26/07/2024, 01:30 Sapphire Gemstone | Sapphire Stone – GIA
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SAPPHIRE
TOOLS
The name “sapphire” can also apply to any
corundum that’s not ruby red, another corundum
variety.
SEE GEM AS POLISHED ROUGH
OVERVIEW
ABOUT SAPPHIRE TREATMENTS
KASHMIR There are a number of processes used to
alter the color, apparent clarity, or improve
VIEW GALLERY the durability of gems.
Intensely saturated and velvety, rare sapphires
from Kashmir set the standard for blue.
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Besides blue sapphire and ruby, the
ROYAL BLUE SYNTHETICS
corundum family also includes so-called
Some gemstones have synthetic
“fancy sapphires.” They come in violet, The world’s most famous engagement ring: Kate
Middleton’s and Princess Diana’s sapphire. counterparts that have essentially the same
green, yellow, orange, pink, purple, and chemical, physical, and optical properties,
intermediate hues. Some stones exhibit the but are grown by man in a laboratory.
phenomenon known as color change, most
often going from blue in daylight or PADPARADSCHA LEARN MORE
fluorescent lighting to purple under
incandescent light. Sapphires can even be A rare and valuable pinkish-orange sapphire
gray, black, or brown. named from the Sinhalese for lotus blossom. IMITATIONS
Sapphire Description Any gem can be imitated—sometimes by
Sapphire History and Lore FACTS manmade materials or by natural materials
chosen by man to impersonate a particular
gem.
Sapphire Journey
Mineral: Corundum
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Chemistry: Al2O3
BIRTHSTONES & ANNIVERSARIES
Color: Every color but red
Sapphire is the birthstone for September
and the gem of the 5th and 45th
Refractive index: 1.762 to 1.770
anniversaries.
Birefringence: 0.008 to 0.010
Specific gravity: 4.00
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26/07/2024, 01:30 Sapphire Gemstone | Sapphire Stone – GIA
Mohs Hardness: 9
WHY WE LOVE THIS GEMSTONE
1 2 3
VIVID AND SATURATED DURABLE DELICATE SILK
Sapphire’s blue can be vivid and saturated, like it’s It’s so durable, synthetic sapphire is used for the Sapphire often contains delicate intersecting
lit from within. windows of supermarket scanners and spacecraft. needles of rutile that gemologists call silk.
QUALITY FACTORS
Each color of sapphire has its own quality variations.
COLOR CLARITY CUT CARAT WEIGHT
Sapphires come in a variety of Blue sapphires typically have Sapphire is often cut with a Blue sapphires range in size, and
colors. Preferred sapphires have some inclusions, but they brilliant pattern on the crown and large blue sapphires are more
strong to vivid color saturation, generally have better clarity than a step cut pattern on the pavilion. readily available than large rubies.
regardless of hue. rubies.
SAPPHIRE QUALITY FACTORS: THE COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE READ ARTICLE
RESEARCH
Explore sources, gemological research, and the role of gems in history.
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26/07/2024, 01:30 Sapphire Gemstone | Sapphire Stone – GIA
Gemological Characterization of Sapphires from Yogo Gulch, The Role of Silicon in the Color of Gem Corundum
Montana
John L. Emmett, Jennifer Stone-Sundberg, Yunbin Guan, and
Nathan D. Renfro, Aaron C. Palke, and Richard B. Berg , Aug 6, Ziyin Sun , May 7, 2017
2018
READ ARTICLE
READ ARTICLE
Big Sky Country Sapphire: Visiting Montana’s Alluvial Deposits Unique Star Sapphire with Transparent Core
Tao Hsu, Andrew Lucas, Robert E. Kane, Shane McClure, and Yusuke Katsurada , Aug 9, 2018
Nathan Renfro , Aug 7, 2017
READ ARTICLE
READ ARTICLE
VIEW ALL RESEARCH
RECOMMENDED READING
The Book of Ruby and Ruby & Sapphire Sapphires in the Butte-
Sapphire Richard Hughes Deer Lodge area,
J. F. Halford-Walkins Montana
Richard B. Berg
THIS MONTH'S
FEATURED GEMS
PERIDOT FANCY COLOR DIAMOND DIAMOND EMERALD CITRINE
Found in lava, meteorites, and Dazzling brilliance. Captivating Diamonds are among nature’s Emerald is the bluish green to Citrine is the transparent, pale
deep in the earth’s mantle, color. These are the planet’s most precious and beautiful green variety of beryl, a mineral yellow to brownish orange
yellow-green peridot is the most valued gems. creations. species that includes variety of quartz.
extreme gem. aquamarine.
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26/07/2024, 01:30 Sapphire Gemstone | Sapphire Stone – GIA
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