Sapphire

Although the name Sapphire is used for other precious, colored gemstone varieties of the mineral corundum, it is the blue, transparent variety that is highly prized as a precious gemstone and is most notably known as sapphire.

The name sapphire is Greek for blue but sapphire are found in orange, pink, yellow, green and clear. The red variety of corundum is called ruby.

The color blue comes from traces of iron and titanium that distinguishes the blue sapphire from other colored corundum minerals.

As the birthstone for the month of September, sapphire displays a brilliance that is truly awe inspiring. The sapphire symbolizes good health, chastity, and innocence.

When adorned with gold or silver, sapphire gemstones rank highly with diamonds, rubies, and emeralds in beauty and sophistication.

Sapphire gemstones make great gifts, engagement rings, necklaces, brooches, and bracelets.

Sri Lanka is one of the world's largest producers of blue sapphire, but the most beautiful and prized sapphire gemstones are the velvet toned blue, found in Kashmir, China.

Large sapphire gemstones are rare and some of the largest are housed in the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. and the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.

Other sapphire producing countries include Australia, Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria, Malawi, Rwanda, Brazil, Pakistan, and the United States.

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