Gemstone Sapphire
Sapphire is classic in color and it is most demanded gemstone and other features of this gemstones are its toughness, long life and shining. The sapphire is hardest gemstone next to diamond. Kashmir Sapphire is highly precious and it in cornflower blue color, the highest quality sapphire is padparadschah, which is unique and has orange pink color. There is also a color changing sapphire that changes its color from blue to violet, commonly used gemstones in sapphire are pink and yellow and these are used in latest jewelry. The word sapphire usually refer blue sapphire while the sapphire instead of blue is called the fancy in gemstones trade. The impurities mixed in sapphire make its less transparent and decline its price and value and then it is known as silk. The high valued sapphire is that which has six rays stars similarly twelve ray stars are also in the market. The multicolored sapphire is also available and it shows blue and purple shades. The artificial sapphire is also in the market and it is difficult to distinguish between natural and artificial, but expert can discriminate them.
Sapphire Uses
The major use of sapphire is in jewelry, the price of sapphire depends in its transparency and color. The deep color sapphire is most demanded in market. The other shades of sapphire like green, light blue, orange and pink are also used in jewelry such as necklaces, bracelets, rings and other ornaments. It was thought that it purify the soul, once the religious people worn it for the protection of evil thoughts. The ancient king used this gemstone as protective shields.
Sapphire Sources
The main source of sapphire are from Australia, Cambodia, India, Myanmar, Pakistan, Thailand and the USA. Kashmir blue sapphire comes from Kashmir territory. In, Australia New South Wales and Queensland are the main sources of sapphire. Australian sapphires characteristic are that they look dark and inky, but by nature they are blue. In America the main source is Yogo Gulch mine, which is in Montana that produces sapphires for commercial uses.
Sapphire Properties
The chemical formula of sapphire is Al2O3 and it is available in many colors and shades like white, blue, green, yellow, orange, pink, brown, purple, gray, black, colorless and multicolored. The hardness of sapphire is 9. The sapphire presented in transparent to opaque and belong to mineral class corundum.
Sapphire Varieties
Sapphire mean blue sapphire, but there are others color of sapphire are also available like yellow sapphire, white sapphire, pink sapphire, orange sapphire, purple sapphire, green sapphire and black sapphire. Moreover, there is color changing and velvety blue color sapphire is also in practice.
Sapphire as birthstone
Sapphire is the birthstone of September.
General information about Gemstone Sapphire
Chemical Composition: Al2O3
Color: White, Colorless, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, Brown, Pink, Purple, Gray, Black, Multicolored.
Hardness on Mohs scale: 9
Mineral class: Corundum.
Transparency: Transparent to opaque.
Zodiac: Virgo.