Among other gemstones, nothing is able to capture the majesty and encompassing colour of the sky than sapphires. Whether it’s the deep blue of an evening sky or a mid-blue of a sunny day, there’s a sapphire that perfectly mimics its appearance.
Gemstone lovers and specialists are enraptured by the stunning beauty of sapphires, though, like most gemstones, their beauty and magnificence is only fully realised after undergoing a set of processes. Sapphires, in its original form, are rough and unassuming. Yet after a series of processes, and with the skills of craftsmen, these stones are transformed into sparkling gems that are often found in jewellery pieces like engagement rings.
Where Sapphires are Found
It often takes millions of years for the earth to form just a single piece of sapphire. These stones are a result of high pressure and temperature fusing aluminium and oxygen with iron and titanium, though large amounts of mined rock are often necessary to produce just a few grams of these stones.
Most sapphires come from mines in parts of Asia, including India, Burma, Ceylon, Thailand, and Vietnam, though these gemstones are also found in Brazil, Australia, and Africa. Contrary to popular belief, not all sapphires are blue: they come in different colours, including yellow, green, orange, and pink.
How the Miners Cut Sapphires
Once they are mined, sapphires are immediately taken to the cutting-centres, where expert craftsmen begins cutting them into the sparkling gemstones that more people are accustomed to. The process begins with these craftsmen examining each individual stone to determine its optic axis.
Care must be given with the first facet, as it must be cut at exactly 90 degrees to the optic axis to ensure a perfectly homogenous colour. Such skill cannot be replicated by a machine, as the human eye can only be trusted with this crucial facet. Afterwards, craftsmen then cuts the sapphire with a machine.
Enhancing Sapphires
Often, sapphires undergo other treatments to improve upon its innate beauty. Heat treatment is a common treatment, and it often intensifies the gemstone’s blue colour and removes inclusions to increase its clarity. Other sapphires are artificially-coloured through a process known as diffusion, where each stone is treated in a beryllium metal overlay.
From these processes and treatments, a sparkling piece of sapphire is then produced. Soon, they will be part of a particular jewellery pieced found in jewellery shops in Reading, like Jacobs.
Sources:
The Journey of a Sapphire, JCK
The Precious Gemstone Sapphire, Minerals.net