madagascar pink sapphires 167.78cts
Originally uploaded by facetssrilanka.
Pink sapphires are have trace element of chromium and the deeper the color pink the higher the value as long as the color is going toward red of rubies. Color shift sapphires are blue in outdoor light and purple in indoor light. Colour changes may also be pink in daylight to greenish in fluorescent light. Some stones shift color well and others only partially, in that some stones go from blue to blue purple. White sapphires usually come out of the ground as light gray or brown and are then heated to make them clear. However in very rare circumstances they will be found in a clear state.
Sapphires are mined from alluvial deposits or from primary underground workings. Historically, most sapphires have been mined in Sri Lanka, Madagascar and Myanmar. Australia, leads the world in sapphire production (as of 1987) specifically from basalt derived placer deposits in Queensland and New South Wales. Pakistan, Afghanistan, India and Kenya also produce sapphires. The US state of Montana has produced sapphires from the Yogo Gultch deposit near Helena. Gem grade sapphires and rubies are also found in and around Franklin, North Carolina, USA. Several mines there are open to the public.
* According to Rebbenu Bachya, the word “Sapir” in the verse Exodus 28:20 means “Sapphire” and was the stone on the Ephod representing the tribe of Issachar. However, this is disputed as the sapphire of the Bible was likely lapis lazuli (Texas Natural Science Center, 2006).
* Supernatural powers were attributed to gems in India. One way this was manifested was the interdependence between gems and planets. Ruby, associated with the Sun, was the Lord of Gems, for the Sun lorded over all the planets. Sapphire was associated with Saturn (Wojtilla, 1973).
* Blue sapphires were first discovered in the Padar region of Kashmir in the 1880’s, allegedly where a landslip had uncovered their occurrence. Kashmir stones were in most cases exceptionally fine quality. The color tone term “cornflower blue” was coined from these stones. Stones from Madagascar are very often described to look like Kashmir quality.
* Sapphire is the birthstone associated with September.
