Sapphires are September’s birthstone, aligning with the planet Saturn. A sapphire is the perfect balance of a classic yet expressive choice for an engagement ring. The variety and range of colour ensure that each gemstone has subtle differences, adding to the distinctive appeal of a sapphire. Padparadscha translates to ‘tropical lotus flower’ in Sanskrit, reflecting it’s striking colour. Of all the tones found in blue sapphires, the Kashmir & Ceylon blue sapphire are amongst the most coveted.Īmongst the rarest of fancy sapphires are Padparadscha, they are a delicate balance of orange and pink. Sapphires might not sparkle in the same way as diamonds, but it is their colour that makes this gemstone truly special. Unlike diamonds which are known for their fire and brilliance, sapphires are known for their variety of colours. Sapphires come in many colours which allows you to pick one that expresses your individuality.

A sapphire ring should last a lifetime, and can be passed down for generations. This makes a sapphire the perfect choice for an engagement ring, as it can withstand everyday wear and tear. Sapphires are an amazing choice for an engagement ring, as they are very durable. Star sapphires can have either six ray or twelve ray stars. Sometimes the rutiles can cause a star effect where a dense group of rutiles create the phenomena called asterism. Commonly known as silk, these decrease the transparency of the gemstone. These needles are almost like birthmarks, that develop naturally in the stone as it forms. This is due to the gem’s crystalline structure.Īn interesting characteristic of a sapphire is that they sometimes contain minor inclusions called rutile needles. Sapphires can display pleochroism: an optical phenomenon that causes the sapphire to display different colours at different angles. Sapphires and rubies are both corundum and structurally identical but they have historically always had their own names. For example, a deep blue sapphire contains titanium and iron, while a pink sapphire contains chromium. The colour of a sapphire depends on the element that is most prevalent in the corrundum’s lattice structure. Sapphires score a 9 on the Mohs mineral hardness scale– a measure of the resistance of materials against scratches of harder materials. A precious gemstone, sapphires belong to the corundum mineral family, and consist of aluminium oxide, iron, titanium, chromium, copper and magnesium.Īs part of the corundum family of minerals, sapphires are an incredibly durable gemstone, ideal for everyday wear.