The beautiful and resilient sapphires are formed in more than one colour, each exuding a unique charm and endurance.
White sapphire stone, though comes from the same corundum family, is a distinct colourless variety of this mineral. Also called as Safed Pukhraj in Vedic astrology, this April birthstone is the best alternative for diamond due to its similar appearance and cheaper prices. It has a cloudy hue that makes this stone special in its own way.
Apart from its physical appearance, white sapphire is also recognized for metaphysical properties that bring mental clarity, strong intuition, and self-confidence to its wearers. It has a pure energy that helps you explore the inner depths of the mind and communicate with the higher consciousness in your spiritual journey.
The stone brings many benefits and good fortune to a person’s life but it should be selected with care and caution. Here are some easy ways to identify the unique quality of this stone when buying a white sapphire ring or other jewellery.
Choose the Right Colour
A white sapphire stone is allochromatic in nature, meaning it is colourless in its pure form. This is important considering that all other sapphires have some inherent impurities that affect their colour and quality. Mostly, the natural white sapphires have a bluish or yellowish hue but the best varieties are completely colourless.
The rarity of this gemstone’s unique colour can be understood from the fact that 75% of white sapphires form with a muddy pale brown colour. Out of the remaining 25%, only 10% stones passed the gemstone quality factors standardized in the industry.The cost of these stones can be quite high due to this reason. At stores like
GemPundit, you can find superior quality gems with eye-clean and colourless surface.
Check the Clarity
As mentioned above, a white sapphire stone is more likely to have some imperfections. Usually, they have type II clarity grade that allows minor visible inclusions or imperfections in the stone. The common inclusions may be fingerprints, growth lines, or halo fractures. Hence, find a stone which has no visible imperfections instead of going for a lower quality product that will break or scratch easily.
The price of a white sapphire ring will highly depend on the level of transparency and density of inclusions on the stone. So, it is better to be aware of acceptable standards when buying this stone.
Ask About the Origin
Buyers do not typically ask about a stone’s origins and that’s a mistake. You can find the best quality stone when it comes from its natural source. A geographical location that has the perfect environment for the formation of that stone will produce its best quality. The same applies to a white sapphire stone. It is mined in many countries including Australia, Cambodia, Thailand, Tanzania, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka.
Out of these, Sri Lankan or Ceylonese sapphires are considered the top-grade variety with exceptional colourless impact and clarity. These stones are also priced higher than others due to their impeccable beauty. If you want to buy an affordable stone, look for one that comes from Thailand or Myanmar. These may have slightly off white colour but are priced affordably.
Look at the Cut
When buying a gemstone jewellery, cut of the stone is another factor you shouldn’t ignore. A well-cut gem reflects the light perfectly and can hide its visible flaws as well. Typically, white sapphires are cut with well-defined facets for jewellery making.
However, varieties like star sapphires are cut only as cabochons to reflect their internal colour play in the best possible ways. Even in faceted stones, any shape is possible, though round and oval are the most popular choices. Look for a stone which is symmetrical from all sides and has no disproportionate angles.
Choose the Right Carat Weight
White sapphires are not naturally found in bigger sizes. Only those from Sri Lankan origin are slightly larger and heavier. They are also more expensive than other varieties. However, you need to look at the weight with reference to other quality factors like colour and clarity to strike the right balance. A big stone with cloudy appearance and dull colour will fetch a much lower price than a smaller stone with excellent colour and clarity.
With these tips in mind, you can find the top-quality white sapphire stone for jewellery or astrological purposes. Exercise due diligence and don’t fall into the trap of scammers offering high grade stones at dirt cheap prices. Those gems will be synthetic or lab created without the natural qualities and properties that make white sapphires a precious gemstone variety.
