Sapphire has high strength and is second in hardness after diamond. For his brilliance and variety of colors this stone is very appreciated among Royal dynasties.
Sapphire is credited with medicinal properties. It is believed that it can cure eye diseases, insomnia, back pain, heart disease and even cancer.
What are sapphires and how much they cost
The most valuable sapphire is the cornflower blue. His colouring is so clean that it's hard to say a dark blue or a light color before my eyes. Depending on the method of processing the value of the blue sapphire ranges from $300 to $1000 per carat. Stones without thermal heating are appreciated much more, the cost exceeds $1000 per carat.
Another valuable type of sapphire is sapphire "Padparadscha". The color combines shades of pink, purple and orange. The cost of this stone is around $130 per carat. But in excess of five carats, the stone is considered a collector's item. Its price increases sharply, reaching $30 thousand per carat.
Yellow sapphire depending on the process stone can have a light Golden or deep yellow. The price of a sapphire of that color varies from $100 to $120 per carat.
A very unusual sapphire green. The fact that its color is not pure green. This is a subtle streaks of blue and yellow. Alternating and refracted, they create the illusion of a green color. The cost of green sapphires starts at $75 per carat.
The value of sapphire depends not only on their color. From low quality material produce of carved sapphires and the lack of transparency of the stone made sapphire dome shape. These stones are budget, the cost is $10 – $20 apiece.
The most expensive sapphires in the world
The most expensive sapphire in the world is "Millennium". This gemstone weight 61,5 thousand carats worth of $185 million On its surface are carved the portraits of famous historical figures. The world has seen "Millennium" only twice: at the ceremony "Oscar" in 2002. on the cruise ship "sapphire Princess" in 2004.
Blue sapphire "Giant of the East" 486,5 weighing carats has been found in the Central part of Sri Lanka. In 2004. the cost was estimated at $1.5 million.