If you’re looking for a super sparkly coloured gemstone that’s hardwearing, and comes in a range of different colours, then Sapphire is the perfect gemstone to go for.
Quick Facts
Mineral: Corundrum
Hardness: 9/10
Colour: Most colours, but not red
Birthstone: September
Anniversaries: 5th & 45th
Where is Sapphire found?
Sapphires come from all over the world; most notably Sri Lanka, Kashmir and Myanmar. Some of the more blue/green colours come from Australia and significant quantities have also been found in Thailand, Cambodia, Madagascar and the United States, among other countries in Asia and Africa.
Colour
A lot of people don’t realise that Sapphires come in a wide range of different colours, not just the blues that we all know and love. In general, the most desirable and valuable are the bright vivid cornflower blue varieties, but they also come in greens, pinks, yellows, orange, purple and even white.
Hardness
Sapphires are super durable, 9/10 on the Mohs scale of hardness so second only to diamonds (which are still much harder than anything else). It’s relatively hardwearing compared to other gemstones making it ideal for jewellery that you wear every day.
Treatment
Sapphires are often heat treated to improve the colour and it’s considered a perfectly acceptable process as the effects are permanent. Most of the stones we buy tend to not have been heat treated because we like the more natural feel and character of inconsistent colouring.
Care & Cleaning
Warm soapy water is a safe bet for cleaning your sapphire jewellery.
Any questions about Sapphires?
