Unheated vivid blue sapphires. There is something very elegant about a Sapphire engagement ring. In ancient cultures and medieval times, sapphires were the preferred choice with medieval royalty and clergy as it symbolises honesty and wisdom. As an engagement ring, blue symbolises faithfulness and sincerity.
In assessing sapphires, there is no standardised quality-grading system, but it is very rare to find an unheated sapphire without inclusions.
When in search of an unheated Sapphire, it is common to find local jewellers in Singapore and foreign jewellery brands who will term or market their Sapphires to be natural (read: natural, but heated).
Some jewellers might market Sapphires or gemstones as natural when the gem is actually heated, or has undergone some form of heat process. In fact, in the gem and jewellery industry, a natural gemstone or Sapphire, when indicated as natural, is understood or assumed to be unheated.
So, for a consumers’ piece of mind, they should be sure to ask their jeweller this question point-blank: Is this gem or Sapphire heated? Or gone through any form of treatment? A reputable jeweller will disclose whether a natural Sapphire in question is in fact, heated or unheated.
These questions are important for the buyer as it determines the price you pay.
Take for example, you are at a shop. And you see 2 sapphires that look visually similar in terms of quality. Meaning: both pieces are eye-clean, both are well-cut, both have even colour distribution, both have no areas of excessive shadows or “windows”. However, one piece is unheated and the other is heated. Which will be sold at a premium? In most instances, it will be the unheated gem that is being sold at higher price.
Price of a heated Sapphire can be as low as half or even at a 60% discount to the price of a visually stunning unheated Sapphire.
Below features a 1ct unheated Sapphire and Diamond ring. This vivid blue Sapphire is set in a stunning diamond encrusted goldwork throughout the ring. Designed to be a seamless nesting concept, this ring design can be paired with wedding band without having excessive gaps between the engagement ring and wedding band.
