Sapphire (Blue)

Blue sapphire is the blue variety of the mineral species corundum. All other color varieties, except the red stones qualifying as ruby, are classified as fancy sapphire. Fine blue stones over five carats are very rare and expensive. Sapphire is the September birthstone and is used for the forty fifth wedding anniversary. Major sources are Sri Lanka, Thailand, Australia and Burma. Others are Afganistan, Kenya, Tanzania and the United States.

In ages past, kings wore sapphires for protection from harm and envy. In the late Middle Ages, blue sapphire was favored for ecclesiastical rings because its color symbolized heaven.

Trade Names

• Kashmir--velvety, slightly violetish blue,highly saturated color in medium to medium dark; widely regarded as the finest quality.
• Burma--slightly violetish blue, highly saturated color in medium to medium dark; considered very fine quality.
• Thia--an intense dark blue.
• Ceylon--fairly brilliant dark blue.
• Australian--very dark and inky.
• African--typically light in tone.
• Montana--light in tone and color described as "steely" blue.

  Care And Duribility	Identification
  Cleaning Methods: ultrasonic:usually safe steamer:usually safe warm soapy water:safe Hardness: 9, hardest gem material after diamond Stability: reaction to heat: may alter color reaction to chemicals: attacked with difficulty	Optic character: DR,uniaxal negative Refractive index: 1.762-1.770 Specific gravity: 4.00 Crystal structure: hexagonal Inclusions: fine needle like rutile crystals; hexagonal growth lines and color zoning