

The Rockefeller Sapphire is prized for its rich cornflower blue hue and is so named for John D. Related article: 7 Pieces of Jewellery Kate Middleton Can’t Live Without 6. Rockefeller Sapphire Photo: GIA The cabochon-cut sapphire weighing 104 carats is part of the Royal Crown Jewels of Queen Elizabeth II, and was acquired by her ancestors in the 14th century. 5. Stuart Sapphire Photo: Royal Collection Trust Originally given to Princess Diana as a brooch by the late Queen Mother, Princess Diana quickly turned this stunning gem into an eye-catching choker featuring seven strands of pearls.
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4. Princess Diana’s Sapphire and Pearl Choker Photo: Getty In 1907, it disappeared under mysterious circumstances and only resurfaced this century. Sapphires treated this way require greater care than untreated, heat-treated, or lattice diffusion treated sapphire.Related article: 20 Things You Didn’t Know About Pearls 3. Blue Giant of the Orient Photo: The Jeweler BlogĪt 466 carats, the Blue Giant of the Orient is the largest faceted sapphire in the world. In some cases, the amount of glass filler in a sapphire can be quite extensive. The number of sapphires filled with high-lead content glass is much lower than the number of rubies. Even relatively mild substances like lemon juice can cause alteration of high-lead content glass. The filler can be damaged through contact with a variety of chemicals. Surface damage or re-cutting can remove the color from lattice diffusion treated stones with shallow color penetration.įracture-filled stones have surface-reaching fractures filled primarily with high-lead content glass. In some stones, the treated color penetrates the entire stone, while in others there’s very shallow penetration. Stones that have undergone lattice diffusion treatment have varying degrees of treated-color penetration. Untreated and even heat-treated sapphire is very durable. Fracture-filled, cavity-filled, or dyed material should only be cleaned with a damp cloth. Ultrasonic and steam cleaners are usually safe for untreated, heat-treated, and lattice diffusion treated stones. Fracture-filled, cavity-filled, and dyed stones can be damaged by even mild acids like lemon juice. Boric acid powder will etch the surface of even untreated stones. Sapphire ranks 9 on the Mohs hardness scale.Ĭorundum is stable under normal wearing conditions, which means it’s resistant to the effects of heat, light, and common chemicals. Comprehensive CAD/CAM For Jewelry Certificate
