Sapphires

Nature 2 Minutes

Sapphire is the most precious and valuable blue gemstone. It is a very desirable gemstone due to its excellent color, hardness, durability, and luster. In the gem trade, Sapphire without any color prefix refers to the blue variety of the mineral Corundum. However, the term Sapphire encompasses all other gem varieties and colors of Corundum as well, excluding Ruby, the red variety of Corundum, which has its own name since antiquity.

The most valuable color of Sapphire is a cornflower blue color, known as Kashmir Sapphire or Cornflower Blue Sapphire. Another extremely valuable Sapphire form is the very rare, orange-pink Padparadschah. An exotic type of sapphire, known as Color Changing Sapphire, displays a different color depending on its lighting. In natural light, Color Changing Sapphire is blue, but in artificial light, it is violet. (This effect is the same phenomenon well-known in the gemstone Alexandrite). Yellow and pink Sapphire have recently become very popular, and are now often seen in jewelry

Going way back in time, Sapphires (excluding blue) were often called the same name as a popular gemstone of that color with the prefix “oriental” added to it. For example, green Sapphire was called “Oriental Emerald”. The practice of applying the name of a different gemstone to identify the sapphire was misleading, and these names are no longer used. What was once called “Oriental Emerald” is now called “Green Sapphire”. The same holds true for all other color varieties of Sapphire. However, the word “Sapphire” in its plain context refers only to blue Sapphire, unless a prefix color is specified. Sapphire with a color other than blue is often called a “fancy” in the gem trade.

Sapphire is a tough and durable gem, and the only natural gemstone harder than Sapphire is Diamond. Despite this, Sapphire is still subject to chipping and fracture if handled roughly, and care should be taken to ensure it is properly handled. Sapphire was first synthesized in 1902. The process of creating synthetic Sapphire is known as the Verneuil process. Only experts can distinguish between natural and synthetic Sapphire.

Sapphire is one of the most popular gemstones, and is used extensively in Jewelry. Fine colored Sapphire with a deep blue color and excellent transparency can reach several thousand dollars a carat. The blue variety is most often used in jewelry, but the yellow, pink, and orange “fancies” have recently become very popular. Green and light blue Sapphires are also known, but are less commonly used in jewelry. Opaque Black Sapphire is also used a minor gemstone.

Sapphire is used in all forms of jewelry, including bracelets, necklaces, rings, and earrings. It is used both as centerpiece gemstone in pendants and rings, as well as a secondary stone to complement other gemstones such as Diamonds. Star Sapphires are polished as cabochons, and, if clear, are extremely valuable.

The rare orange-pink variety, known as Padparadschah, can be even more valuable than fine blue Sapphire. Blue Sapphire is sometimes carved into cameos or small figures, especially the less transparent material. Synthetic Sapphire is often used as a cheap substitute for the natural material.

Besides for the varieties of Sapphire listed below, Sapphire with color other than blue are prefixed with their color names. The main gemstone colors in addition to blue Sapphire include:
Yellow Sapphire (sometimes also called “Golden Sapphire” if intensely colored)
Pink Sapphire
White Sapphire (describes Sapphire that is colorless)
Green Sapphire
Purple Sapphire
Orange Sapphire
Black Sapphire

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Published by pat frederick

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164 thoughts on “Sapphires”

  1. what assholes

    Bogeyfree
    Bogeyfree
    September 14, 2023 2:27 pm

    No double standard here………..

    Manufacturing Molotov cocktails with intent to blow up a police building = 3.4 years

    Not being at the Capitol on January 6, not rioting = 22 years.

    Got it.

    BREAKING: Antifa rioter sentenced to 40 months for plot to burn down Seattle Police buildinghttps://t.co/4cjtj7Dc23

    — Libby Emmons (@libbyemmons) September 14, 2023

    Liked by 1 person

  4. 🇺🇸 Mike Davis 🇺🇸
    @mrddmia
    Don’t be fooled.

    Today’s indictment of Hunter Biden for gun felonies is just more coverup by Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss, who has protected the Bidens for years.

    Weiss, handpicked by both Democrat home-state senators in Delaware, let the statute of limitations expire on serious tax charges, buried evidence deemed credible by the Pittsburgh U.S. Attorney of the Bidens’ alleged foreign bribery schemes, and attempted to give Hunter a sweetheart deal with secret, broad immunity that protected President Biden.

    President Biden knows he cannot pardon Hunter right now. That would lead to politically and legally disastrous consequences before November 5, 2024. If pardoned, Hunter can no longer plead the Fifth Amendment–and refuse to testify before Congress. Hunter’s Fifth Amendment protections also disappear if Weiss gives Hunter a plea agreement with a prosecution waiver or some other immunity deal that shields him from criminal charges.

    Weiss’s charges today continue his deceptive pattern–for years–of protecting Hunter. More troubling, Weiss is protecting President Biden. Indeed, where are Hunter’s charges related to foreign corruption, acting as an unregistered foreign agent, tax evasion, wire fraud, and other criminal charges that could implicate President Biden?

    President Biden and Weiss will rescue Hunter after the 2024 election. Weiss will give Hunter another sweetheart deal. President Biden will pardon Hunter—and maybe even himself. Hunter will not spend a day in jail.

    Most troubling, there are credible allegations–with corroborating evidence–the President of the United States may be compromised by foreign bribes and other corruption.

    The Biden Justice Department will now point to Hunter’s indictment, pretend there’s an ongoing investigation and prosecution, and refuse to produce any records to–or answer any questions from–Congress, the press, or the public.

    The House may consider granting Hunter immunity now. The Biden Justice Department will never seriously prosecute Hunter anyway. The House should force Hunter to testify.

    Knowing whether the President is compromised is much more consequential than a no-jail-time felony conviction for a crackhead with a gun.

    If Hunter obstructs or lies, the Trump Justice Department will prosecute him after January 20, 2025.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Like

    2. Hmmm…I wonder….this is all going to be re-hashed somewhat during the Impeachment Inquiry. Couldn’t additional charges be laid against Hunter, such as money laundering, FARA, etc., as a result of that evidence being produced during the inquiry?

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Never mind – it was teensy, tiny and I think I did it with this danged replacement track-ball – it’s my old corded one and is pretty much worn out. I need to get more AA batteries for the newer one but for now…sigh. I was able to enlarge it the screen again – I must have accidentally minimized it. I wish I could have a cabinet full of replacement technology ready to go! LOL

        Liked by 1 person

        1. oh!
          I was wondering what could have had you so upset?
          we always have spare batteries–the trail cam takes 4-8 of them depending on some setting–then the mouse, the one battery operated clock not affected by power outages–we try to be prepared

          Liked by 1 person


  11. CNN — Hurricane Lee continues to creep toward New England, where hurricane and tropical storm watches have been issued for much of its coastal residents in anticipation of the colossal storm’s possible impact on Friday and through the weekend.

    Lee’s winds could begin to buffet portions of New England as early as Friday as the storm’s center is expected to pass close to the region’s southeast before barreling near or over Maine and Atlantic Canada over the weekend as a “large and dangerous cyclone,” according to the National Hurricane Center.

    Though the storm – now a Category 2 hurricane – is expected to weaken as it approaches, it will still have a massive radius of damaging winds that will be significantly felt along coastal New England and Canada’s Atlantic provinces.”

    Liked by 1 person

  12. “Soldiers and civilians all joining together in a celebration dance on a street near Berkeley Square
    in London. May 8, 1945 – VE Day…”



    NF: I wonder if this is true… “It was an inside job. The Saudis got pranked…”

    Liked by 1 person

  13. I am adding a short daily prayer to the board. I would invite each of you, if you wish, to also add one or maybe two of your own liking. I do not want to stifle anyone but please limit yourself to one or two religious postings. here’s one I found that I liked.

    Like

          2. WOWOWWOWOWOWOWOWOW
            she sounds like a VERY talented young woman!!!
            you must be proud!!!!!
            is the contest something you could just attend even if you can’t stay with them??? to see her singing–and she’s won before???
            OH FILLY!
            gees–singing playing in the band AND cheerleading? wow

            Liked by 1 person

            1. IKR? I was gobsmacked and bursting with pride! I hate to admit it but SIL can’t be doing that bad of a job raising her! I was soooo fricking impressed! And the singing – after my own heart! She is a Soprano 2 (whatever that means) and I was also a soprano – we talked about singing and I told her about some breathing methods that could help. The contest is in Lincoln, which is too far for me to drive w/my truck as it is. I’m not taking it off the table to attend myself depending on transport but Piper said she will have her Dad, who will be recording it, e-mail the video to me.

              I can’t wait to see her and to have a long-need convo to put all this BS to rest between us. Now that we’ve crossed that rubicon, I can talk more frankly and honestly. My only issue – besides the damned surgery insanity that scares me to death – is that she at least TRY the other side or, at a minimum, be open to it. How can she know she doesn’t like boys/men if she never dips her toe in that pond? It’s foolish to make a decision like that without considering all available options. I think that is the best route – keep all your options open, ya’ know?

              Liked by 1 person

              1. oh Filly I hope you get the chance!!!
                kids should never make life altering decisions while they’re young. feelings change, and some things you can’t ever get back…

                Liked by 1 person

              2. Exactly THE point I want to try to get across to her….I just have to be careful how I do it. First thing, tho, I am going to fill her in on MY history with gay friends. At this point, I’m afraid she thinks I just hate gays/bi’s and that is nowhere close to the truth.

                Liked by 1 person

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