The pink sapphire – the pinkish sapphire variant
The pink sapphire, also known as a rose sapphire, belongs to the corundum group, like all sapphires. It was only in the 19th century that it was discovered that sapphires can occur in different colors. Before that, when people spoke of sapphires, they always meant the blue sapphire.
Nowadays, you can buy not only blue and pink sapphires, but also white sapphires, green sapphires, purple sapphires and yellow sapphires. There are also Padparadscha sapphires, which are pink and orange at the same time.
Pink sapphire and the distinction from ruby
Besides sapphires, rubies are also corundums. The only thing that distinguishes sapphire and ruby is color. Sapphires come in all colors except red, which is reserved for rubies. However, it is not easy to distinguish between the two, especially when it comes to rubies and pink sapphires.
The color of a gemstone often leads to discussions. Especially with rubies and pink sapphires, it also affects the price. Ruby is the most valuable corundum gemstone, followed by blue sapphire, padparadscha and pink sapphire. Therefore, it is advantageous for a gemstone to be considered a ruby. However, even experts do not always agree on whether a stone is still pink like a sapphire or already red like a ruby.
Pink sapphire for engagement rings & other jewelry
These sapphires are mainly used for jewelry. A goldsmith can transform your pink sapphire from the IGNEOUS gemstone shop into an individual piece of jewelry that you can wear yourself or give as a gift.
Thanks to its light color, it is suitable for a valuable engagement ring. But the pink sapphire is also ideal for other pieces of jewelry: bracelets, earrings, necklaces or brooches in platinum, gold or silver settings are equally suitable. The pink sapphire can be used alone or in combination with small white sapphires or diamonds. Of course, there is nothing to prevent it from being combined with other colored stones.
If you are looking for a valuable gift for someone born in September, you should consider the pink sapphire: according to the American Gem Society, sapphire is the birthstone for September. It is also a popular choice for jewelry gifts for the fifth and 45th anniversaries of a marriage.
Pink sapphire: origin and mines
Sapphires are mined in India, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, China, Australia, Brazil, Africa (including Madagascar) and North America (mainly in Montana). They are usually mined by hand in small mines.
Properties and popular cuts
Sapphires have a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale. This makes them only one degree softer than diamonds, which are considered the hardest precious stone.
This sapphire is usually faceted. Smooth cuts like the cabochon cut, on the other hand, are rare. The facet cuts range from oval and round to cushion and emerald cuts. Pink sapphires are also often cut into pear shapes. These are particularly popular for earrings and pendants.
Which cut is used for a particular stone depends on the raw crystal. If it is made of good material, the largest possible stones with a high carat weight are cut from it.