly.

  
  

  • Origin

     – Due to extreme rarity, Kashmir Royal blue sapphire pricing remains the highest and can even exceed ₹ 15 lakh per carat ($23370 approx.) and goes up to ₹ 50 lakh per carat ($77900 approx.) and even above. The availability of top quality Royal Blue Sapphire Burma is also less, hence, they are mostly pricier than Sri Lankan royal blue sapphire.
    
    

    Royal Blue Sapphire BurmaRoyal Blue Sapphire MadagascarRoyal Blue Sapphire KashmirRoyal Blue Sapphire Sri Lankan

  • Color

    – A deeply saturated, vivid Royal blue sapphire is a rare and highly desirable sapphire color that draws exorbitant pricing. Generally, an over-dark Midnight blue sapphire value remains comparatively less than the value of Royal blue sapphire.

  • Clarity

    – Blues sapphire typically bears some common inclusions (feathers, fingerprints and small crystals). Hence, eye clean pieces (minimum or no eye visible) are considered rare and usually cost a premium. Highly included, too opaque and excessive dark royal blue sapphires are available at cheaper prices.

  • Cut

    – The way a Royal blue sapphire is faceted can contribute around 10 to 20% to its overall cost. A skilfully faceted Sapphire is excellently enhanced but incurs significant stone wastage as well. For the same quality, a faceted Royal blue sapphire cost is higher than cabochon (non-faceted, polished stone).

  • Carat weight

    – Good quality, large size Royal blue sapphire is hard to find in nature. Therefore, the price of Royal blue sapphire per carat rises significantly when size increases by few carats, hand in hand with the quality.