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Jewish Jewelry with
Sapphires |
 Sapphire
is any gemstone-quality corundum. (The red
variety of corundum is also known as ruby.)
When color is not specified, sapphire refers
to the blue variety. Pink, yellow, green,
white, and parti-color (multi-coloured)
sapphires are often valued less than the blue
variety of the same quality and size. However
a pink-orange sapphire, called a Padparacha or
Padparadja, is highly prized.
It is the impurities in the aluminum oxide
crystal that give the color variations, with
different impurity chemical elements giving
the different colors that can be found. Pure
sapphire is transparent. The crystals are
exceptionally hard, with only diamond being
harder among natural gems. They have a
hardness of 9 on the Mohs hardness scale.
As well as occurring naturally, gem quality
sapphire and
rubies can be easily and cheaply
produced in the laboratory. The chemical
compositions and physical properties are
identical to the natural sapphires. The
tell-tale sign of synthetic sapphires is the
crystalline growth lines which are usually
curved due to the pulling during the
accelerated crystal growth process.
The Logan sapphire is one of the largest blue
sapphire gems known. It weighs 423 carats
(84.6 g).
Lady Diana Spencer's engagement ring from
Charles, Prince of Wales was a
sapphire ring.
Sapphire is also the birthstone associated
with September
Read more about:
History of Sapphires |
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