How did Sapphire get its name?
The word sapphire comes from the Latin sapphiru which means blue.
Going way back in time, Sapphires (excluding blue) were often called the same name as a popular gemstone of that colour with the prefix “oriental” added to it.For example, green Sapphire was called “Oriental Emerald”. The practice of applying the name of a different gemstone to identify the sapphire was misleading, and these names are no longer used. What was once called “Oriental Emerald” is now called “Green Sapphire”.
What is the colour of Sapphire?
Sapphires are beautiful stones found in an variety of colours colours like blue, yellow, orange, purple and even pink. The most expensive sapphires are those which haven’t been heat treated – straight from the depths of the earth. These are the rich and vibrant blue sapphires.
Typically, sapphires appear as blue stones, ranging from very pale blue to deep indigo, due to the presence of small amounts of titanium and iron within the crystal structure.
Where is Sapphire Sourced?
Sapphires are mined all over the world. Australian Sapphire can be found in many locations on the East coast. The New England area produces some of the finest blue sapphire in Australia. Common colours found are yellow, green, pink, pale blue through to deep blue.
What is the hardness of Sapphire?
Sapphire is a gem variety of mineral corundum, it measures a 9 on the Mohs scale of hardness. They are among the strongest natural gemstones in the world, second only to diamonds.
What are some interesting facts about Sapphire?
The largest cut and polished sapphire, with a weight of 61,500 carats is the Millennium Sapphire.
The most valuable sapphires are a mid colour blue with a concentrated hue which remains constant under all lighting conditions.
Sapphires are often associated with loyalty and dignity and are a favourite gemstone for royalty.