| Sapphire is a highly precious gemstone which is | | | | sapphires are purple, yellow and green. Purple |
| the single-crystal form of aluminum oxide, a | | | | sapphires cost less than the blue. This may be |
| mineral known as corundum. Gemstone | | | | because the purple stones contain trace element |
| enthusiasts favor the sapphire for its brilliant and | | | | vanadium. There are many shades of purple |
| magnificent colors, constancy and durability. Being | | | | sapphires. Yellow and green sapphires are caused |
| in the corundum group, the sapphire has excellent | | | | by traces of iron in them. Pink sapphires contain |
| hardness which is exceeded only by the diamond. | | | | chromium. The deeper the pink color the more |
| It is worth mentioning that the diamond is the | | | | expensive the pink sapphire becomes. Other |
| world's hardest stone! | | | | fancy colors for sapphires include different shades |
| The early people of the world believed that the | | | | of brown and orange. |
| Earth was embedded in a huge blue sapphire | | | | One particular beauty of the sapphire is the |
| firmament which may explain why blue is | | | | change in color depending on lighting condition. For |
| associated with anything long term like friendship | | | | example, some sapphires go from pink in daylight |
| and feelings. Many women prefer sapphire rings | | | | to green in fluorescent light. |
| for engagement because sapphire symbolizes | | | | Like in rubies, asterism also occurs in sapphires. |
| love, longing and loyalty. | | | | Asterism is an optical phenomenon where the |
| Ceylon, which is today's Sri Lanka, is where the | | | | stone exhibits reflection in the shape of a star. In |
| oldest sapphires finds are. Sapphire and gem | | | | general, the more complex the asterism is, the |
| experts can easily recognize a stone from Sri | | | | more expensive the stone is priced. |
| Lanka because of its unique luminosity and light to | | | | A sapphire gemstone is generally valued according |
| mid-blue colors. | | | | to size, transparency, color. But exceptions exist |
| Most sapphires come in different shades of blue | | | | especially for very fine quality stones. The origin |
| but there are other colors as well like brown, | | | | of the stone is also included in the criteria. For |
| grey, black and other range of in the spectrum. | | | | instance, the Kashmir stones are very expensive |
| Generally, sapphires with colors other than blue | | | | because of the area where they were taken |
| are considered as fancy colored sapphires. Most | | | | from. Burmese and Ceylon sapphires follow |
| of the blue sapphires come from Australia and | | | | closely. Stones claimed to be from any of the |
| Thailand. | | | | areas mentioned need to be certified as such. |
| The many shades of blue in sapphires can be | | | | There are also synthetic sapphires which are |
| attributed to the substitution of titanium and iron | | | | grown in laboratories and used for gemstone as |
| in the aluminum oxide crystal lattice. Sapphires | | | | well as scientific purposes. The Ti-sapphire is used |
| which are not well saturated show gray tones. | | | | in laser applications. Sliced pure sapphire can be |
| Many jewelers apply heat to natural sapphires in | | | | used to form transparent crystals used in high |
| order to improve color. | | | | quality watches to give the face high resistance |
| The common colors for the fancy colored | | | | to scratching. |