Heated sapphires vs unheated sapphires! That is the question! Does it matter? Should you care? Why do you keep this information on product listings?
We're chatting about the differences between heated and unheated sapphires, reasons to love them, and what to consider with each type of stone.
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A HEATED SAPPHIRE VS UNHEATED SAPPHIRE?
To the naked eye, absolutely nothing! If you're looking at a sapphire engagement ring and one stone has been heated and one stone has been not - you absolutely cannot tell with the naked eye.
The difference between a heated vs unheated sapphire - a heated sapphire has been exposed to high levels of heat to improve the appearance the the stone and the saturation of the colors.
Unheated sapphires are exactly as they came out of the ground - they have not been exposed to any heat.
WHAT IS A HEATED SAPPHIRE?
Most sapphires are heated at extremely high temperatures to intensify their color, remove color-zoning, and improve their clarity. The practice of sapphire heating goes back hundreds of years to when sapphires were first discovered and were held to the fire to improve their appearance.