Sapphire
blue · Corundum family
| Also known as | Corundum (Corundum family) |
|---|---|
| Colour | Blue |
| Mohs hardness | 9.0 |
| Lustre | Vitreous |
| Streak | Colorless |
| Crystal system | Trigonal |
| Transparency | Transparent to nearly opaque |
| Cleavage | Poor |
| Fracture | Conchoidal, splintery |
| Chemical formula | Aluminium oxide, Al 2 O 3 |
| Specific gravity | 3.98–4.06 |
What is Sapphire?
Sapphire is a precious gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum, consisting of aluminium oxide (α-Al2O3) with trace amounts of elements such as iron, titanium, cobalt, lead, chromium, vanadium, magnesium, boron, and silicon. The name sapphire is derived from the Latin word sapphirus, itself from the Greek word sappheiros (σάπφειρος, itself from a Semitic origin), which referred to lapis lazuli. Sapphire with colors other than its typical blue is referred to as "fancy sapphire", and can be in yellow, purple, orange, and green colors; "parti sapphires" show two or more colors. Red corundum st
How to identify Sapphire
- Lustre: Vitreous.
- Hardness: Mohs 9.0 — hard enough to scratch glass.
- Streak: Colorless.
- Habit: Trigonal crystal system.
Sapphire value
Sapphire is a fine gemstone priced per carat by quality — colour, clarity, cut, carat and origin — not by weight in grams. Typical market ranges:
| Quality | Price per carat |
|---|---|
| Commercial | $50–$700 / ct |
| Good | $300–$3,500 / ct |
| Fine | $1,500–$10,000 / ct |
| Top | $8,000–$200,000+ / ct |
Ranges cross-validated across two independent research passes against gemstone price guides, 2026-06 — sources: gia.edu, thenaturalsapphirecompany.com. Colour saturation, clarity, cut and origin move the price enormously, and treatments or lab-grown stones sell for a fraction — so this is a guide, not an appraisal. Have anything valuable checked by a certified gemmologist. See the full crystal & gemstone value guide.
