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How to Buy a High Quality Sapphire
The Sapphire stone is the world’s most popular stone because it is so completely versatile. It ranges in several colors, everything except red and pinkish orange, appeals to just about everyone and it qualifies as a precious stone.
By far the most valuable color in a Sapphire is deep blue. Unlike the Aquamarine, this stone can achieve a deep, intense blue color that is absolutely radiant. Another commonly seen color of Sapphire is Violet. While these are beautiful stones to look at and hold, they are less valued on the market than blue Sapphires and so are more affordable. There are also green and yellow Sapphires and even pink Sapphires. The deeper the pink color of a Sapphire the more valuable. A less commonly seen color is Salmon Sapphires and these are so appealing that they can sometimes be worth more than even a Blue Sapphire. Green and gray Sapphires are probably the least valuable examples of Sapphires.
You may also come across the “Star Sapphire” while shopping. This is a type of Sapphire with intersecting inclusions that reflect the light in an eye catching star shape. These stones are usually oval cut, rounded and polished to enhance the ‘star’ within.
There are several treatments that are applied to lesser quality Sapphire stones for a better resale value. It’s common for all stones to be heated in order to improve the color. However, some sellers will heat a Sapphire to near melting point and infuse it with Beryllium to change the actual color of the stone. Orange Sapphires are created with this technique, but it is also used to enhance other colors. Look out for stones with this treatment on the market. They should be much cheaper than a natural cut stone or a stone that’s only been heated.
You may also mistake synthetic sapphires for the real thing. These are like the real stone, just grown in a lab. Even synthetic Star Sapphires can be created for those who like this effect, without the high price. Naturally you’ll also want to keep an eye out for paste or glass imitations. 
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