Sapphire - The September Birthstone
Sapphire is a member of the corundum family of minerals. The gemstone exists in nearly every color -- except red -- red corundum is always called ruby. One of the hardest minerals, sapphires are durable gemstones that have been in demand since ancient times.
Sapphire Hardness
- 9 on the Mohs' scale; compare to diamonds at 10 and turquoise at 5-6.
Sapphire Colors
- Cornflower blue is the most popular sapphire color, but sapphire exists in all shades of blue
- Other sapphire colors include yellow, colorless, black, white, orange, pink, and brown
- One type of orange-pink sapphire is called padparadsha, which means "lotus flower."
Sapphire Treatments
- Heat treatment is commonly used to deepen sapphire color and improve clarity
Where Sapphires Are Found
- Quality sapphires are found in Ceylon, Thailand, Australia, India, Burma, Africa, and Brazil.
Unusual Sapphires
- Some sapphires are cut into cabochons (smooth domes) and produce a star with six rays that stretch across the sapphire's surface.
Synthetic Sapphires
- Like many other popular gemstones, sapphires can be created in a laboratory. Some synthetic sapphires are difficult to distinguish from gemstones formed in nature.
Sapphire Buying Advice
