Sapphires, the birthstone of September, have long been revered by royalty. Some say that they have metaphysical properties as well. Appearing in a wide variety of colors, there is probably a sapphire to suit any taste.
Types
When the word "sapphire" is used without a reference to color, the stone in question is most likely a traditional blue stone. All other colors of sapphires, known as fancies, are referred to by the color name, as in "." All sapphires are members of the corundum family. The varying colors are formed by impurities in the base mineral; iron is responsible for producing the .
Features
Sapphires have been known, and highly prized, for centuries. There was a long time when only insiders to the gem trade knew that sapphires came in colors besides blue. In fact, few people are aware that a ruby is actually simply a red sapphire. Durability is one of the finer qualities of , which ranks second only to the diamond in hardness.
History
Although not much is known about the timeline of the use of yellow sapphires, the sapphire family is among the oldest recognized gems. Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon, is the home of the oldest known sapphire digs Most of the world's are still found there, although there are some found in Tanzania.
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