WHAT IS A SAPPHIRE

What is a Sapphire learn everything about sapphire

Sapphire is one of the most popular precious gemstones in the world, that is used for all kinds of purposes. Blue Sapphire jewelry is a mainstay of jewelry shops around the world and the gemstone stands apart in terms of its unique color and composition. Like most gemstones, Sapphires are composed of different minerals and elements. Unlike Diamonds which are exclusively made of carbon, Sapphires usually consist of Aluminium Oxide (Al2O3) with trace amounts of elements like Iron, Titanium, Chromium, Copper or Magnesium.

Sapphire Colours – How Many Are There?

Sapphires are most commonly blue but they can also exhibit other colors, due to a change in their composition. You might have come across Pink Sapphire engagement rings or even jewelry made of yellow sapphire. These may consist of naturally colored Sapphires or artificially treated ones. Apart from jewelry and embellishment, Sapphires are used in industrial applications like infrared optical components, high durability window panels, wristwatches, Insulating substrates and much more. However the predominant use of the gemstone is for jewelry and if you are looking for something unique apart from diamonds and gold, A Blue Sapphire wedding ring might just be what you are looking for. It's also interesting to note that Sapphire which is a manifestation of the mineral Aluminium Oxide, also exists in the red color, which is commonly known as Ruby.

Significant quantities of Sapphire deposits are found in the countries of Australia, Eastern African region, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Madagascar and many more. Sapphire has been the subject of human fascination since times immemorial and it is closely associated with traditional practices of various cultures. The word Sapphire is said to have its origin in Sanskrit and represents the planet of Saturn. Some historians dispute the origin of the word and argue that that the word Sapphire is derived from the Latin word Sapphires.

Sapphire Ring Wedding Gift Tradition

The Sapphire is also said to be a traditional gift for 45th wedding anniversaries across European and western culture. The Italians consider Sapphire is a powerful tool to drive away feelings of depression and Melancholy. Sapphires are also considered to be the birthstone of people born in September. A Sapphire jubilee is celebrated on the 65th year of any event.  Let's take a look at the different types of Sapphires that are available and their individual qualities:

Blue Sapphires:

• The most commonly found Sapphire all across the world, Blue Sapphires can be found in all kinds of hues of blue ranging from lightish turquoise to even navy blue. Blue sapphires are evaluated based on their clarity and the saturation of their primary hue. There can be added secondary and tertiary hues to a blue sapphire which gives it a different look and reflection. Some commonly found additional hues in a Blue Sapphire include gray, purple and Violet,. Generally, a Sapphire is considered to be of good quality if it has violet or purple, not more than 15% of the total hue.

Pink Sapphires:

• Pink Sapphires have shot up in popularity due to their unique look and their high demand for wedding jewelry. The deeper the shade of pink the higher the value of the Blue Sapphire. There is also a fine line between Pink Sapphires and Ruby. Rubies are also a manifestation of the compound Aluminum Oxide, just like Sapphires. In the United States, a stone must exhibit a minimum level of saturation of the color pink in order to be called a ruby, otherwise, the stone is referred to as a Pink Sapphire.