Stunning Sapphire – The Birthstone of September
KASHMIR – Intensely saturated and velvety, rare sapphires from Kashmir set the standard for blue.
ROYAL BLUE – The world’s most famous engagement ring: Kate Middleton’s and Princess Diana’s sapphire.
PADPARADSCHA – A rare and valuable pinkish-orange sapphire named from the Sinhalese for lotus blossom.
FACTS
- MINERAL: Corundum
- CHEMISTRY: Al2O3
- COLOR: Every color but red
- REFRACTIVE INDEX: 1.762 to 1.770
- BIREFRINGENCE: 0.008 to 0.010
- SPECIFIC GRAVITY: 4.00
- MOHS HARDNESS: 9
BIRTHSTONES & ANNIVERSARIES
Sapphire is the birthstone for September and the gem of the 5th and 45th anniversaries.
WHY WE LOVE THIS GEMSTONE
- 1
VIVID AND SATURATED
Sapphire’s blue can be vivid and saturated, like it’s lit from within.
- 2
DURABLE
It’s so durable, synthetic sapphire is used for the windows of supermarket scanners and spacecraft.
- 3
DELICATE SILK
Sapphire often contains delicate intersecting needles of rutile that gemologists call silk.
QUALITY FACTORS
Each color of sapphire has its own quality variations.
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COLOR
Sapphires come in a variety of colors. Preferred sapphires have strong to vivid color saturation, regardless of hue.
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CLARITY
Blue sapphires typically have some inclusions, but they generally have better clarity than rubies.
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CUT
Sapphire is often cut with a brilliant pattern on the crown and a step cut pattern on the pavilion.
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CARAT WEIGHT
Blue sapphires range in size, and large blue sapphires are more readily available than large rubies.