Sapphires Overview

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Sapphire is any gemstone quality corundum that is not red. The red variety of corundum is known as ruby.

The corundum group consists of pure aluminum oxide, which a long time ago was caused to crystallize into magnificent gemstones by the pressure and heat in the depths of the ground. Small amounts of other elements, mainly iron and chrome, are responsible for the resulting colors and make the basic white crystals a blue, red, yellow, pink or greenish Sapphire. But this does not automatically imply that any corundum is a sapphire. After centuries of heated discussions, experts finally agreed to call ruby-red Sapphires, Rubies, and all other colors, Sapphires.

Next Page: What Makes Sapphire A Fancy Stone?

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