What is pink sapphire?
Isn’t sapphire blue?
Not really!
Overview
Sapphire is a gem family from the corundum group. This corundum group also includes rubies, but only red corundum has its exclusive name–Ruby, and other colors of corundum are all called sapphires, so pink corundum is a pink sapphire.
First of all, the gemstone research institute pointed out that the shades from medium red to deep red are ruby, and the color of this sapphire does not meet the standard of medium red. Secondly, the absorption spectrum of pink sapphire is one of the critical bases for its definition of sapphire. The absorption spectrum of pink sapphire is different from that of ruby, and it contains both the absorption lines of Ruby and Sapphire. Therefore, the pink sapphire was classified into the sapphire camp.
In addition to the pure pink sapphire, there is a unique pinkish sapphire, Padparadscha, named after the Sinhalese language. It’s in light orange with pink. Some people describe its color as the moment when a firework bursts. Others say pink as the lotus blossom and orange as the sunset. Because it has the characteristic of phase refraction, a well-cut pink sapphire can also be a stunning fire and visual effect.
Origin
Madagascar is the main origin of natural pink sapphire. Pink sapphires are extremely rare until people discover Madagascar mines in the 1990s. There are also pink sapphire mines in Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and East Africa. Sri Lanka is one of the few sources of Padparadscha sapphire, and the colored sapphires from the new mine in Madagascar are very attractive in color and size.
History
This kind of sapphire symbolizes beauty, wisdom, and purity. In the Asian culture, people think it resembles a lotus flower, which is a sacred plant. Padparadschas from Sri Lanka is the only one enjoying this marketable name. There’s no telling how many padparadschas have been sifted from Sri Lankan river gravel throughout history. Sri Lankans have a special affection for the color that’s traditionally been linked with their country.
Today, pink sapphires represent romance and feminine elegance. You can often see it ornate jewelry items worn by royals and celebrities. For example, Queen Elizabeth II is well known for her stunning brooches, one of them a huge pink sapphire floral design that she wore when giving her 2013 Christmas Day speech.
Care Instructions
It is very stable when commonly worn, which means it is heat-resistant, light-resistant, and not affected by general chemicals. However, the boric acid powder can erode even the surface of untreated gems. Even mild acids, such as lemon juice, can damage crack fillings, cavity fillings, and staining stones.
Using warm soapy water to clean the sapphire is relatively safe and reliable. Ultrasonic and steam cleaning devices can usually clean untreated, heat-treated, and lattice diffusion-treated gems. You should clean the Gemstones that have undergone crack filling, hole filling, or staining treatment with a damp cloth.
