The term "Sapphire" used to mean blue stones. Now
it is used to refer to any colored Corundum except
red, which is called "ruby."
The finest sapphire color is rich, cornflower blue. This is called "Kashmir" color to honor the traditional source of the finest quality stones. In recent times, the Kashmir region of India is not being mined because it is so difficult to get to. Africa, Australia, Burma, Montana, Sri Lanka, and Thailand are the source of new stones.
Green Sapphire isn't a brilliant Emerald green, it is more of a bluish green or grey-green color. It is very common, and so is of lower value than some of the other colors. As with all the other colors of Sapphire except Ruby, green Sapphires are always heat treated at the mine to enhance their color. Untreated green Sapphires are not available.
These stones are much less common than green Sapphires, and so are more valuable. It is very rare to find an untreated golden sapphire, but some do exist. You need to be very sure of your gemologist before you buy an untreated stone. Golden Sapphires range from brilliant yellow to almost orange.
One of the rarest forms of Sapphire, the "Padparadscha" color means "lotus blossom" in the Sinhalese language. These wonderful stones are only found in Sri Lanka, and are always heat treated to intensify the color and remove inclusions.
Gwen's Glorious Gemstone Gallery
231 Lee Street
Emporia, VA
23847
733-436-7829
Come visit, you won't be disappointed!
