Sapphire Carvings

Sapphire is a durable stone that easily lends itself to carving by experts. These small carvings are made from sapphires that are lower grade and not suitable for gemstones. Usually the time it takes to make these small carvings is worth more than the stones themselves, and are priced between $10 and $20.

Sapphire Cabochons

Sapphires that are higher in quality than those used for carving, but still not high quality enough to cut into facets due to their lack of transparency, are called cabochons. Most often available in blue or green in sizes as large as 20 carats, they sell for around $10 a carat.

Star Sapphires

Star sapphires are another fairly popular stone, found mostly in Thailand. Available in brown and blue, brown star sapphires are usually untreated while blue star sapphires are treated with titanium to preserve the star pattern. Star sapphires sell for around $10 per carat.

Faceted Sapphires

Faceted sapphires, the most common type of sapphire, start at $20 a carat, but the larger and more flawless the stone, the greater the price. Green-colored sapphires that are over a carat in size cost around $75 a carat, while large red-orange-colored sapphires are priced at around $100 to $120 per carat.

Heated Blue Sapphires

Prices of heated blue sapphires depend greatly on the color and clarity of the stone. For stones that are one to two carats, a buyer can expect to spend around $300 per carat. For stones over two carats, prices usually begin around $400 per carat.

Source:

Gem Select: Sapphire Prices