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The ancient Persian rulers believed
that the earth rested on a giant sapphire and its reflection colored the
heavens blue. Indeed, the very name in Latin, "Sapphiru," means blue.
But like the endless colors that appear in the sky, sapphire is also found
in many, many other shades besides blue, from the gold of a sunrise, to
the fiery reddish-orange of sunset, to the delicate violet of twilight.
These diverse colors are referred to as "fancy" color sapphires. A gift
of a sapphire symbolizes a pledge of trust and loyalty. It is from this
tradition that sapphire has long been a popular choice for engagement
rings. One of Nature's most durable gemstones, sapphire shares this quality
with its sister, the ruby. Sapphire is found in many parts of the world,
but the most prized sapphires are from Myanmar (Burma), Kashmir and Sri
Lanka.
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Call 1-800-453-9863 to talk to a Sapphire specialist
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| 1.72 Carats, VVS - Vibrant medium light amethyst purple color |
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| 2.30 Carats, VVS - Vibrant medium pumpkin orange color |
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2.08 Carats, VVS - slight color change from blue purple to blue
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| 1.65 ct, vibrant purple blue color in inside light and pure blue in sunlight |
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| 1.58 Carats, Very deep vibrant amethyst purple color |
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| 1.67 Carats, VVS - Medium steel blue color |
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| 1.84 Carats, Vibrant medium steel blue color |
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| 1.87 Carats, Deep vibrant medium cornflower blue color |
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| 1.23 Carats, VVS - Deep dark rich cornflower blue color |
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More About Sapphires and Sapphire Jewelry
Over the centuries, methods have been developed to enhance the purest hues of sapphire. This is now commonly achieved by controlled heating, a technique that not only improves color but also improves clarity. But heating will only improve the color if the gemstone already contains the chemistry required. Heating sapphires is a permanent enhancement, as lasting as the gemstones themselves.A new method of artificially changing the natural color of a sapphire is diffusion, whereby beryllium or a similar element is diffused into the surface of the gemstone, producing a richer color. Sapphire treated by diffusion is far less costly and much more available than rare fine untreated gems or those successfully heat-treated. Diffused sapphire is available in shades of orange, pinkish orange, yellow and sometimes even blue. |
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