The jewelry industry recognizes the highest quality sapphires for their blue or violet-blue hue, a medium to medium-dark tone, and saturated color. Though they are most frequently found in blue, sapphires come in every color but red. Red sapphires are actually rubys, since both gems are varieties of a mineral called corundum.

Trace minerals, iron and titanium, give blue sapphire its deep color. East Queen offers some of the highest-quality blue sapphires available. Like all color gemstones, sapphires often contain trace minerals or fractures called inclusions.