The appeal of sapphires lies in their vibrant colour. Blue sapphires are the most well-known and prized, but fancy sapphires can also be found in hues of pink, yellow, orange, green, violet, black, and white. One of the most famous blue sapphires is the engagement ring of the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, which was previously owned by Princess Diana. This ring has become an iconic symbol of British royalty.

Sapphires are known for their beauty and durability. September-born individuals are lucky to have sapphire as their birthstone. Unlike some birthstones that are associated with a specific colour, September's birthstone can come in a range of colours such as blue, yellow, green, pink, orange and others. Although the blue sapphire is the most popular choice for those born in September, people can select the sapphire birthstone in any colour they prefer.

Sapphires and rubies are both made of corundum, an aluminium oxide. Corundum is formed deep in the Earth's crust over millions of years through intense pressure and high temperatures and is found within magma that cools and crystallises. Corundum can also be found in rocks high in aluminium and low in silicon, such as basalts.

As one of the hardest known natural substances after diamonds, sapphires rank 9 on the Mohs scale of gem hardness, making them the third hardest stone after moissanite which ranks 9.5 and diamonds which ranks 10. However, high-quality untreated sapphires are rare due to the low quality of most sapphires that are mined and don't reach gemstone status.

Where Do Sapphires Come From?

• Sourced from countries around the world including Australia, Afghanistan, China, Vietnam, the United States, Sri Lanka, and others
• Each country produces sapphires with unique and distinctive looks
• Sapphires get their wide range of colours from trace elements of titanium, iron, and nickel
• Natural and unheated sapphires, mined from the earth, are highly sought after
• Lab-created sapphires in various colours, with blue being the most popular option, are also available