With A Sapphire Stone
Late 20th Century More Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Emerald, Onyx, Ruby, 14k Gold
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With A Sapphire Stone For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a With A Sapphire Stone?
The Legacy of Sapphire in Jewelry Design
On 1stDibs, shop the bright blue gems that star in sapphire rings, sapphire necklaces and other vintage and antique sapphire jewelry.
Sapphires — the stone of choice for Napoleon, Princess Diana and Elizabeth Taylor — have been a favorite of aristocrats and the well-to-do since the time of the Ancient Greeks.
Picture a sapphire. If the stone you conjure is a deep cornflower blue, you’re seeing only part of the picture. Although blue Kashmirs are considered the most valuable, sapphires come in every color except red. No matter the hue, this very special gem is rich in history and beloved by royals (FYI, Princess Diana and Kate Middleton share an 11-carat sapphire engagement ring), so September babies are in very noble company.
America’s version of royalty — old money and celebrities — have also shown a predilection for the blue stones. In 1940, John D. Rockefeller Jr. had Cartier mount a 62-carat sapphire he had bought from an Indian maharajah in a brooch for his first wife, Abby Aldrich Rockefeller; in 2001, the piece sold for a then-record of $3,031,000 at Christie’s New York.
The grand dame of jewelry, Elizabeth Taylor had a passion for the gems that her lovers were happy to indulge. Second husband Michael Wilding gave her an engagement ring set with a cabochon sapphire, while Richard Burton famously presented her with a BVLGARI sautoir set with diamonds and sapphires, including at its center a cabochon Burmese weighing 52.72 carats. One of the star lots in the sale of Taylor’s jewels at the Christie’s New York in 2011, it sold for $5,906,500.
You don’t have to have blue blood or a bulging bank account, however, to get an eyeful of this much-coveted gem. A number of outstanding examples reside in public collections.
The Smithsonian Museum of Natural History owns the 423-carat Logan sapphire, a gift from the Guggenheim family, and the Hall sapphire and diamond necklace, designed by Harry Winston and featuring 36 fine, well-matched cushion-cut Sri Lankan sapphires weighing a combined 195 carats. Also in the collection is the Bismarck sapphire necklace, designed by Cartier and sporting a central sapphire weighing 98.6 carats, which Mona Von Bismarck donated to the museum.
Sapphires are composed of corundum. Their color derives from trace elements, such as iron, titanium, chromium, copper or magnesium. When the trace element produces a ruby hue, the stone is called, what else, a ruby. (which is, as mentioned above, why sapphires cannot be red by definition).
The allure of large gemstones endures throughout the periods characterized as vintage, and sapphire features frequently in vintage engagement rings. (On 1stDibs, a range of buying guides can be found for those in the market for antique engagement rings, vintage engagement rings or Art Deco engagement rings.)
Find an exquisite collection of vintage and antique sapphire jewelry on 1stDibs.
- Can sapphires be purple?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021Yes, sapphires can be purple. While sapphires are generally blue, these stones actually come in a wide range of colors. Purple sapphires are some of the rarest sapphires in the world.
- Can sapphires be violet?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Yes, sapphires can be violet or purple in color. The gemstones occur naturally in a wide range of colors including pink, white, red, yellow, green, black and orange. However, blue sapphires are the most well known. On 1stDibs, find a collection of expertly vetted sapphire gemstone jewelry.
- What does a sapphire symbolize?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021A sapphire symbolizes wisdom, virtue, good fortune, and lastly holiness. It is thought to stimulate concentration, enhance creativity, and remove unwanted thoughts from the mind.
- What is the rarest sapphire?2 Answers
Roman Malakov DiamondsMarch 22, 2021The rarest sapphires are the sapphires certified as Kashmir origin. Sapphires from Kashmir is very much sought after because of it's very rich and blue color, its overall quality, and tremendous rarity. These sapphires are one of the rarest gemstones in the world. Very few are found in the market to day and and even fewer is mined from this place (if at all).1stDibs ExpertAugust 17, 2021The rarest sapphire is the Padparadscha sapphire, which is a unique pink, orange color different from almost any other colored stone. - What is a Ceylon sapphire?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021Also known as Sri Lankan sapphires, ceylon sapphires are the highest quality sapphires on the market. Though they're available in a range of blues, the darker the stone, the higher quality it generally is.
- What is Silver Sapphire?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021Silver sapphire is an opaque gemstone with a blue-gray to silver-gray color. While opaque sapphires are usually lower quality gemstones, the same is not true for silver sapphires.
- What is an unheated sapphire?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertOctober 12, 2021Unheated sapphires refers to sapphires that have not had any form of heat treatment, which enhances their color and clarity. Gemology experts estimate that more than 90% of sapphires on the market are heated sapphires. Find a collection of vintage and antique sapphire jewelry on 1stDibs today.
- What is a golden sapphire?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertSeptember 28, 2021Golden sapphire is a variety of corundum. Translucent blue, green, or yellow material is sometimes present together with gold. It is featured in jewelry, and on 1stDibs you will find a wide variety of golden sapphire jewelry on sale.
- What is a green sapphire?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertOctober 12, 2021Green sapphire is a rare and valuable gemstone from the corundum mineral family that is green in hue. This gemstone represents the planet Mercury in Vedic astrology, and it is worn to provide peace and cheerfulness, as well as to increase focus, self-confidence, and overall mental health. It's also recommended as a useful therapeutic stone for a variety of treatments. Green sapphires can range from very light green to a very dark, rich color in hue, tone, and saturation. Shop a wide range of antique and vintage green sapphire jewelry on 1stDibs.
- What is a no-heat sapphire?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022A no-heat sapphire is a sapphire gemstone in its natural state. It differs from sapphires that undergo heat treatment to enhance their surface. Generally, no-heat sapphires are smoother, while heated sapphires are harder and more lustrous. Shop a range of sapphire gemstone jewelry on 1stDibs.
- Is aquamarine a stone?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Yes, aquamarine is a stone. Aquamarine is a blue-green semi-precious stone that gets its name from the Latin words for “water” and “of the sea.” Aquamarine is highly coveted for its eye-catching blue hue. Shop a collection of aquamarine jewelry on 1stDibs.
- What stone is blue?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021A sapphire is the most popular blue stone. This blue color can also be found in other gemstones such as lapis lazuli, topaz, and aquamarine.
- Where is mushroom stone from?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Mushroom stone forms when limestone boulders become shaped by erosion and weather. Many examples are from Ireland, but Guangdong, China, and Beli, Bulgaria, are also home to mushroom-shaped rock formations. The term could also refer to stones carved into mushroom shapes that are associated with Mayan culture. On 1stDibs, find a collection of stone mushroom furniture and decorative objects.
- What is fossil stone?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertAugust 17, 2021Fossil stone isn’t necessarily stone. It’s any natural material that has either formed or changed due to fossilization, which, over millions of years, replaces the organic materials in rock with minerals. The result is a super-hard, totally different object.
- What is a Lingbi stone?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022A Lingbi stone is a type of stone that comes from Lingbi County in the Anhui Province of China. The finely grained form of limestone is a common material for Chinese artisans from the region to use to create sculptures and other items. You'll find a selection of Lingbi stone art and decorative objects on 1stDibs.
- What is a padparadscha stone?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022A padparadscha stone is a type of conundrum gemstone with a pinkish-orange color. Often, people refer to the gems as padparadscha sapphires. Most come from mines in Sri Lanka, Madagascar and Tanzania. You'll find a selection of padparadscha gemstone rings on 1stDibs.
- What is amber stone?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertAugust 17, 2021Amber stone comes from fossilized tree resin and is known for its beautiful color. As a result it has long been used in jewelry as a gemstone.
- What is a flat stone?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertOctober 12, 2021A flat stone, also known as a flagstone, is a sedimentary stone that is split into layers and is commonly used for paving walkways, flooring, patios, and more. Find a collection of antique and vintage flagstone furniture on 1stDibs.
- What are suiseki stones?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Suiseki stones are natural stones that are kept and displayed in appreciation of their form. It is a tradition in Japanese culture that was inspired by Chinese scholar rocks. On 1stDibs, find an array of suiseki stones.
- What is a cabochon stone?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021A cabochon stone refers to any gemstone that's been shaped and polished as opposed to faceted, like a diamond in an engagement ring.
