The Color Of Sapphire Stone

An exotic type of sapphire known as color changing sapphire displays a different color depending on its lighting.

The color of sapphire stone.

It is a constant favorite for sapphire engagement rings earrings and pendant necklaces. However these precious gemstones span the rainbow of colors. Sapphires in colors other than blue are called fancy or parti colored sapphires. Fancy sapphires are often found in yellow orange green brown purple and violet hues.

Blue is the most popular and well known color in sapphires. Sapphires that are not blue are known as fancy sapphires and may be any color except red which is a ruby. Sapphires can even be gray black or brown. Technically sapphire is a variety of the mineral corundum a form of aluminum oxide.

An untreated pink sapphire from madagascar with beautiful clarity. Sapphire is generally known as a blue gemstone but surprisingly it comes in a wide range of colors and quality variations. Some stones exhibit the phenomenon known as color change most often going from blue in daylight or fluorescent lighting to purple under incandescent light. The most highly valued blue sapphire is one with a hue which is closest in color to a true cornflower blue.

The standard for padparadscha sapphires a delicate oval padparadscha sapphire ring with round diamonds imitating side stones. Sapphire is the birthstone for september. The most desirable color sapphire is blue and the most desirable shade of blue is referred to as cornflower blue it is neither light nor dark blue. Secondary hues in a blue sapphire might be green or purple.

As you likely know the most common and popular color of sapphire is royal blue. Another extremely valuable sapphire form is the very rare orange pink padparadschah. They come in violet green yellow orange pink purple and intermediate hues. The word sapphire comes from the greek word sappheiros meaning blue color it is one of the four precious gemstones along with diamond ruby and the emerald.

Like rubies sapphires can come with a natural six rayed star inside which is called the star sapphire and is extremely rare. The term padparadscha is derived from the sinhalese word for an aquatic lotus blossom which has an unusual salmon color. The most valuable color of sapphire is a cornflower blue color known as kashmir sapphire or cornflower blue sapphire. In general the more intense and uniform the color is the more valuable the stone.

A secondary hue of green can reduce the value of a blue sapphire while a secondary hue of violet may increase the value depending on the amount. Particolored sapphires are those stones which exhibit two or more colors within a single stone. Learn how this stone gets its enviable color and where these stones are found.