Sapphire

Sapphire is a precious gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum, consisting of aluminium oxide (Al2O3) with trace amounts of elements such as iron, titanium, cobalt, lead, chromium, vanadium, magnesium, boron, and silicon. The name derived from the Latin word sapphirus, itself from the Greek word sappheiros, which referred to lapis lazuli.

It is typically blue, but natural “fancy” sapphires also occur in yellow, purple, orange, and green colors. “Parti sapphires” show two or more colors. Red corundum stones also occur, but called rubies rather than sapphires. Pink-colored corundum may be classified either as ruby or sapphire depending on the locale.