Deep blue brilliant cut faceted 5.25 mm sapphire gemstone earring set in six prong sterling silver buttercup settings. The sapphire have a combined weight of 1.60 carats. The earrings included titanium earring backs.
The sapphire have been heated only. The heating is permanent, and the colour is stable. Montana sapphires have a pale or steely gray colour and require heat treatment to gain an attractive colour.
The sapphire are eye clean, very small, very slight inclusions are visible with the aid of a 10X's loupe. They are transparent, natural and heated only. Their origin is Montana, USA. The colour is a deep blue. When the colour has a modifier to its base colour, the modifier is added to the colour description. In this case they are a deep blue, not green blue or light blue for example.
Parti-coloured sapphire are multi-coloured sapphires which display colour zoning. That means the colours are distinct, clearly demarcated as partitions within the stone. These gemstones have no such colour zoning. The colour is even throughout.
The sapphire are from the Lower Cottonwood Mine near Deer Lodge, Montana. They have been heat treated in an unknown location and faceted with a brilliant cut with the requisite number of facets (56) in Sri Lanka. The gem cutlet comes to a point, it has not been cut.
The brilliant cut consists of triangular and kite-shaped facets that spread outward from the center of the gem. As befits its name, the brilliant cut gives off the most scintillation of any cut. A faceted gemstone has a crown (the top), a girdle (the break between the top and bottom) and, a pavilion (the bottom). The brilliant cut has 8 star facets, 8 kite facets and 16 upper cuts on its crown. Below the girdle, there are 16 girdle facets, 8 pavilion main facets and 1 cutlet cut (optional).
I purchased several carats at auction in May of 2011 from a certified gemologist. He was hired as a liquidator for a failed sapphire mining company hoping to turn their inventory into some small return to the original investors. The liquidator depended on the records of the company for the provenance.
Even a blue sapphire will come in different tones. The colouring agents in blue sapphire are iron and titanium. One should select the colour that best suits your complexion or personality. Softer pastels suit some people much better than a strong blue. It is a personal preference when choosing a gemstone. Look for the colour that will give you enjoyment.
I have photographed the earrings with LED lighting. The pictures have been enlarged to show detail. The earrings are pictured next to a dime for size reference. Earrings arrive is a gift box, which is ideal for storing. Protecting your jewelry from scratching each other is your number one priority. This box works perfectly, even the lock tight envelope will do.
The earrings include titanium earring backs. Titanium is a chemical element with the symbol Ti and atomic number 22. It has a low density and is a strong, lustrous, corrosion-resistant (including sea water, aqua regia and chlorine) transitional metal with a silver colour. Titanium is as strong as some steels, but 45% lighter. The earring backs are easy to hold and easy to attach to the earring prong.
I use high quality metals in the jewelry settings. I do not use silver plated settings. The settings are .925 sterling silver and is the standard for silver. It is called .925 because it is an alloy that is 925 parts out of a thousand silver. It is allowed for the other 75 parts to be other metals (usually copper) to enhance the strength, because pure silver is very soft and not structurally strong enough for many jewelry applications. Other "silver settings" come with different elements in their composition. German/Nickel Silver, which is an alloy consisting of copper, zinc and nickel, contains no silver. Many people have allergic reactions to nickel. Other settings may be called Mexican Silver, Indian Silver, Montana Silver, Pewter, Tin, Pot or Base Metal or simply silver. The content of these are less clear and do not guarantee the quantity or silver content. .925 is the best form of silver. It is durable and has a high sheen. Sterling Silver is considered a precious metal.
Inside the gift box, I am including a 1" X 1" anti-tarnish tab. The tab provides protection from tarnish for up to 12 months. It does not leave deposits on items it protects. It is non-toxic, non-abrasive, and will not scratch or harm metals or gemstones. Place tab in jewelry cases, storage bags or boxes. Each tab protects up to 30 cubic inches of container space.
Be sure to look for the most suitable item and service for the lowest price and inquire before you make your purchase. A quality gemstone will be well polished, crisp and come together at a single point. They should be smooth, with a mirror like finish. Pits, scratches, or dull areas indicate a poor polish. There is a difference when a low quality stone is seen next to a good quality stone. Make sure yours are the good quality.
A well polished gem brings out the potential beauty of an individual stone, and this can truly be called a jewel. If you do not know gemstones, know your gemstone sellers. Gemstones of large size demand special attention compared to a small size. The larger the gemstone, the more it costs per carat.
I guarantee my jewelry 100%. If you are dissatisfied with your purchase, return your item and I will gladly refund your purchase price. I do not charge a restocking fee on returned merchandise.
I am always happy to answer your questions. Thank you for visiting my store.
