Sapphire

Sapphire is the name given to all colour variants of Corundum apart from red. Sapphires are most commonly seen in blue, but actually can be found in many colours including pink, white, orange, yellow and green. The colour is given by the trace impurities in the crystal - high amounts of iron create blue sapphires, whilst a small amount results in yellow or green, whilst chromium produces pink, and iron or vanadium creates an orange sapphire. Padparadscha Sapphires are highly sought after, they are bright, naturally coloured pink-orange gems from Madagascar and Sri Lanka. They get their name from the Sanskrit for 'tropical lotus flower', describing their incredible colour. The largest Sapphire in the world weighs 563 cts and is a Star Sapphire known as the Star of India, housed in the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC.