


These sapphires are ideal candidates to undergo heat treatment for color improvement. Why do some sapphires exhibit low saturation of color? Stones that do not have a sufficient amount, type, and combination of trace elements will not have an intense saturation of blue. The right balance of Titanium, Iron, and Aluminum Oxide will result in a beautiful blue sapphire color. The blue color in sapphires is attributed to the type and amount of Titanium and Iron present in the crystal. So, what gives sapphires their blue color? Trace Elements. But regardless of their color, the foundational chemical composition of all these gemstones is the same. Other members of the corundum family include ruby, padparadscha (orangy-pink), pink sapphire, yellow sapphire, star sapphire, and many other hues of sapphires. Sapphires are a variety of the mineral Corundum, which is chemically Aluminum Oxide. They are often used in iconic and uber-fine jewelry and hold value. While heated sapphires are available at every brick-and-mortar or online retailer, natural unheated sapphires are rare, admired for their legends, and coveted for their appearance. The treatment is effective and stable additionally, it permits an affordable alternative to unheated natural sapphires, which are comparatively more expensive. Heat treatment application on sapphires dates back centuries and is widely accepted in the global gemstone and jewelry market. There are other methods of treatment performed on sapphires however, this article compares unheated sapphires with heated sapphires because it is the most prevalent treatment method.

If you are shopping for natural sapphires, you will come across stones that are either unheated (no heat) or enhanced (i.e., heat-treated).
