Blue Sapphire

Sapphire The blue sister of ruby. Ruby and sapphire are the same material, the mineral corundum, and the second hardest gemstone after diamond. Red corundum is known as ruby, while all other colors are referred to as sapphire. While blue is the classic sapphire color, sapphire is actually found in a wide range of colors.

 

Sapphire colors
Blue is the most famous of the sapphire colors. The prized Kashmir and Burmese sapphires have a deep blue that is intense and velvety. These sapphires are not often seen on the market today. Sri Lankan and Madagascar sapphires are the most common today, with a wide range of colors from light sky blue to dark blue. Other producers of blue sapphire are Australia, Tanzania, Thailand, Cambodia, and the USA (Montana).

Precious Stones: Almandine Garnet Origin

Almandine Garnet, sometimes referred to as almandite garnet, belongs to the very vast and popular mineral group of garnet. Almandine is the most common of all garnet varieties. Although there are very large amounts of almandine sourced from all over the world, only a small percentage of the stones mined are of gem quality. Most almandine stones are opaque and rough and are only able to be used for industrial purposes. Garnet stones are often used for sandblasting in the Industrial trade.

The word 'Garnet' is derived from the Latin word "granatus", which means grain, because many garnet deposits are small grains of red crystals in or on their host rock. The specific name of almandine originates from the name alabandicus which is named after a stone found in the small town of Alabanda, located in Caria, the second smallest province of Asia Minor. Almandine occurs in a range of reds from dark brownish to purplish red and is a very popular gem choice for jewelers due to the excellent hardness (7.5 on the Mohs scale) and brilliance resulting from its high refractive index. Almandine garnet is often cut en cabochon with convex faces, and these specimens are sometimes referred to as carbuncle. Carbuncle is an old term used to describe any type of red gemstone cabochon. Red gemstones cabochons have historically been used as friendship gems. Garnet is also January's birthstone.

 

Identifying Almandine Garnet

Almandine garnet in appearance can be difficult to distinguish between other garnet types, as well as other red stones. Almandine garnet will typically have darker tones compared to other red gems, but top quality specimens do have red colors similar to that of ruby. A strong neodymium magnet will be able help distinguish garnet from other gemstones. Measuring a stone's magnetic susceptibility in collaboration with its refractive index can be used to distinguish specific garnet species and varieties, and it can also determine the percentage of composition in hybrid variety garnets.

Almandine Garnet Origin and Gemstone Sources Back to Top
Almandine Garnet stones can be found in many origins and sources including Brazil, India, Madagascar, Sri Lanka and the United States. Smaller deposits exist in Austria and the Czech Republic. Almandine garnet star gemstones are found in India and the United States. Idaho is known to be a very large source for star garnet gems. Amandine found in Sri Lanka is sometimes referred to as Ceylon-Ruby.

Almandine Garnet Color

Almandine garnet colors can range from pure red, reddish orange, slightly purplish red to dark brownish red. The unique deep red color of almandine is a direct result from the presence of iron.

Almandine garnet with pure, deep red colors are the most desirable and valuable of almandine stones.

Almandine Garnet Clarity and Luster

Almandine garnet has a vitreous luster. Gem quality almandine garnet is translucent, but depending on the cut, some stones may appear to be more translucent to opaque. Most almandine garnet rough is opaque and not considered to be of gem quality. These specimens are typically used for various industrial uses.

Almandine Garnet Cut and Shape

There are abundant amounts of very large sized almandine garnet crystals, but because of their dark tones, only small to medium sized gems are faceted. When faceted, they are often cut slightly shallow to allow light to pass through them. Some garnet stones when cut en cabochon can display an asterism effect; these are referred to as Star Garnets. Almandine garnet can be found in a wide variety of shapes and cut styles including round, oval, pear, heart and trillion facet or cabochon stones.

Almandine Garnet Treatment

Like most garnets stones, Almandine Garnet is not treated or artificially enhanced in any way.

 

Diamond Auction

A jadeite and diamond ring

The translucent green oval cabochon jadeite, measuring approximately 15.70 x 8.2 x 5.30mm, between shield-shaped diamond shoulders, mounted in white gold, ring size J

Sold for HK$ 312,500 (IDR 452,317,006) inc. premium 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Footnotes

• Accompanied by a GIA report stating that the jadeite jade is of natural colour. Certificate number 4252287, dated 12 March 1993.
  
  The jade cabochon has been remounted since this report was issued.

An art deco emerald and diamond bracelet, circa 1925

The articulated tapering strap composed of two rows of square and rectangular-cut emeralds in calibré settings, connected at intervals by seven pierced vertical rows of French-cut diamonds, each with a larger central diamond, millegrain detail throughout, mounted in platinum and gold, emeralds approximately 40.00 carats total, length 17.7cm, fitted brown leather case by S.J. Phillips, 113 New Bond Street, London

Estimate:

HK$ 775,000 - 1.16 million
IDR 1.1 billion - 1.7 billion
£63,000 - 95,000

Footnotes

• Accompanied by an SSEF report stating that at least 80% of the 50 emeralds are of Colombian origin with moderate clarity enhancement. Certificate number 36183, dated 19 September 2000.

A magnificent ruby and diamond strap bracelet, by Van Cleef & Arpels, 1936

Designed as a highly articulated mesh of oval-cut rubies interspersed with single baguette-cut diamonds, connected by pairs of tapered baguette-cut diamond scrolling ribbon motifs, to an integral clasp, mounted in platinum, unsigned but recorded in the archives of Van Cleef & Arpels, length 18.0cm

Sold for HK$ 3,620,000 (IDR 5,239,640,201) inc. premium 

 

 

 

 

Footnotes

• PROVENANCE
  'The Magnificent Jewels of Mme Hélène Beaumont', Sotheby's Geneva, May 18, 1994, Lot 522.
  
  Although the bracelet is unmarked, it is recorded in the Van Cleef & Arpels' archive as number 44724 and as being composed of 107.25 carats of rubies and 16.70 carats of diamonds. Van Cleef & Arpels has confirmed that it left the workshop of Rubel Frères on 10 April 1936 and it was purchased on 14 May 1936. The lack of signature, number and Rubel Frères' maker's mark is probably due to the bracelet being altered at some point before it was sold at the Sotheby's auction in 1994.

 

An important emerald and diamond necklace/choker/bracelet combination, by Van Cleef & Arpels, 1960-1961

The collar necklace designed as a series of twenty-two graduating clusters, each set to the centre with a step-cut emerald within a frame of brilliant-cut diamonds, the necklace detaches into four parts and may be worn as a shorter choker and a pair of bracelets, mounted in platinum and 18 carat gold, emeralds weigh 47.04 carats total, diamonds weigh 70.60 carats total, numbered 92116, French workshop marks, French assay marks length 42.0cm

Sold for HK$ 9,620,000 (IDR 13,924,126,722) inc. premium 

 

 

Footnotes

• Accompanied by a certificate from American Gemological Laboratories (AGL) stating the natural emeralds are of Colombian origin with faint to moderate clarity enhancement by oil. Report number CS32505, dated 12 January 1999.
  
  
  LITERATURE
  Christie's, 'Review of the Season 1975', edited by John Herbert, London, page 175, where the necklace is noted as having sold at auction in Geneva for CHF 1,000,000.
  
  Raulet, Sylvie, 'Van Cleef & Arpels', Rizzoli New York, 1987, pages 78 and 79 where is it described and illustrated.

An exceptional sapphire and diamond ring, by Van Cleef & Arpels, circa 1969

The cut-cornered rectangular-cut sapphire, weighing 43.16 carats, between pear-shaped diamond shoulders, weighing 1.60 carats total, mounted in platinum, signed Van Cleef & Arpels, numbered 112235 SA, French maker's marks, French assay mark ring size P

Sold for HK$ 12,084,000 (IDR 17,490,555,854) inc. premium

 

 

 

 

 

Footnotes

• Accompanied by an AGL report stating that the sapphire is of Ceylon (Sri Lankan) origin with no evidence of heat treatment or clarity enhancement. Certificate number CS36522, dated 2 October 2003.
  
  
  LITERATURE
  Raulet, Sylvie, 'Van Cleef & Arpels', Rizzoli New York, 1986, page 80:
  "In 1969, in Colombo, Jacques Arpels acquired an emerald-cut Ceylon sapphire of 43.16 carats, a quite remarkable, perfectly crystalline, flawless stone. It was mounted as a ring, flanked by two pear-shaped diamonds, a marvel in the House's collection".
  
  Exhibition catalogue, 'Legends of Van Cleef & Arpels, The Galliera Exhibition', Paris, 1992, no 89.

Perfect Egg-Sized White Diamond Will be Auctioned

A "perfect" 118-carat white diamond, the largest ever auctioned, is expected to fetch up to £22.5m when it goes under the hammer in Hong Kong in October. 

The white diamond is one of two extremely rare gem stones that Sotheby's is preparing to sell off next month.

A "very, very rare" round 7.59 carat fancy vivid blue diamond, expected to fetch £12m, will also be auctioned off on October 7.

Quek Chin Yeow, the deputy chairman for Sotheby's Asia described the 118-carat egg-shaped white stone diamond as perfect.

"It ticks all the boxes for every quality, every little thing that you want about it, it ticks all the boxes. The thing is, about the size, it's actually like a diamond egg because it's as big as that."

The white diamond was discovered in 2011 as a 299-carat rough diamond in an undisclosed southern African nation.
The round fancy vivid blue diamond is expected to reach a record price as it is one of the rarest coloured diamonds ever found.
"There's never been any substantial sizes of over two carats for vivid blue and to have one that is over 7 1/2 carats is quite exceptional and amazing," Mr Quek said.