Buying a sapphire of any color is less technical than buying a diamond. Like other gemstones, the beauty of a pink sapphire largely depends on its color. You can also take into account the cut, clarity, carat, and shape when choosing your pink sapphire.
● Color:
Pink sapphires range in color from pale pink to vivid magenta. The most prized pink sapphires carry a pink hue with purple reflections.
While diamonds have an elaborate and standardized color grading scale, sapphires do not have a common system for evaluating color. This lack of uniformity makes it more difficult to compare two pink sapphires.
Instead, it is best to use your own judgment on the pink sapphire that seems the most vibrant and beautiful to you, whether it's a brighter pink or a darker gemstone. In general, however, the more saturated the color of the sapphire, the higher the price will be.
It is important to know that many pink sapphires undergo heat treatment to soften their purple tones. Fully natural and untreated pink sapphires are quite rare. A certificate will come with these natural stones to prove it.
● The Padparadscha Sapphire:
In addition to the famous blue sapphire, the Padparadscha sapphire is a highly sought-after gemstone. This extremely rare and sought-after pink-orange sapphire was originally discovered in a Sri Lankan mine. Padparadscha sapphires can cost more than 20,000 € per carat! The name comes from the Sanskrit / Sinhalese word "padma raga", which means "lotus color", as the color of the gemstone resembles that of a lotus flower.
● Shape:
The shape of your pink gemstone should be primarily based on personal preferences and style. Pink sapphires are often available in several cuts: oval, heart, pear, princess... Review a range of engagement ring styles before choosing your shape.
● Clarity:
Clarity grading is a less precise process for sapphires than for diamonds, and it also does not have as much impact on the value of the stone. Gemologists use 10x magnification to inspect diamond inclusions. Colored gemstones, on the other hand, are examined less precisely. More importantly, we look to see if the gemstone is "eye-clean". The cleaner the stone, the higher the price.
However, it is very unlikely to find a pink sapphire without imperfections or inclusions. If there are no imperfections in the stone, gemologists suspect that the sapphire has been treated or is fake.
If possible, however, we recommend finding a pink sapphire with a clarity grade in the VS (very small inclusions) or VVS (tiny inclusions) range.
Note: most pink sapphires currently on the market are heat-treated to improve their clarity and color. If they are not treated at all, they can be sold at high prices
● Cut Quality:
Cut is a crucial element of the beauty of any diamond or gemstone. With pink sapphires, however, there are no standardized cut options as with diamonds. You can choose an "ideal" cut to highlight the color and fire of a diamond. However, with sapphires - and most colored gemstones - we rely on the gemstone cutter to maximize the unique combination of clarity, color, and brilliance of each sapphire.
In general, well-cut sapphires are symmetrical and reflect light at the appropriate angles to enhance the stone's luster. Usually, gem cutters opt for a deeper cut if the pink sapphire has a light tone. The deep cut gives the stone a more saturated and darker color. The opposite is also true: if the sapphire is very dark, the gem cutter may choose a shallow cut to bring more light and soften the overall appearance of the stone.
If the pink sapphire is poorly cut, it will appear dull and lifeless. Skilled cutters take all these elements into consideration, as well as inclusions and imperfections. Imperfections, for example, are more apparent in lighter colored stones.
● Carat Weight:
Just like shape, carat weight depends on your personal style and budget. Although carat weight is important to some customers, we recommend focusing on the overall beauty and color of a pink sapphire rather than trying to achieve a certain carat weight.