Orange Sapphire: Properties, Benefits & Meanings
Orange Sapphire Overview
Orange sapphires are among the rarest and most valuable gems on the market. These stones are known for their fiery color and high value. It’s a lively, bright, vibrant shade that looks lovely in jewelry and is easy to combine with other gems.
High-quality Orange sapphires are rare and usually sourced from Ceylon (Sri Lanka). They come from the corundum family, which includes other gemstones like rubies. This article will talk about the properties, meanings, and uses of Orange Sapphire.
What Is Orange Sapphire?
Orange sapphire has a beautiful yet subtle orange color, making it one of nature’s most attractive gems. It can be used in many types of jewelry, such as necklaces or earrings. In addition, its orange color adds a unique touch to any design.
These gemstones can be found in many shades, ranging from dark orange and yellow-orange to golden and brownish-orange.
Orange sapphires are rare but are a valuable alternative to the more common Blue sapphire. Because this stone is so rare, it is highly coveted and highly valued! It is a stone of great beauty that adds to its possessive wearer’s charm.
This stone is found in Australia, Sri Lanka, Kenya, and Madagascar.
Mineral Family
Orange sapphire is a variety of the mineral corundum. Corundum is the most common mineral group in our world. As a result, there are many different colors, patterns, and variations of corundum gems.
Corundum is an aluminum oxide mineral found in many colors, but red and blue are the most common. It is durable, extremely versatile, and can be cut into transparent gems that are ideal for jewelry making.
Appearance
Orange sapphire is a naturally colored transparent, orange to brownish-orange gemstone. Genuine, untreated Orange sapphires are extremely rare.
Their bright orange color results from trace elements within the mineral, including iron, chromium, and titanium.
They’re found in the same mines as rubies, but Orange sapphires are even more challenging to find because they can occur in alluvial deposits.
These sapphires are also known for their high luster and clarity rating, which makes them a popular choice for engagement rings.
Physical Properties
Orange sapphire is a gemstone that comes from corundum. It is a rare and untreated gemstone sometimes confused for Padparadscha sapphire.
These stones are usually transparent and can be found in shades of orange. They often have the same physical properties as the more common Blue sapphire.
Sapphires have high hardness (8-9 on the Mohs scale), making them durable in everyday use, such as rings and bracelets.
| Mineral Group | Corundum |
| Formula | Al2O3 |
| Color | Orange |
| Hardness (Mohs scale) | 9 |
| Refractive Index | 1.762 to 1.788 |
| Fracture | Uneven, Conchoidal |
| Luster | Subadamantine, Vitreous, Pearly |
| Specific Gravity | 3.95 to 4.03 |
| Transparency | Transparent, Translucent, Opaque |
How is It Formed?
Sapphires are formed as a result of the cooling of magma, which contains impurities of iron and titanium.
Sapphire is a gemstone that originates from the natural mineral corundum. Sapphires are formed by the slow accumulation of corundum over millions of years.
Corundum is a mineral composed of aluminum oxide. The aluminum oxide becomes sapphire when exposed to extreme heat and pressure. The formation process creates deposits of many colors, including clear, red, orange, green, and yellow sapphires.
Orange sapphires are formed when corundum is exposed to high heat. The process of heating a sapphire, also known as “fusing,” can create orange gems with a wide range of tones.
Where Can You Find Orange Sapphire?
Orange Sapphire is mined in only a handful of countries. These are:
Rarity
Orange sapphires are considered one of the world’s rarest gemstones. As a result, they are very hard to find, and their unique orange color makes them stand out when set in jewelry.
This makes them a sought-after gemstone for collectors around the world.
They are also costly, with untreated Orange sapphire gems costing thousands per carat. (one carat equals 0.2 grams). So they cost more than diamonds!
So if you want an investment that will last generations, consider getting some untreated Orange sapphire stones in addition to diamonds or other precious metals like gold or silver.
Orange Gemstones
Orange is an uncommon color for gemstones. Few stones can be compared to the Orange Sapphire.
Orange Sapphire vs. Spessartite Garnet
Orange sapphires are often confused with Orange garnets due to their similarity in color.
Spessartite garnet is a type of orange garnet with a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale and is considered to be the finest of the orange gems. It’s named after the German town of Spessart, where it was first discovered in 1792.
These garnets are also known as Mandarin Garnet or Fanta Garnet due to their vivid orange hue.
Orange sapphire is a variety of corundum (the most widely-used gemstone), while spessartite garnets are found in metamorphic rocks.
It may be difficult to tell the difference between a Spessartite garnet and an Orange sapphire as both gems have a similar clarity rating and refractive index (~ 1.78).
The most significant difference between these two gems is their price: Orange sapphires typically cost up to 20 times more than classic spessartite garnets.
Natural Orange sapphires are incredibly rare and are more difficult to find than spessartine garnet.
Orange Sapphire vs. Imperial Topaz
Orange sapphire and Imperial Topaz are both famous for their orange color. They have similar coloration with a high refractive index and dispersion.
Both are considered hard stones—Imperial Topaz has a hardness rating of 8, while Sapphire has a rating of 9 on the Mohs scale (the standard system used to rate gemstones).
Both stones are quite rare. However, Orange sapphire is the pricier stone of the two due to its higher hardness and durability.
Imperial Topaz is much less dense, making it a lighter and softer stone than Sapphire. As such, Imperial Topaz can be cut into larger gems than Orange sapphire and is often more affordable.
Orange Sapphire vs. Citrine
Orange sapphire is a bright, vibrant orange variety of corundum, while Citrine is a yellow-orange variety of quartz. Both stones feature an attractive color that looks stunning in jewelry.
Citrine has been found in many locations worldwide, but it is particularly plentiful in Madagascar and Brazil.
Sapphires are significantly harder than Citrines, which are only a 7 on the Mohs scale. Citrine is also more commonly available, making it the less valuable stone.
They have distinct differences in clarity. Citrine is eye clean, meaning it has few or no visible inclusions because of its crystal structure. By contrast, Orange sapphire has some visible inclusions.
How To Tell If Orange Sapphire Is Real?
If you want to learn to tell if Orange sapphire is genuine, you can test it with a scratch test. Sapphire has a Mohs hardness of 9, so it won’t scratch as easily as other gemstones.
Sapphire is made of corundum, the second hardest material on Earth, next to diamonds. Try scratching the stone with a softer stone like topaz. If it doesn’t scratch, the stone may be genuine.
If you’re still skeptical about your purchase, look for inclusions (tiny imperfections) within the gemstone. If there aren’t any visible flaws or inclusions inside your stone, then chances are high that this one isn’t real!
Finally, you may perform the breath test to determine the authenticity of the sapphire. A breath test will tell you if your gemstone is natural.
Hold the stone in front of your mouth and exhale through it to fog up the stone. If it does not clear up within 1-2 seconds, the stone is likely unnatural.
Value & Price
Blue sapphires command the highest prices amongst sapphires. However, orange stones are extremely expensive as well.
Like other gemstones, the prices of Orange sapphires also vary depending on their size, color, and clarity. On average, untreated sapphires can cost around $2,000 – $10,000 per carat.
Color: The more intense the orange color, the higher their price will be.
Size: A large sapphire with a vivid orange color can cost thousands of dollars. In general, expect to pay more for larger stones on average.
Quality: The highest quality stone will have a clarity of VVS1, which means it may have minor surface imperfections that can’t be seen with the naked eye.
Cut: Orange sapphires can come in different cuts as well—round-cut, oval-cut, and trillion-cut are some popular ones.
Chakra Connection
Orange sapphire is associated with the solar plexus chakra and is said to help with physical and emotional healing. This sapphire is also associated with communication and self-expression, making it an excellent stone for artists.
This Sapphire is associated with fire, which heats the body’s energy centers (chakras). This can lead to feelings of warmth and passion throughout your body, as well as a boost in your overall energy levels. So if you are feeling low on motivation or creativity, this is what you need!
Metaphysical Properties
This beautiful, vibrant sapphire is said to have metaphysical properties that can bring vitality to your life and help you thrive. It is believed to enhance prosperity, aid in manifestation, and bring happiness.
The warm energy of the sapphire is believed to resonate throughout the body and heal on a spiritual level, making it an excellent stone for meditation. Its calming effect may help you deal with stress more easily.
Additionally, this sapphire is considered a good grounding stone. It is said to help secure our energies and communicate with heaven.
The beautiful Orange sapphire is a stone of the sun and fire. The vibrant color represents warmth and energy, while the gemstone’s energy is thought to help you protect yourself against outside influences.
Meaning And Uses
Orange sapphires have been used for the following purposes:
- Jewelry. Orange sapphires are beautiful gems, and they can be worn as jewelry. These gems are prevalent in gold settings because of their distinctive color.
- Gifts. These sapphires are also great gifts you can give to anyone who’s important.
- Investment. When it comes to value, Orange sapphires are among the most coveted gems in the world. This sapphire is a rare gemstone with many unique characteristics that make it very valuable for investment purposes.
- It may also be used as an abrasive.
How To Take Care Of Orange Sapphire Jewelry?
- Sapphire is a durable gemstone, but chemicals and household cleaners can easily damage it.
- Use a soft cloth to clean the surface if your sapphire is dirty.
- A tiny bit of mild soap may be applied if needed.
- Avoid harsh detergents and abrasive cleaners that could scratch or dull the stone’s finish.
- Use a soft toothbrush saturated with warm water to clean away dirt, oily stains, and mineral deposits without damaging the sapphire.
- Do not use household cleaning products on sapphire jewelry; they might damage the gemstone and its metal setting (if any).
FAQ
What Is it Good For?
Orange sapphire is said to be good for balancing the flow of energy through the chakras, improving overall health and well-being, giving courage and strength, and boosting creativity and optimism.
What Gemstones go well with Orange Sapphire?
Orange sapphire is a beautiful gemstone that can go with various other gemstones. Here are some examples:
Pink sapphires are an excellent choice to pair with your orange gems because they have similar colors but complement each other even better than white or yellow gold! You could choose this combination if you want something slightly different and bolder than just wearing yellow gold on its own.
Garnet is another exciting option for pairing with your Orange sapphire jewelry set; this mineral has many similarities in coloration but also offers some unique qualities in its own right (such as having multiple colors within one stone!). Garnets come in many shades, from deep reds to light pinks and purples.
Other gemstones that go well with this stone include Peridot, yellow sapphire, green sapphire, ruby, emerald, and amethyst.
Is It A Birthstone?
Sapphire is the September birthstone and the traditional gift for couples on their 6th wedding anniversary.
Is orange sapphire valuable?
Orange sapphires are quite rare and valuable, second only to blue sapphires. The color of a sapphire is a very important factor affecting its price.
Orange gems are more expensive than other colors of corundum due to their rarity and uniqueness. These sapphires are one of the most sought-after gems today.
Is an orange sapphire the same as padparadscha Sapphire?
An Orange sapphire is not a Padparadscha gemstone. These sapphires are often mistakenly identified as Padparadscha sapphires. Padparadscha is a specific shade of pink or orange that ranges from slight to vivid. They are a variety of pink sapphires with more orange tones and are often found in Sri Lanka.
