Natural sapphires have been stealing hearts for centuries now, be it in their most commonly royal blue color or in other color varieties of the stone, such as white, yellow, green, gray, black, etc. But if we have to pick one of the most coveted color varieties of sapphires other than blue ones, then that would surely be pink sapphire. From commoners to celebrities, this ravishing gemstone has gained an uncountable fan following among other colored gemstones preferred in the world of gems & jewelry.
A Look at Mineral Composition & Availability
Natural sapphire is extracted from the mineral corundum. When it gets mixed with other trace elements such as iron, magnesium, copper, titanium, chromium, etc., stunning color combinations are formed. Speaking of pink sapphires, they are formed with the corundum containing a trace amount of chromium. The wide pink color range from light to dark tones is the result of different concentrations of chromium in corundum.
Since the darker shades of pink sapphire somewhat resemble the red rubies in a few cases, only a gemologist could distinguish between the two since ruby is also a distinguished variety of the mineral corundum only with shades of red. Pink sapphire was rare to possess until mines in Madagascar were discovered in the 1990s and since then, there has been an active and abundant supply of rich quality stone. Other reserves are located in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and East Africa.
Determining the Quality of Pink Sapphire Stones
One of the most important factors to be considered while opting for a high-quality pink sapphire is its hue and saturation. It is available in a wide range of color spectrum with shades ranging from light pink to vibrant magenta. As such, the stones which possess deeper pink hues with a purplish tint are valued more than those with lighter tones. The stones with undertones of secondary colors have orange-pink or purplish-pink shades in which case, the former is called Padparadscha, a highly demanded Sri Lankan sapphire variety.
The carat size as well as the number of stones will also determine how much you need to pay to have your own pink sapphire jewelry. For instance, a pink sapphire tennis necklace is bound to be prized high for its beautifully aligned line of pink stones. As far as stone clarity is considered, all varieties of sapphires have silk needle-like inclusions hence the pink sapphire price is also determined by the heat treatment that many of the natural pink sapphires undergo to enhance their color as well as clarity. As such, since the untreated ones are very rare to find, they are exceptionally prized.
Spiritual Symbolism Behind Pink Sapphires
The natural pink hues of this stone are an emblem of passionate love, loyalty, trust, sincerity, and good luck for couples which makes it an apt gemstone to decorate their engagement or wedding band. Also, a pink sapphire birthstone is best to be kept by those born in the ninth month of the year, that is in September since any color variety of sapphire has been recognized as the official birthstone of this month.
Parting Words
The enticing feminine hues of the pink sapphire command attention for its ability to enchant its beholders with its princely charm and magnetic aura. And this is the reason why pink sapphires have surpassed even the popularity of colorless and even pink-colored diamonds which cost much more than pink sapphires.
In case, you are also looking for a great deal to buy your set of pink sapphires, then GemsNY will be more than happy to share its vast range of pink sapphire polished loose gemstones and jewelry collection at its official website. Do browse before you lose another precious one.
