Understanding Blue Sapphire Grading: What You Need to Know

Blue Sapphires, also known as Neelam Ratna, is one of the longest-known, most desirable and valuable gemstones in the world. So, when it comes to the purchasing of blue sapphire, everyone wants a good quality gemstone. But, How? How do you make sure that the stone you are purchasing is of what grade? Is it good quality-wise or not? Well, to make an informed decision, it is essential that you get familiar with the grading of blue sapphire. 

Here’s a guide on what you need to know about blue sapphire grading:

Natural Sapphire Grading System 

To grade the sapphire gemstones, there is a small criteria set as per international parameters:

Natural AAA – The topmost grade is AAA, which is seen in only 2% of all natural gemstones. They are top-notch gems with intense color and premium clarity. They are the rarest and most valuable. 

Natural AA – These grade gems are typically used to make fine jewelry pieces and are of dark blue color and opaque. They are of rich or fine quality as well.

Natural A – This grade is seen in many sapphires at least 20 to 30% of natural gemstones. These gems have medium quality and good tones and can have few inclusions. 

Natural B – Gems of this grade mostly have the inclusions from moderate to heavy.

Factors Affecting Grading and Quality 

Now, let’s discuss the many factors that help with the grading of the gems and how you can differentiate between the gems of the best grade and the lowest grade.

Color

Colour is one of the essential factors in determining the quality of blue sapphire. You should be aware of how the gem color should be. The color is decided by the hue, tone and saturation. 

Hue: Hue is the basic color of sapphire, which is a pure dark blue shade. It can be intense dark blue or pale as well.  

Tone: The tone is decided by how light or dark the color is. The ideal tone is a medium or medium dark one, which gives the sapphire its rich vibrancy. 

Saturation: Saturation is the intensity of the color. The most desirable Neelam stone has vivid saturation and no overtones. 

Clarity

Like the diamonds, the sapphires are also graded on clarity. The clarity is the presence of flaws in the gemstones, which can be in any form, such as inclusions like needle structures or bubbles and blemishes. Generally, all the gems have inclusions that compromise the gem’s beauty. 

So, the gems that have high clarity and are eye-clean are more valuable. They are highly desirable and so the Neelam stone price with less or no inclusions can be in lakhs of rupees per carat. 

Cut

The cut of the gemstones affects the brilliance, clarity and color of the gem, which is why a well-defined cut costs more. When a cut is precise and accurate, then the gem will reflect light across the surface evenly, making it look more beautiful. 

The sapphires are cut into various cuts and shapes to make them look different and graceful and set in different jewelry sets. 

Carat Weight

Gemstones with higher carat weights are rare, which is why the ones with higher carat weights and good clarity are more costly. 

Conclusion 

Along with all the factors mentioned above, the origin can also sometimes affect the price and grading of the stone. This is because some origins or sources are known to produce naturally good quality gems like Sri Lankan blue sapphires are famous in history. If you want the best quality Neelam stone then you should buy blue sapphire gemstone from a reputable seller like Navratan, the online gem bazaar, where you will get lab-certified gems.