Color Change Sapphire Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

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Finished version of Emerald Cut Color Change Sapphire

Color change sapphires are those that change color between light sources.

Home GemstonesColor Change Sapphire Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

By International Gem Society, updated on June 26, 2018

Color change sapphires are those that change color between light sources.

By International Gem Society, updated on June 26, 2018

Color change sapphires are those that change color between light sources.

Color Change Sapphire Properties

Absorption Spectrum

The ferric iron spectrum dominates these stones. In green and blue-green gems, rich in iron, there are lines at 4710, 4600, and 4500 in the blue-green region. Also lines at 4500 and 4600 may seem to merge and become a broad band. The three bands described are generally known as the 4500 complex and are very distinctive in sapphires. Some blue Sri Lanka sapphires also show a 6935 red fluorescent line, and the 4500 line is very weak in these gems. Synthetic color change sapphires show a line 4740. See main Sapphire gem listing for more information.

Birefringence

0.008-0.009

Birthstone

September

Cleavage

None

Colors

Usually, blue, bluish purple, and violet-purple. More rarely, green, yellow, and pink.

Crystallography

Hexagonal (trigonal). Crystals common, often barrel-shaped, prisms with flat ends, sometimes bipyramidal; also massive, granular, in rolled pebbles.

Dispersion

0.018

Fracture

Conchoidal; frequent parting

Fracture Luster

Vitreous.

Hardness

Luminescence

Natural color change sapphires: inert to strong red in LW, inert to moderate red to orange in SW. Synthetic color change sapphires: moderate orange to red in LW and SW, may fluoresce red in LW and mottled blue in SW.

Luminescence Present

Yes

Luminescence Type

Fluorescent, UV-Long, UV-Short, X-ray Colors

Luster

Vitreous to adamantine.

Optic Sign

Uniaxial -

Optics

RI: o = 1.757-1.770; e = 1.765-1.779 (usually 1.760, 1.768); Uniaxial (-).

Phenomena

Asterism, color change, chatoyancy.

Pleochroism

Very pronounced. See main Sapphire gem listing.

Polish Luster

Vitreous to subadamantine.

Refractive Index

1.757-1.779

Specific Gravity

3.99-4.10; usually near 4.0.

Transparency

Transparent to opaque.

Variety of

Sapphire

Wearability

Excellent

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By International Gem Society, updated on June 26, 2018

Color change sapphires are those that change color between light sources.

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Color Change Sapphire Price

<0.99 Carat

avg. $$$per carat

1-1.99 Carat

avg. $$$per carat

2-4.99 Carat

avg. $$$per carat

5-7.99 Carat

avg. $$$per carat

8+ Carat

avg. $$$per carat

See Gem Price Guide for more details

Start an IGS Membership today

for full access to our price guide (updated monthly).

More About Membership

Color Change Sapphire Price

<0.99 Carat

avg. $$$per carat

1-1.99 Carat

avg. $$$per carat

2-4.99 Carat

avg. $$$per carat

5-7.99 Carat

avg. $$$per carat

8+ Carat

avg. $$$per carat

See Gem Price Guide for more details

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Color Change Sapphire Price

Start an IGS Membership today

Color Change Sapphire Price