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Sapphire
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General Information:
The official birthstone for the month of September, sapphire classically
recognized for its deep blue color is also found in a vast array of other
colors. Sapphire is from the mineral corundum. Ruby which has the same
composition as sapphire is red corundum. Blue is the most sought after color of
sapphire, but the rare padparadscha (orange-pink) has the highest value. Very
rare color change sapphire has been found, which changes in color depending on
the type of light it is under much like that of alexandrite.
Different chemical agents cause sapphires to become the color they are. In blue
sapphire, iron and titanium deposits are found, while in violet stones vanadium
is the coloring agent. The agent chromium produces pinks, iron and vanadium
together create the more rare orange tones. The green and yellow colors of
sapphire are due to small amounts of iron impurities. |
Origin:
Sapphires can be found in Thailand, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Tanzania and
Australia, the United States, Cambodia, Nigeria, Kenya, China, India, and
Burma. |
Common Treatments and Lab Created
Forms:
The most common treatment for sapphire is heat treatment. Some blue sapphire
are treated through a diffusion process. Rarely seen orange and red colors can
now be seen more commonly due to the beryllium treatment they have come up
with.
Lab created sapphires are a common price efficient alternative to the natural.
They are identical in composition and come in a variety of colors. Simulants
can also be found that resemble the color of sapphires, but they are not of the
same chemical composition. |
Physical Properties:
Moh's Scale Hardness: 9
Specific Gravity: 3.99 - 4.0
Refractive Index: 1.757 - 1.779
Colors: Blue, colorless, pink, orange, yellow, green, purple, black
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