Are Burmese sapphires the best?

Sapphires from Burma are one of the most renowned and finest quality gemstones adorned for their beauty and splendor. It displays an intense violetish blue color which has made it an exceptional gemstone. The magnificent hues and exceptional clarity make Burmese Sapphire highly expensive and rare.

Are Sri Lankan sapphires good quality?

Sri Lanka (formally called “Ceylon”) is still the top producer of fine untreated stones in the world. Most of the sapphires that are found in gem producing locations are worthless; and need to be treated to be marketable. Good quality sapphires over 2cts are scarce.

Are Sri Lankan sapphires valuable?

The ones originated from the Kashmir mines are the rarest and considered most valuable of them all. This is also due to the fact that the mining was active for only about 40 years between the 1880 and 1920. Next runners up and considered to be the best sapphires today are the ones mined in Sri Lanka.

What is Burmese sapphire?

Burma sapphires are categorized by their deep royal blue color, and larger sizes have become immensely popular as of late. According to the GIA, for several centuries “Burmese blue sapphires…have occurred in alluvial deposits along the Mogok Stone Tract” in Myanmar in certain specific mines.

What is the most expensive sapphire?

Blue Belle of Asia
Blue Belle of Asia – The Most Expensive Blue Sapphire The Blue Belle Of Asia earns the title of the most expensive blue sapphire in the world, after selling for $17,305,996 at Christie’s Geneva in November 2014.

Which country has the best blue sapphire?

India. The locality considered to produce the finest blue sapphires in the world is Kashmir, India. These amazing stones are mined at 16,500 feet in the Zaskar region.

Are there different qualities of sapphires?

This color of sapphire would be considered AAA quality, the rarest and most valuable. The second best color is a medium rich blue, or AA quality. Any blue sapphires that have a slight gray undertone fit into the A category. Finally, sapphires that have a very dark and opaque blue color are considered B quality grade.

What is the difference between Burma and Ceylon sapphire?

Not all Burma sapphires are deep in color. The best display a rich, intense, slightly violetish blue, but some are quite light, similar to those from Sri Lanka. The key difference between Burma and Ceylon sapphires is saturation, with those from Burma possessing much more color in the stone.

Where do Sri Lankan sapphires come from?

Sri Lanka is a source of many colors of sapphire, as well as ruby and star gems. Gems occur here in a gravel layer known as illam at a depth of up to 50 feet. Miners wash and screen the material and recover gems by hand. Sri Lankan ruby isn’t as good as Burmese material, and the sapphires are often pale in color but can be very large.

What is the difference between Sri Lankan Ruby and Burmese ruby?

Sri Lankan ruby isn’t as good as Burmese material, and the sapphires are often pale in color but can be very large. Geudas are whitish, milky sapphires frequently found in Sri Lanka. With heat treatments, they can show fine blue as well as yellow and orange colors. Photo © Joel E. Arem, PhD, FGA. Used with permission.

Where do Kashmir sapphire come from?

Gems occur in a pegmatite and in the valley below, in surface debris. These sources are now exhausted. Extremely scarce, Kashmir sapphires have a cloudiness due to inclusions and an extremely good blue color, making them greatly desired. Kashmir sapphire, untreated, 5.13 cts. Photo courtesy of liveauctioneers.com and Simrit Collections.