The World Of Gemstones: A Feature On Sapphires.
SOME TECH JARGON about Colors with SAPPHIRES:
A Sapphire belongs to the mineral species called CORRUNDUM (pronounced core-run-dum) and mother nature offers them to us in a rainbow of colors!
The most popular is the BLUE variety and all the other colors are termed “fancy colored sapphires”; the stunning shades of yellow, pink, purple, green and even some that naturally change color when seen in different lights!
Now here is a funny thing with Corundum: When it is RED, it is not longer considered a Sapphire but is termed a RUBY! I know, its an interesting exception, but it needs to be just the right shade of RED (not purple or pink) and only then will it be termed a Ruby!
BIRTHSTONE: Blue Sapphires are a birthstone for September birthdays.
PRICING: $$$$
Natural Sapphires tend to be expensive, especially as the sizes get larger. Needless to say, be careful purchasing corundum, because there are several lab-created and synthetic options that can deceive the most trained eye. It is always best to purchase a stone that has been verified to be authentic or even get it graded with an independent gemological laboratory.
Interesting Facts:
The density of a sapphire is higher than that of a diamond and a 1 carat diamond and a 1 carat Sapphire would look very different. You need measurements to get an idea of its size!
Sapphires are the second-hardest of all gemstones, second to the diamond on the hardness scale. Knowing this quality, scientists developed a cheaper, man-made synthetic sapphire-crystal that is now used in watch faces, making them scratch resistant!
While setting your sapphires, choose a metal that complements the color of the sapphire. Yellow sapphires look amazing in yellow gold, enhancing its color whereas most often, blue sapphires (especially when paired with diamonds) look better with white gold.
FAMOUS SAPPHIRES:
The world's largest ever blue sapphire was discovered in Sri Lanka and weighed over 1400 carats and has a natural star on its surface.
Well, you know 2 more famous sapphires already..Lady Diana’s famous engagement ring and for a more current reference, it would be Kate Middleton’s ring!
If you want to see a more robot list of the world’s most famous sapphires, her is one that Harper’s Bazaar put together:
If you enjoyed this blurb about Sapphires and would like to know more about any other gemstones, send me an email, I am all ears!
