Natural Sapphire - Blues Overview
Sapphire is the gem variety of the mineral corundum. It is an extremely hard and durable gemstone, second only to Diamonds on the Moh's hardness scale. Sapphires are available in virtually all colors but red; Red Sapphires are known as Rubies.
Blue Sapphires are the most valuable, followed by Pink and Padparadscha Sapphires. Padparadscha Sapphires have orange pink or pink orange coloration and rival Blue Sapphires in value.
Sapphires over two carats, particularly Red (Ruby), Blue, Pink, and Padparadscha Sapphires, are very rare and valuable. Sapphires are typically heated to enhance color. The treatment is stable and permanent. Some Blue Sapphires are not heated; these stones command a premium price.
We obtain Sapphires from Sri-Lanka (Ceylon), Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar (Burma), Vietnam, Madagascar and Africa. Viet-Nam, Madagascar and Ceylon are our principal suppliers of Pink Sapphire.
Physical Properties
| Color |
Green Blue to Violet Blue |
| Refractive Index |
1.762 - 1.770 (+0.009, -0.005) |
| Pleochroism |
Moderate to Strong, Violetish Blue and Greenish Blue |
| Chemistry |
Aluminum Oxide |
| Hardness |
9.0 |
| Density |
4.00 (+0.10, -0.05) |
| Crystal Group |
Trigonal |
| Ocurrence |
Africa, India, Asia, United States |
Legend and Lore
Along with Rubies, Sapphires have been valued as jewels throughout history, adorning Kings and Queens and the affluent through time.
Blue Sapphire remains a favorite, and was popularized most recently by Princess Diana, as her choice for an engagement ring center stone.
Browse Sapphire - Blues
The pictures above only represents the general appearance of the Sapphire - Blue. Please note that the real Sapphire - Blues in our stock will be of varied shapes, color and sizes.
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