Sapphires
One of the more colorful gemstones in the world are Sapphires. Sapphires are from the mineral Corundum and besides being extremely hard and strong stones; they come in a wide range of attractive colors. Some of the colors include colorless, yellow, green, orange, violet and gorgeous blue. It should be noted that Corundum does come in red, however these gemstones are not called Sapphire, they go under a separate name- the Ruby. Sapphires are formed from aluminum.
They do however include many trace elements, usually precious metals which include iron, titanium, chromium and sometime lithium. Sapphires are usually found away from silica sand and rock. While many gemstones are created from silica, Corundum will only be found in poor silica environments which include cavities with pegmatite’s, alluvial and eluvia deposits and near hydrothermal volcano flows. The center of the Sapphire has a color center which emits colors, these color centers are not yet fully understood, however it should be noted that the color of Sapphires can be changed, generally with the help of intense heat and radiation.
However, you shouldn’t worry, jewelry pieces are usually very stable and will not change color unless they come into contact with intense heat or radiation. While there are treated Sapphires, all treatments will usually be stated at the point of sale. Sapphires are found all over the world in many regions, but mined only in special locations. Top producers of this gemstone include such places as; Brazil, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, Kashmir, Thailand, Madagascar and Australia.
If you are looking for a gemstone with attractive hues and lots of fire, look into Sapphires. Sapphires are mainly known for their gorgeous blues, but they come in an assortment of beautiful colors. Some of the more popular colors besides blue include yellow, orange, green, violet, colorless and even black. It should be noted that Rubies are the same mineral as Sapphires- Corundum; however their red color gives them the privilege of having a special name- the Ruby. Sapphires are a great mineral to make ornamental jewelry from.
Their hardness is rated as a 9 on the Moh’s hardness scale. The only natural substance that is harder than a Sapphire is a diamond. Sapphires also have great gemstone characteristics. They tend to be beautifully translucent or transparent, have high amounts of refraction meaning they have lots of fire and brightness and they have a great crystal structure.
Sapphires can come in many different shapes and sizes and can fit a wide variety of fine jewelry pieces. For instance, while a ring is one of the best places to show off a beautiful blue Sapphire, earrings and bracelets are other possibilities. It should be noted that many Sapphires can be treated to enhance their color or even change their color.
For instance, many Sapphires can be heated or irradiated to produce stronger colors such as greens, yellows or even blues. Usually treatments will be stated at the point of sale. While the color of Sapphires can be changed by intense heat and radiation, it is stable for daily wear jewelry.
