Sapphires exist in a variety of colors.
Blue sapphire corundum value.
Sapphires are generally categorized as blue sapphires any sapphire with a predominantly blue hue or fancy sapphires sapphires of any other color.
However the term sapphire encompasses all other gem varieties and colors of corundum as well except ruby which is the red variety of corundum which has its own name.
Corundum is best known for its gem varieties ruby and sapphire.
The color of a ruby is due to the element chromium.
Although hue counts the closer to a pure blue the better saturation is more important.
A ruby is a pink to blood red coloured gemstone a variety of the mineral corundum aluminium oxide other varieties of gem quality corundum are called sapphires ruby is one of the traditional cardinal gems together with amethyst sapphire emerald and diamond.
Ruby and sapphire are scientifically the same mineral but just differ in color.
Another famous variety of corundum is ruby.
The word ruby comes from ruber latin for red.
Non gem corundum is abundant throughout the world.
Gem quality corundum is often found in placer deposits.
Sapphire is the blue variety of the mineral corundum and is the most popular blue gemstone.
Sapphire ceylon untreated blue si vvs type ii 3 000 to 5 500 per carat.
In fact gem quality corundum can occur in many different colors such as orange pink green purple and others.
Color is the most important element in estimating the value of blue sapphire.
Red corundum is known as ruby and all other colored corundum including colorless or white sapphire as it is known in the trade is sapphire although blue is the most well known.
Top sapphires reach vivid saturation.
So if ruby is red and sapphire is blue what about the orange yellow green and violet corundum as well as all the other shades in between.
In the gem industry sapphire without any color prefix such as blue sapphire refers to the blue variety of the mineral corundum.
While ruby is the red form of the mineral corundum sapphire is defined as any other color variety of corundum.
Inclusions in general burmese thai and australian blue sapphires contain crystals of plagioclase feldspars orthoclase niobite columbite calcite monazite zircon apatite fergusonite and thorite.
Those varieties are also considered sapphires and are sometimes called fancy sapphires.
Colors of sapphire sapphire is generally known as a blue gemstone but surprisingly it comes in a wide range of colors and quality variations.