Star Sapphire Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

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Star Sapphire Value

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Kashmir Sapphire

Certified origin. Untreated material. Average brilliancy of 40 to 60%. Add to 20% or deduct to 10% for other cutting. Prices for ovals and cushions. Add 8% to 10% for rounds and pears. Add 10% to 20% for emeralds and marquis.

Kashmir Sapphire - Top Grade: vB 5/6, 6/6. B 5/6, 6/6.

1 to 2 carats
VVS
to /ct
VS/SI
to /ct
SI/I
to /ct
2 to 3 carats
VVS
to /ct
VS/SI
to /ct
SI/I
to /ct
3 to 4 carats
VVS
to /ct
VS/SI
to /ct
SI/I
to /ct
4 carats plus
VVS
to /ct
VS/SI
to /ct
SI/I
to /ct

Kashmir Sapphire - Very Good Grade: V 4/6, 5/6, 6/5. bV 5/6, 6/6; vB 5/5, 4/6, 6/5.

1 to 2 carats
VVS
to /ct
VS/SI
to /ct
SI/I
to /ct
2 to 3 carats
VVS
to /ct
VS/SI
to /ct
SI/I
to /ct
3 to 4 carats
VVS
to /ct
VS/SI
to /ct
SI/I
to /ct
4 carats plus
VVS
to /ct
VS/SI
to /ct
SI/I
to /ct

Kashmir Sapphire - Good Grade: V 4/5, 5/4, 5/5, 6/4, 6/5, 7/5; bV 4/5, 4/6, 5/4, 5/5, 5/4, 4/5; vB 3/5, 4/4, 6/3, 7/5, 5/4, 4/5; B 3/5, 4/4, 6/3, 7/5, 6/4, 5/4, 4/5.

1 to 2 carats
VVS
to /ct
VS/SI
to /ct
SI/I
to /ct
2 to 3 carats
VVS
to /ct
VS/SI
to /ct
SI/I
to /ct
3 to 4 carats
VVS
to /ct
VS/SI
to /ct
SI/I
to /ct
4 carats plus
VVS
to /ct
VS/SI
to /ct
SI/I
to /ct

Other Blue Sapphires

Heat treated material. Average brilliancy of 40% to 60%. Add to 20% or deduct to 10% for other cutting. Prices for ovals and cushions. Add 8% to 10% for rounds and pears. Add 10% to 20% for emeralds and marquis. Note: If certified Burmese and untreated, add 50%, except fair or lower grades. Typically, mid-quality untreated blue sapphire will sell for 20-30% more than a treated stone of the same quality. Top-quality unheated stones could get a premium of 50% or higher, especially if they’re large.

Other Blue Sapphires - Top Grade: vB 5/6, 6/6; B 5/6, 6/6.

1 to 2 carats
VVS
to /ct
VS/SI
to /ct
SI/I
to /ct
2 to 3 carats
VVS
to /ct
VS/SI
to /ct
SI/I
to /ct
3 to 4 carats
VVS
to /ct
VS/SI
to /ct
SI/I
to /ct
4 carats plus
VVS
to /ct
VS/SI
to /ct
SI/I
to /ct

Other Blue Sapphires - Very Good Grade: V 4/6, 5/5, 6/6; bV 5/6, 6/7; vB 5/5, 4/6, 6/5; B 4/6, 5/5, 6/5; vslgB 4/6, 5/6, 6/6.

.5 to .75 carat
VVS
to /ct
VS/SI
to /ct
SI/I
to /ct
.75 to 1 carat
VVS
to /ct
VS/SI
to /ct
SI/I
to /ct
1 to 2 carats
VVS
to /ct
VS/SI
to /ct
SI/I
to /ct
2 carats plus
VVS
to /ct
VS/SI
to /ct
SI/I
to /ct

Other Blue Sapphires - Good Grade: V 4/5, 5/4, 5/5, 6/4, 6/5, 7/5; bV 4/5, 4/6, 5/4, 5/5, 6/4, 6/5; vB 3/5, 4/4, 6/3, 7/5, 5/4, 4/5; B 3/5, 4/4, 6/3, 7/5, 6/4, 6/4, 5/4, 4/5; vslgB 7/5, 5/4, 6/4, 4/5, 6/5, 5/5; gB 4/5, 5/5, 6/5.

.5 to .75 carat
VVS
to /ct
VS/SI
to /ct
SI/I
to /ct
.75 to 1 carat
VVS
to /ct
VS/SI
to /ct
SI/I
to /ct
1 to 2 carats
VVS
to /ct
VS/SI
to /ct
SI/I
to /ct
2 carats plus
VVS
to /ct
VS/SI
to /ct
SI/I
to /ct

Other Blue Sapphires - Fair Grade: V 3/4, 3/5, 4/3, 4/4, 5/3, 6/3, 7/4; bV 3/5, 4/4, 5/3, 6/3, 7/4, 7/5; vB 3/4, 4/3, 6/2, 7/4, 5/3; B 3/4, 4/3, 7/4, 6/2, 5/2, 5/3; vslgB 3/4, 3/5, 4/3, 4/4, 5/3, 6/3, 7/4; gB 3/5, 4/4, 5/3, 5/4, 6/3, 6/4, 7/4; vstgB 4/4, 5/4, 6/4.

.5 to .75 carat
VVS
to /ct
VS/SI
to /ct
SI/I
to /ct
.75 to 1 carat
VVS
to /ct
VS/SI
to /ct
SI/I
to /ct
1 to 2 carats
VVS
to /ct
VS/SI
to /ct
SI/I
to /ct
2 carats plus
VVS
to /ct
VS/SI
to /ct
SI/I
to /ct

Fancy Sapphires

Average brilliancy of 30% to 40%. Add to 20% or deduct to 10% for other cutting. Prices for ovals and cushions. Add 7% to 10% for rounds, pears and marquis. Add 15% to 30% for emerald cuts.

Pink Sapphire - Top Color: stpR 3/6, 4/6; RP 4/6; rP 4/6

Not enough trade data available

Pink Sapphire - Very Good Color: slpR 4/6; stpR 4/5; RP 3/5, 4/4, 4/5; rP 3/5, 4/4, 4/5; P 4/5.

.5 to .75 carat
VVS
to /ct
VS/SI
to /ct
SI/I
to /ct
.75 to 1 carat
VVS
to /ct
VS/SI
to /ct
SI/I
to /ct
1 to 2 carats
VVS
to /ct
VS/SI
to /ct
SI/I
to /ct
2 carats plus
VVS
to /ct
VS/SI
to /ct
SI/I
to /ct

Pink Sapphire - Good Color: slpR 3/5, 4/4, 4/5; stpR 3/4, 3/5, 4/4; RP 3/4, 4/3; rP 3/4, 4/3; P 3/4, 4/4.

.5 to .75 carat
VVS
to /ct
VS/SI
to /ct
SI/I
to /ct
.75 to 1 carat
VVS
to /ct
VS/SI
to /ct
SI/I
to /ct
1 to 2 carats
VVS
to /ct
VS/SI
to /ct
SI/I
to /ct
2 carats plus
VVS
to /ct
VS/SI
to /ct
SI/I
to /ct

Pink Sapphire - Fair Color: slpR 3/3, 4/3; stpR 3/4, 4/3; RP 2/3, 3/3; rP 2/3, 3/3; P 3/, 4/3.

.75 to 1 carat
VVS
to /ct
VS/SI
to /ct
SI/I
to /ct
1 to 2 carats
VVS
to /ct
VS/SI
to /ct
SI/I
to /ct
2 carats plus
VVS
to /ct
VS/SI
to /ct
SI/I
to /ct

Yellow Sapphire - Top Color: Y 3/5; oY 3/5. Very Good Color: Y 3/4; oY 3/4. Good Color: Y 3/3, 4/4; oY 3/3, 4/4. Fair Color: Y 2/3, 4/3; oY 2/3, 4/3.

to 2 carats
Top Color
to /ct
Very Good Color
to /ct
Good Color
to /ct
Fair Color
to /ct
2 carats plus
Top Color
to /ct
Very Good Color
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Good Color
to /ct
Fair Color
to /ct

Green Sapphire - Top Color: vslbG 6/3, bG 6/3, G 6/3. Very Good Color: BG 6/3, vstbG 6/2, 5/3, 6/2; bG 4/3, 5/3, 6/3; vslbG 4/3, 5/3, 6/2; G 5/3, 7/3; slyG 5/3, 6/3; yG 6/3. Good Color: BG 4/3, 5/3, 6/2; vstbG 4/3, 5/3, 7/3; bG 4/2, 5/2, 7/3, G 5/2,6/2; slyG 5/2, 6/2, 7/3; yG 5/3, 6/2, 7/3; styG 5/3, 6/3; styG 5/3, 6/3. Fair Color: BG 4/2, 5/2; vstbG 4/2, 7/2; bG 3/2, 7/2; vslbG 7/2; G 4/2, 7/2; slyG 4/2, 7/2; yG 5/2, 7/3; styG 5/2, 6/2.

to 1 carat
Top Color
to /ct
Very Good Color
to /ct
Good Color
to /ct
Fair Color
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1 carat plus
Top Color
to /ct
Very Good Color
to /ct
Good Color
to /ct
Fair Color
to /ct

Purple Sapphire - Top Color: RP 6/6, 5/6; rP 6/6; P 6/6. Very Good Color: stpR 5/5, 6/5; RP 5/5, 6/5, 7/5; rP 5/6, 6/5; P 5/6, 6/5; bP 5/6, 6/5. Good Color: slpR 5/3, 6/3; stpR 5/4, 6/4, 7/4; RP 5/4, 6/3, 6/4, 7/4; rP 5/4, 5/5, 6/4, 7/5; P 5/4, 5/5, 6/4, 7/5; bP 4/5, 4/6, 5/5. Fair Color: .

to 2 carats
Top Color
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Very Good Color
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Good Color
to /ct
Fair Color
to /ct
2 carats plus
Top Color
to /ct
Very Good Color
to /ct
Good Color
to /ct
Fair Color
to /ct

Other Sapphires

White Sapphire

.5 to 3 carats
White Sapphire
to /ct
3 to 5 carats
White Sapphire
to /ct
5 to 15 carats
White Sapphire
to /ct

Color Change Sapphire

.5 to 1 carat
Color Change Sapphire
to /ct
1 to 7 carats
Color Change Sapphire
to /ct

Blue Cabochons

.5 to 1 carat
Blue Cabochons
to /ct
1 to 7 carats
Blue Cabochons
to /ct

Star Sapphire

.5 to 1 carat
Blue
to /ct
Fancy Colors
to /ct
Black
to /ct
1 to 5 carats
Blue
to /ct
Fancy Colors
to /ct
Black
to /ct
Accompanying value information:
sapphire expert jeffrey bergan with a trapiche sapphireAn Interview with Sapphire Expert Jeffery Bergman
sapphire ring with tsavorites - appraising blue sapphiresAppraising Blue Sapphires
GIA-certified octagonal mixed-cut sapphireRuby and Sapphire Grading Tools
triangle-cut sapphire - sapphire engagement ring stoneSapphire Engagement Ring Guide: Something Blue
sapphire buying - bluish violet, BurmeseSapphire Buying Guide
montana sapphires - matching ringsWhy We Love Montana Sapphires and Yogo Sapphires
Kashmir sapphireRuby and Sapphire Origins
View Color Change Sapphire Profile

The International Gem Society (IGS) has a list of businesses offering gemstone appraisal services.

See our article called Phenomenal Gems to read more about the grading and valuation of stones with asterism.

Star Sapphire Information

Data Value
Name Star Sapphire
Is a Variety of Sapphire
Colors All except red.
Fracture Conchoidal, Frequent parting
Hardness 9
Cleavage None
Wearability Excellent
Crystallography Hexagonal (trigonal).
Refractive Index 1.757-1.779
Birefringence 0.008-0.009
Dispersion 0.018
Luminescence See "Identifying Characteristics" under the Sapphire main gem listing.
Luminescence Present Yes
Luminescence Type Fluorescent, UV-Long, UV-Short, X-ray Colors
Absorption Spectrum See "Identifying Characteristics" under the Sapphire main gem listing.
Pleochroism Very pronounced.
  • Blue sapphire: intense violet-blue/blue-green
  • Green sapphire: intense green / yellow-green
  • Orange sapphire: yellow-brown or orange/colorless
  • Yellow sapphire: medium yellow / pale yellow
  • Purple sapphire: violet/orange
  • Brownish-orange sapphire: brownish-orange / greenish
  • Padparadscha sapphire: orange-yellow / yellowish-orange
Optics RI: o = 1.757-1.770; e = 1.765-1.779 (usually 1.760, 1.768); Uniaxial (-).
Optic Sign Uniaxial -
Luster Vitreous to adamantine.
Polish Luster Vitreous to subadamantine.
Fracture Luster Vitreous.
Specific Gravity 3.99-4.10; usually near 4.0
Enhancements Heat treated: common. Diffusion treatment (places a thin blue coating on colorless sapphire): occasional. Irradiation (turns colorless gems yellow, orange, or light blue.): rare.
Typical Treatments Heat Treatment, Irradiation, Lattice Diffusion
Transparency Transparent to opaque.
Phenomena Asterism.
Birthstone September

Star Sapphire is a type of sapphire displaying an optical star-like effect. This effect is caused by asterism. You can read more about asterism in our Phenomenal Gems article.

by International Gem Society
See other articles

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