Loose Sapphire Gemstones

9 Carat Cushion Cut Sapphire

Sri Lanka Yellow

Heirloom Engagement Ring

Luxury Sapphire Jewelry

Purple Gemstones

Blue Gemstone

21st Century and Contemporary Malagasy Arts and Crafts Loose Gemstones

Materials

Green Sapphire, Other

2.20 Carat Natural Loose Blue Sapphire From Sri Lankan Mine

$1,000

$3,150

2.86 Ct Blue Sapphire Cushion Loose Gemstone

Located in Fort Lee, NJ

These are for reference only — this listing is for the loose gemstone. If you like any of the designs shown, we can create a custom ring using this gemstone in 14K or 18K Gold (Yello...

Category

2010s Sri Lankan Loose Gemstones

Materials

Blue Sapphire

Recent Sales

Pink Sapphire 2.31 ct Oval, Loose Gemstone

Unavailable

W 0.27 in D 0.2 in L 0.34 in

Pink Sapphire 2.31 ct Oval, Loose Gemstone

Located in South Melbourne, AU

A hypnotic oval pink sapphire with a colour rating of "vivid", the richest vibrant colour in a natural sapphire. Mined in Madagascar, this certified natural sapphire has been enhance...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Malagasy Modern Loose Gemstones

Materials

Sapphire

Peach Sapphire Oval Natural Unheated, Loose Gemstone

Unavailable

W 0.3 in D 0.23 in L 0.36 in

Peach Sapphire Oval Natural Unheated, Loose Gemstone

Located in South Melbourne, AU

An impressive sapphire not only because of its 3.57 carat size but for the beauty of its colour. Splashing gorgeous peaches and cream complexion hues of pinkish yellow that portrays ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Sri Lankan Modern Loose Gemstones

Materials

Sapphire

1.80ct Round Cut Natural Blue Sapphire Loose Gemstone

Unavailable

W 0.47 in D 0.38 in L 0.52 in

GRS Certified 12.68 Carat Blue Sapphire Untreated Loose Gem

Located in Taipei, TW

A Burmese blue sapphire of 12 carat size is a rare and stunning gemstone that has a deep and vivid blue color. It is a type of corundum, which is a mineral that contains aluminum oxi...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Loose Gemstones

Materials

Materials

Blue Sapphire

2.15 Carat Natural Loose Sapphire Reverse Pair Gemstone From Madagascar

$1,200

2.15 Carat Natural Loose Sapphire Reverse Pair Gemstone From Madagascar

Located in Peshawar, PK

Loose Sapphire Reverse Pair Weight: 2.15 Carats Dimension : Yellow: 6.1 x 5.4 x 3.7 Mm Yellowish Teal: 6.2 x 5.5 x 3.2 Mm Origin: Madagascar, Africa Shape: Octagon Colour: Yellow An...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Malagasy Arts and Crafts Loose Gemstones

Materials

Sapphire, Other

$320Sale Price|20% Off

W 0.41 in D 0.3 in L 0.52 in

6.30 Carat Natural Loose Aquamarine Cushion Shape Gem For Necklace

Located in Peshawar, PK

Loose Aquamarine Weight: 6.30 Carat Dimension: 13 x 10.4 x 7.5 Mm Colour : Pale Blue Origin: Shigar Valley, Pakistan Treatment: Non Certificate : On Demand Shape: Cushion Aquamarin...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pakistani Arts and Crafts Loose Gemstones

Materials

Aquamarine

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Loose Sapphire Gemstones For Sale on 1stDibs

Find an expansive variety of loose sapphire gemstones available on 1stDibs. These distinct designs — crafted with great care and often made from 18k Gold, Gold and Platinum — can elevate any look. Our selection of items includes 4 vintage examples as well as 51 contemporary versions. Our inventory is broad and distinctive, with accessories on offer that were made as long ago as the 20th Century to those produced as recently as the 21st Century. Our collection of loose sapphire gemstones includes designs that are universally popular, but Contemporary and Artisan styles, specifically, are sought with frequency. Merkaba, Fine Jewels UK and Sarosi By Timeless Gems each produced beautiful examples of these items that are worth considering. A selection of oval cut, cushion cut and heart cut can be found today on these pages. When shopping our range of loose sapphire gemstones, you’ll find that there are less available pieces for men today than there are for women.

How Much are Loose Sapphire Gemstones?

Prices for loose sapphire gemstones can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, these accessories begin at $194 and can go as high as $235,600, while loose sapphire gemstones, on average, fetch $10,320.

The Legacy of Sapphire in Jewelry Design

On 1stDibs, shop the bright blue gems that star in sapphire rings, sapphire necklaces and other vintage and antique sapphire jewelry.

Sapphires — the stone of choice for Napoleon, Princess Diana and Elizabeth Taylor — have been a favorite of aristocrats and the well-to-do since the time of the Ancient Greeks.

Picture a sapphire. If the stone you conjure is a deep cornflower blue, you’re seeing only part of the picture. Although blue Kashmirs are considered the most valuable, sapphires come in every color except red. No matter the hue, this very special gem is rich in history and beloved by royals (FYI, Princess Diana and Kate Middleton share an 11-carat sapphire engagement ring), so September babies are in very noble company.

America’s version of royalty — old money and celebrities — have also shown a predilection for the blue stones. In 1940, John D. Rockefeller Jr. had Cartier mount a 62-carat sapphire he had bought from an Indian maharajah in a brooch for his first wife, Abby Aldrich Rockefeller; in 2001, the piece sold for a then-record of $3,031,000 at Christie’s New York.

The grand dame of jewelry, Elizabeth Taylor had a passion for the gems that her lovers were happy to indulge. Second husband Michael Wilding gave her an engagement ring set with a cabochon sapphire, while Richard Burton famously presented her with a BVLGARI sautoir set with diamonds and sapphires, including at its center a cabochon Burmese weighing 52.72 carats. One of the star lots in the sale of Taylor’s jewels at the Christie’s New York in 2011, it sold for $5,906,500.

You don’t have to have blue blood or a bulging bank account, however, to get an eyeful of this much-coveted gem. A number of outstanding examples reside in public collections.

The Smithsonian Museum of Natural History owns the 423-carat Logan sapphire, a gift from the Guggenheim family, and the Hall sapphire and diamond necklace, designed by Harry Winston and featuring 36 fine, well-matched cushion-cut Sri Lankan sapphires weighing a combined 195 carats. Also in the collection is the Bismarck sapphire necklace, designed by Cartier and sporting a central sapphire weighing 98.6 carats, which Mona Von Bismarck donated to the museum.

Sapphires are composed of corundum. Their color derives from trace elements, such as iron, titanium, chromium, copper or magnesium. When the trace element produces a ruby hue, the stone is called, what else, a ruby. (which is, as mentioned above, why sapphires cannot be red by definition).

The allure of large gemstones endures throughout the periods characterized as vintage, and sapphire features frequently in vintage engagement rings. (On 1stDibs, a range of buying guides can be found for those in the market for antique engagement rings, vintage engagement rings or Art Deco engagement rings.)

Find an exquisite collection of vintage and antique sapphire jewelry on 1stDibs.

Finding the Right Loose-gemstones for You

Are you shopping for diamonds and other loose gemstones to create your own custom jewelry?

Why might you purchase a diamond or gemstone “loose” — that is, on its own, not mounted in a piece of jewelry? Perhaps you’re a connoisseur looking to acquire a unique investment. The scarcity of high-quality colored diamonds, for instance, especially pink diamonds, means that their value increases over time; the same is true of rare Kashmir sapphires and Burmese rubies. Far rarer than diamonds, Paraiba tourmaline, discovered only in the 1980s, is treasured as much for its extraordinary color as its scarcity, both of which contribute to its high value.

A more common scenario would be that you’re hoping to create a very special piece of custom jewelry, such as an engagement ring or a milestone-birthday present, and want to personally select the most beautiful, unusual, or ultra-rare stone you can find and afford. Doing so adds to the romance and substance of the gift and can be a part of the story told as the jewel is passed from generation to generation.

If this sounds like you, read on for tips on becoming one of the world’s savviest gem hunters.

Educate yourself: When buying any piece of gem-set fine jewelry, you should familiarize yourself with the factors that determine a stone’s price. This will enable you to streamline your search for the perfect gem and have intelligent, productive conversations with sellers.

There is a wealth of information online, such as our diamond-buying guide and this overview of colored gemstones for engagement rings. The buying guides of the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), searchable by stone type, are also a widely trusted source for consumers venturing into the world of diamonds and gems for the first time.

Vet your vendor: If you peruse 1stDibs with any regularity, you know there is no shortage of vendors who deal in top-quality loose gemstones. (Read about our vetted sellers.) Finding a trustworthy, established dealer may be as easy as getting a recommendation from friends or family. And, although it may sound obvious, it pays to Google your candidates — and consult customer reviews — before making contact.

Harakh Mehta, designer and founder of the Mumbai, India–based fine-jewelry brand Harakh, has an innate understanding of proper client relations, especially when the customer is in unfamiliar territory. “Start chatting with the dealer, get to know them better," he says. "It’s very important to establish a comfort level. We never push a sale, as we want it to be a carefully considered purchase. So, if the client is not in a rush, we do it over a few virtual meetings or phone calls.”

Request documentation: The best dealers go to great lengths to furnish clients with documents verifying the quality rating, natural origin and provenance of a stone — showing, for example, that loose emerald hails from the famous Muzo mine in Colombia — and disclosing any treatments applied to enhance its appearance. (And who doesn't love emerald jewelry? The most valuable emeralds are the ones that have a deep bluish-green to true green color and no visible inclusions.)

If no grading report is available for a stone you are interested in, the dealer should be able to provide an authenticity document, such as an appraisal or info sheet, that has been signed by an in-house gemologist or professional appraiser. Google those names, too, for extra peace of mind.

Ask for videos and visuals: When transacting with a gem dealer online, you should always request real-time videos and photographs, since professional photos of a stone, usually on a white background, have likely been retouched for optimal presentation.

Read more about how to buy loose gemstones and find your dream gems today on 1stDibs.