Sapphire guide

Sapphire/Corundum     For centuries, SAPPHIRE has been associated with royalty and romance. Its name comes from the Greek word sappheiros, which probably referred to lapis lazuli.     Most customers think all sapphires are blue, when gem and jewelry professionals use the word "sapphire" alone, they normally mean "blue sapphire."

Color: Blue, violetish Blue, greenish Blue

Durability:   Hardness (Mohs scale):.....9
                    Toughness:........................Excellent
                    Stability:   Environmental Factor       Reaction
                                    Heat................................Stable, except fracture- or cavity- filled stones
                                    Light................................Stable, except irradiated stones fade quickly
                                    Chemical.........................Avoid boric acid powder

Sources/Origins:   Major                                               Other
                              Australia, Cambodia, China,              Kashmir, Rwanda
                              Kenya, Madagascar, Myanmar,         Pakistan Nigeria,
                              Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand,           USA, Vietnam

Enhanchments:
Heat
Purpose: Most commonly improves color and/or clarity appearance
Stability: Stable
Prevalence: Very common (experts estimate that up to 95%)
Detection: May be detectable by a trained gemologist. Read more>

Diffusion (high temperature with chemical element(s) from external source)
Purpose: Improves color
Stability: Stable, some can be damaged if the stone is recut
Prevalence: Common
Detection: Detectable by a trained gemologist. Read more>

Fracture filling/Cavity filling
Purpose: Improves clarity appearance
Stability: Fair. Heat and chemicals can damage
Prevalence: Occasional
Detection: Detectable by a trained gemologist. Read more>

Care and Cleaning:
Type of Cleaning                           Advisability
Ultrasonic cleaning..........................Safe, but never for fracture- or cavity-filled stones
Steam cleaning...............................Safe, but never for fracture- or cavity-filled stones
Warm soapy water..........................Safe

Alternatives:
Naturals                                           Man made
Aquamarine, Kyanite, Spinel,           CZ
Tanzanite, Topaz, Tourmaline,         Synthetic sapphire
Zircon                                              Synthetic spinel

Do you know?
: Kashmir and Burmese sapphires are usually fine quality and used as collector gems because of very rare
: Kashmir sapphire's color often describe as "cornflower blue" or "velvety blue"
: Burmese sapphire's color often describe as "royal blue"
: Sapphire, ruby, and fancy sapphire are variety of species corundum.

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