What does no heat sapphire mean?
Introduction
Heat Sapphire: Given the natural origin of Earth's stones, about 99 per cent of mined sapphires will undergo heat treatment, a standard process in the jewellery sector, and still be referred to as "natural." Even pricey and big sapphires might have been heat-treated unless they were properly examined and certified to meet the rigorous standards for a "No-Heat" stone. Heat treatment will not be used on the 1% of the crop that is judged colour or grade "perfect." A 1% Sapphire is known as a 'No-Heat' Sapphire.
What does no heat sapphire mean?
As it comes out of the earth, the pristine form of the mineral is a natural, unheated, untreated, no heat sapphire with just cut and polish added. As a result, unheated sapphires are rarer, more expensive, and unquestionably more attractive. They are just as Mother Nature intended. Natural no-heat sapphires, on the whole, offer a softer brilliance and a smoother surface appeal. The surface of heated sapphires has a glassy appearance that is harsh and unnatural.
Sapphires that have not been heated and have not had their colour or clarity enhanced along the supply chain are unusual and hence more valuable than heated sapphires, plentiful in the market. Each unheated sapphire is one-of-a-kind and the sum of its characteristics: colour, clarity, cut, crystal, carat weight, and geographical origin.
Features of a no heat sapphire
A sapphire must have the following characteristics to be called gem-quality:
- Blue in its most gorgeous colour, tone, and saturation (Color)
- Inclusions that are insignificant to non-visible to the naked eye (Clarity)
- To reflect the colour, a significant level of brightness is required (Cut)
- For the movement of light in the stone, a high degree of brilliance is required (Crystal)
- the size that is modest to considerable (Carat Weight)
- There are no artificial treatments to enhance or improve the colour or clarity of the stone (Enhancements)
- In other words, there must be a good balance and mix of natural elements and the creativity of the cutter.
The best investment is sapphires with a vivid/royal blue colour and fine clarity that have not been treated. They're getting harder to come by, yet demand is still strong. Many signatures, vintage, and antique pieces by well-known designers are also set with natural, unheated sapphires. While these pieces are valued because of their history, provenance, uniqueness, design, and era, the attraction of unheated sapphires is highly precious and appealing.
