15 Facts About Sapphire Gemstones
Posted by Lisa Ramos on
Blue Sapphire Gemstone
In this blog article I am taking a quick look at some facts behind my favorite gemstone, the sapphire. There is a lot of history behind this colorful and valuable gemstone. To better understand the beauty of a sapphire let's take a look at its history, meaning and color options. Below is a list of interesting facts about sapphires.
- A sapphire is both the modern and traditional birthstone for the month of September.
- Sapphires come in a variety of rainbow colors - yellow, pink, white, blue and black - no red.
- Sapphires are credited in folklore as being sacred, of conveying wisdom, prophecy and divine favor.
- In 1880 the sapphire was first discovered in the Himalayas in Kashmir.
- A sapphire is a one of the four precious gemstones.
- A sapphire gemstone is rated a 9 on the Mohs scale which defines a gemstones durability based on a scale called the Mohs hardness scale.
- The rarest color sapphires are padparadscha and cornflower blue.
- A sapphire is a rock forming mineral referred to as a Corundum - a crystalline form of aluminium oxide containing traces of iron, titanium, vanadium and chromium. Sapphires take millions of years to form.
- The Star of Adam - an oval blue star sapphire, weighing 1,404.49 carats is the largest sapphire on record.
- Most sapphires found in the US come from Montana.
- Blue is the most common color sapphire.
- The most highly prized sapphire gemstones come from Kashmire, high up in the Himalayas.
- A real sapphire will reflect the same color of the sapphire if you take a flashlight to the gemstone in total darkness - a fake sapphire displays other color reflections.
- A mermaid sapphire is the color teal.
- Only a diamond or Moissanite can scratch a sapphire.
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This blog post is written by California Jewelry Designer, Lisa Ramos
A member of the IGS- International Gem Society.
A member of the IGS- International Gem Society.