Where Does Sapphire Come From?

Sapphire is one of the most beautiful precious stones in the world, and it’s important to understand where sapphire comes from—whether you want to become a trader, you’re shopping for pink sapphire jewellery, or you want to casually impress people with your knowledge. Determining a sapphire’s origin can be a daunting task, but a little information goes a long way.

Sapphire Origin and Geology

Sapphires occur naturally in India, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Australia, The United States, South America, Colombia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Madagascar.

We don’t know exactly how sapphires were formed, but some scientists believe they came into being as a result of impurities in the Earth. However, one thing is for sure—the sapphires that are present today are 150 to 200 million years old.

Sapphires Are Also Found on Other Planets

Thanks to the continued exploration of other space, scientists have discovered what are called exoplanets. Simply put, these are planets with more mass than earth. Based on the climate on these planets, scientists believe some of them could hold large deposits of sapphires. We cannot, therefore, rule out the possibility that sapphires might be extracted there in the future.

How Sapphires Are Formed

Sapphires are formed over millions of years, and their respective colours are a result of the type and amount of impurities. Sapphires are present in recrystallized limestone and metamorphic rocks, which have large deposits of aluminium.

Blue sapphire is formed when there is titanium within a corundum rock. Some of the purest sapphires are formed when igneous rocks are transforming—the slower the magma cools, the larger the resulting sapphire. Other changes in the environment, such as changes in pressure, result in different characteristics in the sapphire. It’s worth noting that because of the way they form, no two sapphires are identical. These unique geological traits help experts in telling if a sapphire is real.

Sapphire is one of the hardest stones in the world, beaten only by diamond and moissanite. As such, it’s one of the preferred precious stones for crafting earrings and necklaces; it has also held cultural and spiritual meaning for many societies around the globe, and has gained traction in recent years partly due to its publicization by world-renowned celebrities.

Sapphire Hues

Sapphires are second only to diamonds in terms of durability and popularity. While there’s some debate on whether a dark or light sapphire is better, blue is the most predominant colour in sapphires. Other hues, including pink, purple, and yellow, are much rarer, but do exist. 

Summary

While the true origin of sapphires is somewhat mysterious, we know that these beautiful treasures are ancient and rare, and they’re going to continue to mesmerise people across the world. To help you find the perfect sapphire piece for you or your loved one, the experts at Holloway Diamonds are ready to guide you through the entire selection process.