The sapphire is one of the gem varieties of corundum. When titanium and iron impurities are present in corundum the result is a beautiful blue color. Having been prized for centuries impart due to this beautiful vivid blue hue. Typically the more vivid and saturated the blue the more valuable the sapphire. When someone refers to a sapphire they are very often referring to this blue variety, although sapphires can come in a range of colors. There are even several phenomenal varieties of sapphires, such as the star sapphire and the color change sapphire.
Many of the sapphires available on the market today have been treated to improve the clarity and color. Methods for heat treating sapphires and other gemstones can be traced as far back Roman times. When sapphires are heat treated the stone becomes bluer in color and it loses some of the rutile inclusions, commonly referred to as silk.
Sapphires are a stone with a rich tradition as well. In some countries they are the traditional engagement stone of nobility. If you are considering purchasing a sapphire let the jewelry professionals at Amoskeag Jewelers help you pick the sapphire that is sure to become a family heirloom to be passed down from one generation to the next.