Introduction
There are many different sapphire types, but they all have things in common: their beauty and high price.
So if you’re shopping for a new piece of jewelry or want to know what type of gems you’re wearing, this is the guide.
Blue Sapphire
Blue sapphires are the most popular variety of this gemstone and can be found in a range of shades, from light to dark.
The most typical shade is a brilliant blue-violet, but it can also be found in many other hues, including red, green, and yellow.
They contain iron and titanium oxide traces and are often heat-treated to intensify their color or improve clarity.
Blue sapphire is a birthstone for September when worn as an amulet or talisman for protection against evil spirits; it’s also known as the “star stone,” which symbolizes truth, sincerity, and wisdom.
Blue sapphire is mined in Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) and Madagascar—both countries produce some beautiful gems with an ideal hardness rating on the Mohs scale at 9-10 out of 10.
Yellow Sapphire
Yellow sapphires are a rare type of sapphire that has a golden-yellow color. Yellow sapphires are not just any old yellow stone—they’re yellow corundum, which is a mineral and the most common variety of corundum.
They’re not only popular but also very beautiful and can be found in many different shades of yellow, from light lemon to deep orange-yellow to golden brown.
Because they’re made from corundum (the same material as rubies), all types of yellow sapphires have excellent durability and hardness (9 on the Mohs scale).
You’ll find them in all sizes, from tiny micro-sized stones for jewelry to large cabochons for pendants or necklaces. It’s hard to find an occasion where these gems would look out of place.
Pink Sapphire
Pink sapphire is the rarest color of sapphire. It is a pinkish-red color, similar to a rose.
It’s not as expensive as some other colored stones, but it is still considered valuable because of its rarity.
Many people love pink sapphires because they are beautiful and unique—you don’t find many diamonds or rubies in this shade.
Ruby
Ruby is red corundum, one of the most expensive gemstones in the world. It is the birthstone for July, and it’s also the national gemstone of Burma.
The red color in rubies comes from chromium impurities present during crystal formation.
Padparadscha Sapphire
Padparadscha sapphire is a rare, pinkish-orangey-yellowish color. The name padparadscha is derived from the Sinhalese word for the lotus flower (Padma).
The term “padparadscha” was used to describe a particular type of sapphire only found in Sri Lanka until it was discovered in Madagascar and Tanzania in the 1980s.
These days, padparadscha sapphires can be found in many places worldwide, including Australia, Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, and Vietnam.
Because these stones are so rare and expensive, you should only buy them if you know what you’re doing.
They’re prevalent, but not everyone has $10K just lying around waiting to spend on a gemstone, even though some people have this kind of money available at their fingertips.
White Sapphire
White sapphire is the most common type, accounting for almost 75% of all mined stones. It’s also known as “colorless,” but this isn’t a color at all—it’s a clarity grade.
White sapphires have varying amounts of inclusions and impurities: they can range from near-perfection to having many visible cracks or fissures (known as “floaters”) that can make them look grey or even opaque.
Conclusion
The different types of sapphire have unique qualities, so it’s important to know what you are looking for before making a purchase.
