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| Natural Sapphire Overview: | |
 |
Sapphire is the gem
variety of the mineral corundum. It is and 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. Pink Sapphires over one carat are very rare and valuable. Pink Sapphires are typically heated to enhance color. The treatment is stable and permanent. 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. |
| 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. |
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| Physical Properties: | |
Color:
|
Yellow |
Refractive Index:
|
1.762 - 1.770 (+0.009, -0.005) |
Pleochroism:
|
Weak to Strong, Yellow and Light Yellow, Orange and Colorless |
Chemistry:
|
Aluminum Oxide |
Hardness:
|
9.0 |
Density:
|
4.00 (+0.10, -0.05) |
Crystal Group:
|
Trigonal |
Occurrence:
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Africa, India, Asia |
