Graff Sapphire Jewelry
Graff applies to sapphires the same absolute standard it applies to diamonds — no stone enters the workshop unless it is the finest of its kind. The result is colored stone jewelry at a level that almost no other house reaches.
Pre-Owned Graff Sapphire Jewelry
Though Graff is principally identified with diamonds, the house has maintained throughout its history a parallel and equally uncompromising commitment to exceptional colored stones — and sapphires in particular. The same sourcing philosophy that drives Graff's diamond acquisition — acquire only the finest, accept no compromise on quality — applies with equal discipline to its sapphire pieces. Graff sapphires are sourced from the world's most coveted origins: Kashmir, where the combination of high altitude, specific geological conditions, and a deposit now largely exhausted produces the most prized sapphire color in the world; Burma (Myanmar), whose Mogok Valley has yielded the finest natural sapphires for centuries; and Ceylon (Sri Lanka), whose stones carry a characteristic saturation and brilliance that distinguishes them from all other origins.
Graff sapphire pieces — rings, earrings, necklaces, and bracelets incorporating these exceptional stones in Graff's characteristic diamond and platinum settings — represent some of the most investment-significant colored stone jewelry objects on the pre-owned market. The combination of Graff's sourcing authority, exceptional stone quality, and the house's manufacturing standard produces pieces whose total value consistently exceeds the sum of their individual components. Origin documentation from the major gemological laboratories accompanies the most significant stones. At Opulent Jewelers, every Graff sapphire piece is individually authenticated before listing, backed by our full money-back authenticity guarantee and free domestic shipping.
Sapphire Origins — What Makes the Difference
Kashmir Sapphires
Kashmir sapphires are universally recognized as the most valuable and most coveted sapphires in the world — stones from a high-altitude deposit in the Zanskar range of the Indian Himalayas, discovered in the 1880s and effectively exhausted within a generation. The characteristic color of a Kashmir sapphire — a velvety, cornflower blue of extraordinary saturation, caused by microscopic inclusions that scatter light and give the stone its characteristic "sleepy" quality — is unlike any other origin's color and has never been found elsewhere in equivalent quality. The deposit produced no significant quantities of new material after the early twentieth century, making genuine Kashmir sapphires permanently finite. A Graff piece incorporating a Kashmir sapphire with laboratory-confirmed origin is among the most investment-significant colored stone jewelry objects available on any market.
Burmese Sapphires
Burmese sapphires from the Mogok Valley — the same geological formation that produces Burma's legendary rubies — are the second most prized sapphire origin, producing stones of intense blue color with a characteristic brilliance and depth that distinguishes them from other origins. The finest Burmese sapphires are described as "royal blue" — a deep, saturated blue of extraordinary richness without the velvet quality of Kashmir but with a brilliance that makes them among the most visually commanding colored stones in the world. Graff Burmese sapphire pieces with laboratory-confirmed origin are among the strongest performers in the colored stone secondary market.
Ceylon Sapphires
Ceylon sapphires from Sri Lanka are the most commercially available of the great sapphire origins — producing stones across a wider range of colors, from the pale "cornflower" blues most associated with the origin to deep medium blues of exceptional saturation. Ceylon stones are typically characterized by high transparency and excellent brilliance — qualities that Graff's cutting and setting standards exploit to maximum effect. Ceylon sapphires of exceptional individual quality in Graff settings are among the most wearable and most versatile colored stone pieces in the house's production.
Sapphire and Diamond Combinations
Graff's sapphire pieces are almost invariably set with diamonds — the house's foundational material deployed as a frame and counterpoint to the colored stone's depth of color. The contrast between a fine sapphire's saturated blue and Graff's exceptional white diamonds — set in platinum to maximize the diamond's colorlessness — is one of the most visually compelling combinations in fine jewelry. Graff's setting precision ensures that the diamonds amplify the sapphire's color rather than competing with it, producing pieces in which each material makes the other more beautiful.
Graff Sapphires as an Investment
Origin Documentation
For Graff sapphire pieces with significant stones, origin documentation from a recognized gemological laboratory — GIA, Gübelin, or SSEF — is the single most important investment factor. A Kashmir sapphire with a "no heat" origin certificate from Gübelin occupies a fundamentally different market position than the same visual stone without documentation. Graff's access to exceptional stones often means that the most significant pieces in the house's colored stone production carry laboratory reports confirming the exceptional origins described above. We note the presence and details of all laboratory documentation for significant stone pieces in our inventory.
Heat Treatment
The majority of commercial sapphires are heat-treated — a process that improves color and clarity by altering the stone's molecular structure. Heat-treated sapphires are significantly less valuable than untreated stones of comparable appearance, and the difference in market price between a heat-treated and an unheated stone of exceptional quality can be substantial. Laboratory reports that confirm "no heat" treatment status are critical to the investment case for significant sapphire pieces. At Opulent Jewelers, we note treatment status for all significant sapphire pieces where it has been assessed.
Authenticating Graff Sapphire Pieces
All authentic Graff sapphire pieces carry the full "GRAFF" signature, piece number, and metal purity hallmark. The sapphire settings should be completely secure — no movement, no looseness in the collet. The diamonds surrounding significant sapphires should meet Graff's own standard — exceptional brilliance, perfectly matched in color. For pieces with laboratory reports, the report number should correspond to the stone in the piece. At Opulent Jewelers, every Graff sapphire piece is individually authenticated before listing, with documentation details noted for significant stones.
— The Opulent Jewelers Promise —
Every Graff sapphire piece at Opulent Jewelers is individually authenticated before listing. Signatures, hallmarks, stone security, diamond quality, and laboratory documentation all noted. Free domestic shipping and a full money-back authenticity guarantee on every purchase.
Frequently Asked Questions — Graff Sapphire Jewelry
Why are Kashmir sapphires so valuable?
Kashmir sapphires come from a deposit in the Indian Himalayas that was effectively exhausted by the early twentieth century — no significant quantities of new material have been produced since. The characteristic velvety cornflower blue color of a Kashmir sapphire, caused by microscopic inclusions that scatter light, has never been found elsewhere in comparable quality. The combination of extraordinary color, permanent finite supply, and the prestige of the origin has driven consistent appreciation at auction, making Kashmir sapphires with laboratory-confirmed origin among the most investment-significant colored stones available.
What is sapphire heat treatment and why does it matter?
Most commercial sapphires are heat-treated — subjected to high temperatures that improve their color and clarity by altering the stone's molecular structure. Heat treatment is widely accepted in the sapphire trade but significantly reduces a stone's value compared to an untreated stone of comparable appearance. The premium for unheated sapphires of exceptional quality can be substantial — sometimes multiples of the heat-treated equivalent. Laboratory reports from GIA, Gübelin, or SSEF confirming "no heat" treatment status are critical documentation for significant sapphire purchases.
Do Graff sapphire pieces come with laboratory reports?
Where laboratory documentation accompanies significant sapphire pieces in our inventory, we note the laboratory and report details in the product listing and make documentation available to prospective buyers on request. For pieces where documentation is absent, we note this and price accordingly. Contact us for full documentation details on any specific Graff sapphire piece.