Are Montana sapphires good quality?
- Unique colors, high clarity, USA-born status, and great durability make Montana Sapphires shine.
- Montana Sapphires are part of the larger gem family “corundum.”
- Corundum is a hard stone, at a 9 out of 10 on the Mohs scale, making it very durable to wear in jewelry.
Where are most sapphires found? Many of the gems come from Asia, where stones are found in the mines of Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Afghanistan, and other countries. Mines can also be found in Australia and the African nations of Tanzania, Kenya, Nigeria, and Madagascar.
Accordingly Are Montana sapphires worth anything? Typical Montana sapphire can cost anywhere from $250-$1500 per carat for under 1/2ct to upwards of $7000 per carat for larger than 5 carats. Price is dependent on the quality of the gemstone (i.e. color, clarity, cut, and carat).
Besides, What is so special about Montana sapphire? One of the most striking differences is their color. Sapphires from Montana are unique in that they naturally occur in light pastels, unique blue-greens, and smoky grays. So, a Montana sapphire could be a calming leaf green or a sky blue-grey.
Do Montana sapphires change color? Some Montana sapphires from the Missouri River deposit can show color change. Color change in these sapphires results from the trace element vanadium. Often, they appear blue in daylight and violet to purple in incandescent light. Pale colors shift from sky blue to lavender.
What is the rarest sapphire color?
What is the rarest sapphire color? The two rarest sapphire colors are Padparadscha and cornflower blue. The most prized sapphires are Kashmir sapphires of a bright, velvety blue from the mountains in India. The last Kashmir sapphire was mined in 1927.
How deep are sapphires found?
Sapphire is of volcanic origin and occurs in alluvial deposits, which are up to 20 meters below the surface. Throughout the ages, sapphires and other heavy minerals were transported and deposited in layers and thus tend to be concentrated in ‘runs’ along particular channels.
What is the most valuable color sapphire?
Blue Sapphires Color has the greatest influence on a sapphire’s value, and preferred sapphires have strong to vivid color saturation. The most valued blue sapphires are velvety blue to violetish blue, in medium to medium-dark tones. Sapphires with these qualities command the highest prices per carat.
Where is sapphire most commonly found?
Many of the gems come from Asia, where stones are found in the mines of Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Afghanistan, and other countries. Mines can also be found in Australia and the African nations of Tanzania, Kenya, Nigeria, and Madagascar.
Are there rubies in Montana?
Rubies are found in the western and southern portions of Montana, and this gemstone is often found alongside Montana sapphires. Some of the best places to find rubies in Montana include the Rock Creek, Granite county, Red Rock Mine, or the Missouri River.
Are there diamonds in Montana?
Though rare, diamonds aren’t unheard of in Montana. Prospectors have plucked the gems from stream beds and glacial valleys for years – most notably the 14-carat Lewis and Clark diamond found at the base of a steep slope near Craig in 1990.
What precious stones can be found in Montana?
These include: jasper, garnet, varieties of quartz, rhodonite, serpentine, staurolite, topaz, tourmaline, and wonderstone. A few diamonds, diamond indicator minerals, and kimberlites have been found in the state.
Where are the best sapphires mined?
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. Kashmir blue sapphires are known to have a velvety or sleepy quality that is very desirable.
What is the rarest color of sapphire?
What is the rarest sapphire color? The two rarest sapphire colors are Padparadscha and cornflower blue. The most prized sapphires are Kashmir sapphires of a bright, velvety blue from the mountains in India. The last Kashmir sapphire was mined in 1927.
Are sapphires worth more than diamonds?
Sapphires Are More Affordable & Rarer Than Diamonds This allows demand and pricing for sapphires to be reached organically, therefore making these rare gems affordable to all.
Are Yogo Sapphires still mined?
History and Information about Yogo Sapphires Because Yogo sapphires occur within a vertically dipping resistive igneous dike, mining efforts have been sporadic and rarely profitable. It is estimated that at least 28 million carats (5.6 t or 5.5 long tons or 6.2 short tons) of Yogos are still in the ground.
What is Peacock sapphire?
The term “Peacock Sapphire,” simply refers to the glorious blue green hue of a Montana sapphire, which is similar to the colorful feathers of a peacock. And while these unique sapphires are a class all their own, their crystal structure composition is the same as a classic cobalt sapphire, made from corundum.
Are there emeralds in Montana?
In Montana, found in the western Middle Rockies forested region of the state. The preferred habitat of the Mountain Emerald includes ponds, marshes, fens, bogs and swamps, as well as wet meadows associated with small streams.
