SAPPHIRE / CORUNDUM
For centuries, sapphire has been associated with royalty and romance. The association was reinforced in 1981, when Britain’s Prince Charles gave a blue sapphire engagement ring to Lady Diana Spencer. Until her death in 1997, Princess Di, as she was known, charmed and captivated the world. Her sapphire ring helped link modern event with history and fairy tales. In ancient Greece and Rome, Kings and Queens were convinced that blue sapphires protected their owners from envy and harm. During the Middle Ages, the clergy wore sapphires to symbolize Heaven, and ordinary folks thought the gem attracted heavenly blessings. In other times and places, people instilled sapphires with the power to guard chastity, make peace between enemies, influence spirits, and reveal the secrets of oracles. In folklore, history, art, and consumer awareness, sapphire has always been associated with the color blue. Its name comes from the Greek word sappheiros, which probably referred to lapis lazuli. Most jewelry customers think all sapphires are blue, and when gem and jewelry professionals use the word “sapphire” alone, they normally mean “blue sapphire.” In the trade, “blue sapphire” refers to stones ranging from very light to very dark greenish or violetish blue, as well as those in various shades of purple blue. Large, top-quality stones are rare, but blue sapphires in other sizes and grades are almost always available.
Sources
Australia
Blue and Fancy
Cambodia
Blue and Fancy
China
Blue and Fancy
India
(Kashmir) Famous historic source of fine blue sapphire, production is now very limited
Kenya
Blue and Fancy
Madagascar
Blue
Myanmar
(Burma) Source of the Burmese sapphire known for its unique intense blue
Nigeria
Blue
Pakistan
Fancy
Rwanda
Fancy
Sri Lanka
(Ceylon) Source with a wide range of quality and independent
determination of origin.
Tanzania
Blue and Fancy
Thailand
Blue and Fancy
United States
Blue and Fancy
Vietnam
Blue and Fancy
Hardness & Toughness
Hardness 9 on Mohs scale
Toughness Usually excellent, but stones with certain treatments
or large fractures or inclusions can be less durable.
Stability
Environmental Factor & Reaction
Heat: High heat can cause a change in color or clarity, it can also damage or destroy fracture and cavity fillings.
Light: Generally stable, but irradiated yellow or orange stones fade quickly
heat from bright lights can cause oil to leak or dry out
Chemicals: Can harm fillings and remove oil, soldering flux containing boron, and firecoat made with boric acid powder, will etch the surface of even untreated stones.
Care & Cleaning
Warm, soapy water is always safe. Ultrasonic and steam cleaners are usually safe for untreated, heat-treated, and lattice diffusion treated stones. Fracture-filled, cavity-filled, or dyed material should only be cleaned with a damp cloth.
Species and Variety
Not all sapphires are blue, however. It’s a variety of the same species as ruby -corundum- and any corundum that doesn’t qualify as ruby is considered sapphire. Fancy sapphires, as they called, come in violet, green, yellow, orange, pink, purple, and intermediate hues. There are also parti-colored sapphires that show a combination of different colors. And some stones exhibit the phenomenon known as color-change, most often going from blue in daylight or fluorescent lighting to purple under incandescent light. Sapphires can even be gray, black, or brown. Fancy sapphires are generally less available than blue ones, and some colors are scarce, especially in very small or large sizes. Transparent sapphires of all colors are most often faceted. Corundum is very hard and tough, and can be used in any type or style of jewelry. Sapphire is the birthstone for September.
SOURCE: GIA'S LIBRARY