Sapphire Basics and Characteristics
- Sapphire is a variety of corundum, consisting of aluminum oxide with trace elements.
- It is typically blue, but can also occur in yellow, purple, orange, and green colors.
- Red corundum stones are called rubies, not sapphires.
- Natural sapphires are cut and polished into gemstones for jewelry.
- They can also be created synthetically for industrial or decorative purposes.
- Sapphires in colors other than blue are called fancy sapphires.
- Fancy sapphires can be found in yellow, orange, green, brown, purple, violet, and other hues.
- Blue sapphires are evaluated based on the purity of their blue hue.
- The highest prices are paid for pure blue sapphires with vivid saturation.
Different Types of Sapphires
- Blue sapphire exists in various mixtures of primary and secondary hues.
- Violet and green are common secondary hues found in blue sapphires.
- Gems with pure blue hue and vivid saturation command higher prices.
- Parti sapphires exhibit two or more colors within a single stone.
- Parti sapphires are not commonly used in mainstream jewelry.
- Pink sapphires occur in shades from light to dark pink.
- The deeper the pink color, the higher their value.
- Star sapphires exhibit a phenomenon called asterism, which creates a star-like pattern on the surface of the stone.
- Color-change sapphires exhibit different colors in different lighting conditions.
Sapphire Treatments and Enhancements
- Sapphires can be treated by heating them to enhance their appearance.
- Other treatments include diffusion and beryllium treatment.
- Lattice diffusion treatments add impurities to enhance color.
- Disclosure of enhancements is required by the United States Federal Trade Commission.
Sapphire Mining and Origins
- Sapphires are mined from alluvial deposits or underground workings.
- Commercial mining locations include Afghanistan, Australia, Myanmar, etc.
- Classic metamorphic sapphires from Kashmir, Burma, and Sri Lanka are highly valued.
- Madagascar is the world leader in sapphire production, followed by Australia.
- Kashmir-origin sapphires have a superior vivid blue hue.
Synthetic Sapphire and Applications
- Synthetic sapphire can be produced using the Verneuil process.
- Synthetic sapphire has various industrial applications.
- It is used in watch crystals, optical windows, and electronics.
- Synthetic sapphire is chemically identical to natural sapphire.
- Synthetic sapphire is often more affordable than natural sapphire.
- Sapphire windows have a wide optical transmission band.
- Sapphire wafers are used in the semiconductor industry for devices based on gallium nitride.
Sapphire Data Sources
Sapphire Basics and Characteristics - Sapphire ni aina ya corundum, inayojumuisha oksidi ya alumini na elementi za alama. - Kwa kawaida ni ya bluu, lakini pia inaweza kutokea katika rangi ya manjano, zambarau, machungwa, na kijani. - Mawe mekundu ya korondi huitwa rubi, si safira. - Sapphires za asili hupasuliwa na kupakwa rangi ili kutumiwa kama vito vya thamani. - Wanaweza pia kuundwa synthetically kwa madhumuni ya viwanda au mapambo. - Sapphires katika rangi nyingine isipokuwa bluu huitwa sapphires fancy. - Sapphires za kifahari zaweza kupatikana katika rangi ya manjano, machungwa, kijani, kahawia, zambarau, zambarau, na rangi nyinginezo. - Sapphires za bluu huthaminiwa kulingana na usafi wa rangi yao ya bluu. - Bei ya juu zaidi hulipwa kwa sapphires safi ya bluu yenye saturation yenye kuvutia. Aina Tofauti za Safir - Safir ya bluu hupatikana katika mchanganyiko mbalimbali wa rangi za msingi na za sekondari. - Rangi ya zambarau na kijani-kibichi ni rangi za pili zinazopatikana kwa kawaida katika sapphires za bluu. - Vito vyenye rangi safi ya bluu na rangi nyangavu huongoza kwenye bei ya juu zaidi. - Sapphires za Parti huonyesha rangi mbili au zaidi ndani ya jiwe moja. - Sapphires za Parti hazitumiwi kwa kawaida katika vito vya kawaida. - Sapphires za rangi ya waridi hupatikana katika rangi mbalimbali kuanzia rangi ya waridi nyepesi hadi rangi ya waridi nyeusi. - Kadiri rangi ya waridi ilivyo nzito, ndivyo thamani yao ilivyo kubwa zaidi. Sapphire ya nyota inaonekana kama nyota, na kwa hivyo inaonekana kama nyota kwenye uso wake. - Sapphires zinazobadilisha rangi huonyesha rangi tofauti-tofauti katika hali tofauti za taa. Matibabu na Kuboresha Sapphire - Sapphires zinaweza kutibiwa kwa kupasha joto ili kuboresha sura yao. - Matibabu mengine ni pamoja na usambazaji na matibabu ya beryllium. - Matibabu ya kuenea kwa lattice huongeza uchafu ili kuboresha rangi. - Ufunuo wa maboresho inahitajika na Marekani Federal Trade Commission. Uchimbaji wa Sapphire na Asili - Sapphires hutolewa kutoka kwa amana za alluvial au kazi za chini ya ardhi. - Maeneo ya biashara ya madini ni pamoja na Afghanistan, Australia, Myanmar, nk. - Sapphires za kale za metamorphic kutoka Kashmir, Burma, na Sri Lanka zinathaminiwa sana. - Madagascar ndiyo nchi inayoongoza ulimwenguni katika uzalishaji wa sapphire, ikifuatwa na Australia. - Sapphires za asili ya Kashmir zina rangi ya bluu yenye kung'aa zaidi. Sapphire ya Synthetic na Matumizi - Sapphire ya Synthetic inaweza kutengenezwa kwa kutumia mchakato wa Verneuil. - Sapphire ya bandia hutumiwa katika viwanda mbalimbali. - Inatumiwa katika fuwele za saa, madirisha ya macho, na vifaa vya elektroniki. - Sapphire ya bandia ni sawa na sapphire ya asili. - Mara nyingi sapphire ya bandia ni ya bei nafuu kuliko sapphire ya asili. - Madirisha ya sapphire yana kipimo kikubwa cha usambazaji wa macho. - Sapphire wafers ni kutumika katika sekta ya semiconductor kwa ajili ya vifaa kulingana na gallium nitride. Vyanzo vya Takwimu za Sapphire