Which sapphire is the most valuable?

There is no doubt that the sapphire has maintained a status as one of the most popular gemstones on current markets. The sapphire ring, in particular, has found a growing market, especially used in engagement rings due to its use with modern celebrities. However, when it comes to answering which sapphire is more valuable, the demand of certain coloured sapphires has trumped the valuableness of the rarest sapphires.

The most widely sort after, and therefore valuable, is the fine blue sapphire. Although it is one of the more common sapphires and relatively cheaper than counterparts such as the padparadscha (pink/ orange sapphire) – it is sort after due to its status and rising popularity.

An instance of this is the use of sapphires added to white gold engagement rings. A practice that was

popularised when Princess Diana was given a gorgeous engagement ring by Prince Charles upon their engagement. Since then, the modern market has only increased in demand, with fine blue sapphires achieving the most at auction.

A prominent example is the blue Kashmir sapphire which was sold in Christies New York auction in April 2017 for $3 064 000. As the sapphire was 22.66 carats in total, it equated to $135 216 per a carat – breaking the previous record held by the Rockefeller Sapphire.

The valuableness of the blue sapphire is however limited to the quality of the stone. The factors of grading the quality of blue sapphires include the cut of the sapphire, the colour, the carat and the clarity. A sapphire that is a bright vivid colour, high carat and does not include inclusions can easily be expected to go for a high value at auction.

Over history, there have been several examples of the blue sapphire achieving fame across the world. Some examples are:

Star of Bombay – a 182-carat star sapphire that was given to film star Mary Pickford by her husband. The sapphire was later bequeathed to the Smithsonian Institute.

Logan Sapphire – a 422.99 carat which has quite notably achieved the status of being one of the largest faceted blue sapphires in the world.

Stuart Sapphire: a 104-carat sapphire that currently resides on the crown band of the British royal crown jewels. The sapphire achieved its name by its procurement by Robert II, from the House of Stuarts in the 14th century.