Heating Sapphires to improve clarity or develop color has been used in some form for hundreds, if not thousands of years. very high toughness), allowing them to endure high temperatures with an acceptable breakage risk. While gemologists can often spot indications of gemstone enhancements, advanced scientific testing is frequently required for confirmation and absolute certainty.īecoming malleable around 1900☌ and melting at 2030☌, Sapphires can withstand incredible temperatures. As these processes have become an important part of the modern gem industry, enhancements are acceptable as long as they are disclosed, permanent, and stable. Chain of custody is the knowledge of every set of hands a gem has passed through from the moment it is dug from the ground to when it ends up in the hands of its final custodian.ĭefined as any process other than cutting that improves a gems’ appearance, durability, value or availability, 90 percent of all gemstones in the marketplace have been enhanced in some manner. Always ask whether and how a Sapphire you are considering purchasing has been enhanced, also confirming chain of custody for peace of mind. Unfortunately, it is not always disclosed, so be diligent when buying Sapphires. Heat enhancement should always be disclosed. As a result, ‘Ilakaka’ often not only refers to the Ilakaka deposit, but also sometimes the region’s entire gem mining area.Īside from their highly desirable beauty, Natural Sapphires most important attribute is that they are totally natural and unenhanced, significantly increasing both their rarity and value.
Sakaraha town is now a center for selling and buying gems that have been found nearby.
There is also a third district near Bezaha, close to the Onillahy River, 118 kilometers southwest of Ilakaka. A large number of new alluvial Sapphire deposits have also been discovered around Ilakaka and further southwest in the Sakaraha area. Once accounting for around half of the world’s Sapphires by volume (Source: GIA), Madagascar remains an important and highly regarded source.ĭiscovered in 1998, Ilakaka’s widely dispersed alluvial gem gravels are located close to route national seven heading to Toliara (Tuléar) in southwestern Madagascar’s Ihorombe region.
One of the world’s most coveted, enduring and valuable gemstones, Sapphires remain incredibly scarce.
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