pink sapphire

PROPERTIES OF SAPPHIRE As one of the four most important gemstones, sapphire is very famous and valuable all over the world. Chemically, sapphire is mainly composed of aluminum oxide crystals and its chemical formula is Al2O3. The color of sapphire is determined by the presence of impurities based on various metal oxides. This gemstone is actually a form of corundum that can appear in various colors except red, a characteristic that occurs only in rubies. The color of blue sapphire is attributed to the presence of titanium and iron in the gemstone. The yellow or green color is simply due to the presence of iron, chromium appears pink and vanadium appears more purple. Sapphire has a triangular crystal system and its fracture is uneven or cupped. The luster of sapphire is glassy and its density is 3.95 to 4.03. Sapphire is a very hard gemstone, slightly less hard than diamond, with a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale (remember, diamonds have a hardness of 10 on the Mohs scale). The most famous sapphire deposits are found primarily in tropical countries. For example, the famous Ilacaka deposit in Madagascar produces high-quality gemstones. Mineral deposits in Ceylon produce unique and bright blue gemstones. Other countries such as Brazil, the USA, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, China, Thailand and India also have special gemstones. THE HISTORY OF SAPPHIRES Etymologically, the word sapphire comes from the ancient Greek word "sappheiros", which literally means. "blue stone" and refers specifically to the sapphire's most famous color. Some trace the name back to the Hebrew word "sappir", which means "the most beautiful". Sapphire is a gemstone that has been known since ancient times, although it has been confused with other blue gemstones such as lapis lazuli. Various ancient civilizations tended to associate sapphires with gods and heavenly powers. For the Egyptians, sapphire was considered a sacred stone and symbolized celestial justice. During the Ptolemaic period, sapphires were often used in jewelry to make intaglios, carvings that depicted the heads of kings or princes. According to the Old Testament, sapphire was the stone on which the tablets of the Ten Commandments were engraved. , representing the God to whom Moses was sent. In the Middle Ages sapphires had a great religious significance. The Catholic Church considers the blue purity of the stone as a symbol of the Virgin Mary. In the history of the Catholic Church, there are supposedly many stories and anecdotes about the virtues and even miracles that sapphires performed.