How Do You Pick A Sapphire Birthstone?
A birthstone is a gem cut from a source mineral, and in the case of the sapphire, that mineral is corundum. Of the rainbow of colors manifested by corundum, blue is most popular and best known as a sapphire. Once the gem of royalty, the blue sapphire is now the birthstone for September birthdays. Along with its red sister, the ruby, it is still one of the most expensive colored gemstones. View a wide variety of sapphires from different dealers to get an idea of available colors and color intensities. Make a note of your preferences. View blue birthstone sapphires for their “tone,” or degree of lightness or darkness, in various lighting conditions. Assess the clarity of a sapphire. Pick one with the least brown or gray intrusion into the true blue hue. Ask the dealer whether the sapphire birthstone you want has been enhanced. This heat treatment improves the gem’s translucence and often produces a richer color. Natural, unenhanced sapphires, however, are worth more. Examine the shape of
