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| Color |
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Rich royal blue to navy
blue |
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| Gem Family |
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Royal Kings Plain Sapphire®
is a member of the corundum family, which includes
both ruby and sapphire. |
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| Source |
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This rare sapphire is
mined in the Australian state of New South Wales.
The Kings Plain Mine is actually an ancient dry
riverbed where sapphire was washed centuries ago
from deposits in hard rock somewhere in the area.
Most sapphire found in these gem gravels ranges
from the size from a grain of sand to a pea. Rarely,
larger size gems are found. After an area is mined,
the land is reclaimed into lush pastures. |
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| Clarity |
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Ranges from no visible
inclusions to moderately included. |
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| Size Range |
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Small accent stones to
spectacular 2-carat gems. |
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| Shapes Available |
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Royal Kings Plain Sapphire®
is exceptionally well cut for corundum, which is
so valuable that many producers sacrifice brilliance
for weight. Royal Kings Plain Sapphire® is available
in a variety of shapes including brilliant and Portuguese
rounds, emerald cuts, ovals, princess cuts, and
trillions. |
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| Enhancement |
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Royal Kings Plain Sapphire®
is enhanced by heat to remove green overtones from
the rich blue color. Heat enhancement is stable,
routine, and does not require special care. |
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| Lore & History |
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Sapphire comes from the
Greek word for blue, sappheiros, and this
gem provides the most beautiful blues of the gem
kingdom. The ancient Persians believed the earth
rests on a giant sapphire. Its reflection, they
said, made the sky blue. Sapphire is the original
"true blue": the gem of fidelity and of the soul.
In ancient times, a gift of a sapphire was a pledge
of trust, honesty, purity, and loyalty. This tradition
makes sapphire a popular choice for engagement rings.
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| Toughness &
Hardness |
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Sapphire has a hardness
of 9 on the Mohs scale and it is quite tough. |
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| Care & Cleaning |
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Sapphire is among the
most durable gemstones. In its common form, corundum
is even used as an abrasive! Clean your sapphire
with warm water, detergent, and a soft brush. Royal
Kings Plain Sapphire® can be put in ultrasonic
or steam cleaners. |
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| Price Range |
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$100 to $500 per carat
for stones from a half-carat to 2 carats. Smaller
sizes can be less; rare gems above three carats
may be more. |
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| Special Characteristics |
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At the Kings Plain Mine,
miners move ten cubic meters of earth, a car-size
chunk of rock, to find 2 carats of Royal Kings Plain
Sapphire®. |
