Sapphire

Sapphire is corundum in every color except red, which is called ruby. Blue is the best known, but there are pink, yellow and green sapphires and the rare padparadscha, a pinkish orange.

Properties #

• Composition: aluminum oxide (corundum) with traces of iron and titanium in blue.
• Hardness: 9 on the Mohs scale.
• Color: blue (from pale to deep), but also yellow, pink, green, colorless and padparadscha.
• Origins: Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Myanmar, Kashmir and Australia, among others.
• Treatments: heating is very common; synthetic sapphires also exist.

Uses in jewelry #

• Engagement rings and wedding bands, as an alternative to diamond.
• Pendants, earrings and bracelets.
• Anniversary jewelry (September stone).

Pros and cons #

Advantages #

• Very hard and durable.
• A wide range of colors.
• Highly prized.

Limitations #

• Quality sapphires are expensive.
• Many are heated or treated.
• Some imitations are hard to tell apart without analysis.

Care and cleaning #

• Clean with lukewarm water, mild soap and a soft brush.
• Avoid hard knocks.
• Ask for a certificate on valuable pieces.

See also #

• Ruby
• Diamond
• Gemstones in jewelry