Why are Yogo sapphires so expensive?
- While it is estimated that 5.6 tons (or 28 million carats) of Yogo Sapphires are still in the ground, the excavation of them is costly and difficult, which keeps their scarcity and relative price high.
- The U.S. Geological Survey and many gem experts have stated that Yogos are “among the world’s finest sapphires”.
Consequently, 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.
How can you tell if a Montana sapphire is real? You can identify a real sapphire by quickly fogging it up. Track how long it takes the mist to disappear completely. If it is natural stone, the mist will disappear within a few seconds. On the other hand, if a sapphire crystal is synthetic, it will take a few more seconds to disappear.
in the same way, 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 kind of rock are Yogo sapphires found in? They are found in a system of igneous intrusions called dikes. There are six main dikes that form the centre of the Yogo sapphire deposit. All are composed of a type of igneous rock called a lamprophyre.
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.
What to look for when digging for sapphires?
Remember sapphire are very heavy, they will tend to sit on bedrock, so sometimes you may have to dig quite deep down to get to the good stuff. Tip 4. If the bedrock (very hard rock that the sapphire can’t go through) has a indentation, clean out that dip, chances are a sapphire fell in there.
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.
What is a cornflower blue sapphire?
Cornflower Blue Sapphire is the highly sought after color variety of Sapphire that bears pure blue hue similar to the color of a cornflower. It is found in light to medium color tone and comes from a variety of origins including Kashmir (India), Ceylon (Sri Lanka), Madagascar and Burma (Myanmar).
How old are Montana sapphires?
Sapphires have been known to occur in Montana for over 150 years and have been actively mined there for more than 100 years. However, even with all of that history they still do not have the recognition I feel they deserve.
What is the rarest type of sapphire?
Padparadscha Sapphires are the rarest of sapphires. These extremely rare stones are unknown to most, but when discovered usually become an absolute favorite. They are strikingly beautiful and almost no other colored stone compares to this unique mix of pink and orange.
What color is the most valuable 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 do the best blue sapphires come from?
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 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.
Why are Montana sapphires so expensive?
Due to the limited resources for the Montana sapphires, a majority of the natural Montana sapphires will be under 1ct. To be specific, the majority is under 1/2ct and a very limited supply of the sapphires are over 1ct, which makes the stone substantially more expensive per carat.
Is a Montana sapphire the same as a Yogo Sapphire?
While the color of Yogo Sapphires is always a vivid blue, Montana sapphires are found with different colors including green and yellow. While there are productive sapphire mines in other parts of Montana, they rarely produce blue sapphires that have the striking color and clarity of those found in the Yogo Gulch.
Are Montana sapphires more valuable?
Montana Sapphire To be specific, the majority is under 1/2ct and a very limited supply of the sapphires are over 1ct, which makes the stone substantially more expensive per carat.
How do I clean a Montana sapphire?
The best way to clean your sapphire jewelry is with warm soapy water and a soft brush, avoiding soaking the stone. Always avoid harsh detergents, and never clean your jewelry with solvents such as alcohol, acetone or paint thinner.
Are dark sapphires more valuable?
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. Less valuable blue sapphires might also be grayish, too light, or too dark.
