Velvety blue. Liquid blue. Evening-sky blue. Cornflower blue. Sapphire , beloved for centuries
as the ultimate blue gemstone. 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. Sapphire may even resemble the pale white
gloaming of an overcast day. These diverse colors are referred
to as "fancy" color sapphires.

A gift of a sapphire symbolizes a bledge 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. The purer the blue of the sapphire, the greater
the price the gemstone can command, however, many people find that the
darker hues of sapphire can be just as appealing.

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 artificailly 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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