Sapphires have captivated lovers of natural beauty for thousands of years. They’re found in a rainbow of hues and have been sourced all over the world. Some sapphires even contain multiple colors, or rare inclusions that make them shine like silk. 

These dazzling gems are members of the corundum family, which also includes rubies. Though sapphires are famous for their blue shades, they come in nearly every color. Many cultures throughout history have looked to sapphire for guidance and spiritual enlightenment. You might know it as Princess Diana's engagement ring or the September birthstone.

Clocking in at a 9 on the Mohs hardness scale, sapphires are nearly as hard as diamonds. This scale measures a mineral’s resistance to scratching: if two minerals collide, the harder mineral will scratch the other. Sapphire can only be scratched by diamonds or other sapphires, making it an excellent choice for durability and everyday wear. 

Whether you’re shopping for a non-traditional engagement ring or adding to your unique jewelry collection, read on for everything you need to know about types of sapphires.

Shop All Sapphires on Sarah O. Jewelry 

Types of Sapphires by Color

Sapphires are famous for their brilliant blue shades, caused by trace minerals within the gemstone. Sapphires that aren’t blue are also called “fancy” sapphires, and are found in practically any hue except for red. That's because sapphire is a type of mineral called corundum, and red corundum gemstones are called rubies!  Learn more about the other colors of sapphires below. 

Blue

When picturing a sapphire, most people imagine a blue stone. This is the most iconic and traditional color for sapphires, and shades range from pastel blues to deep navy. Some particularly sought-after shades of blue sapphire are cornflower blue, royal blue, and velvety blue.

Pink

Pink sapphires range from a soft blush hue to hot pink. These shades are often found in Sri Lanka and Madagascar—read more about sapphire origins further down this article.

Padparadscha

When a pink sapphire leans orange, it’s called a Padparadscha. This rare variety of sapphires is named for the Sinhalese word for a lotus blossom, because the unique blend of colors resembles the color of aquatic lotus petals. Padparadscha sapphires are mostly mined in Sri Lanka.

Yellow

These warm-hued gems range from bright and sunny to deep golden tones. Because of their color, they can closely resemble fancy yellow diamonds. Yellow sapphires are often heat-treated to enhance vibrancy—scroll down to learn about heated vs unheated sapphires.

Green

Green sapphires are a rare variety that usually have a secondary tone of blue or yellow. These earthy and unique stones are prized for non-traditional jewelry, and are often found in Australia or Montana.

Teal / Peacock / Parti-color

These sought-after gemstones are having a moment right now for a reason. Their unique blend of blue, green, and sometimes yellow hues gives them a stunning and multi-dimensional look. Sapphires from Montana are famous for parti-color shades.

White / Colorless

White, or colorless, sapphires shine bright like a diamond. They’re often used as a diamond alternative for this reason.

Purple / Lavender / Violet

These unique sapphires range from soft lilac to deep, saturated plum. They have a soft, ethereal appearance that makes them the perfect choice for otherworldly jewelry.

Types of Sapphires by Origin

Sapphires are found all over the world; many popular varieties are mined in Asia, Africa, Australia, and the United States. Different regions are known for their gems’ unique qualities, with geology playing a role in color, inclusions, sparkle, and more. Keep reading to learn more about why your sapphire’s origin matters.

Montana Sapphires (USA) 

Montana is one of the only places in the United States where sapphires can be mined. Montana sapphires are known for their ethical sourcing, and are often mined artisanally in places like Rock Creek and Yogo Gulch. These stones exhibit brilliant sparkle and unique colors ranging from blue to green to yellow. 

Kashmir Sapphires (India)

Kashmir sapphires were mined primarily from the late 19th to early 20th century. Today they are exceptionally rare—among the world’s most valuable gemstones—and prized by collectors. They’re known for their velvety blue color, soft glow, and silky texture due to fine rutile inclusions (tiny needle-like imperfections). 

Burma (Myanmar) Sapphires

Burma sapphires are known for their rich royal blue color with high saturation (color intensity) and brilliance. These stones are often untreated or minimally treated in order to preserve their natural hue.

Sri Lankan (Ceylon) Sapphires

Sri Lanka is a popular sapphire producer, famous for bright blue, pink, yellow, orange, and green stones. A favorite Sri Lankan sapphire type is the Padparadscha sapphire, which looks like a tropical sunset. 

Madagascar Sapphires

Madagascar is a newer, prolific source of sapphires, with mining efforts beginning in 1991. These stones are known for their ethical mining practices, and are often more affordable than sapphires from other origins. 

Thai & Cambodian Sapphires

Thai & Cambodian sapphires are another popular, affordable choice. These stones come in a range of shades, including blue, green, and pink. They often heavily treated to enhance color, creating beautiful hues at an accessible price point.

Australian Sapphires

Australian sapphires are prized for rich earthy tones. They often feature strong color zoning—distinct areas of different colors within the stone. Australian sapphires are an affordable choice, with many stones being heat-treated to improve color and clarity.

Phenomenal / Specialty Sapphire Types

Sapphires don’t just come in a range of colors. They’re also found with a variety of special visual effects. These stunning stones get their unique look thanks to inclusions, color zoning, cut, and more. Keep reading to discover these stunning and non-traditional stones.

Star Sapphire (Asterism)

Star sapphires are cabochon-cut sapphires that display a star-like effect called an asterism. They’re cut and polished in a rounded style, rather and faceted, that allows a 6- or 12-rayed asterism to shine through in certain lights. 

Asterism is caused by rutile needle inclusions that give a silky effect and cause light to reflect in a star pattern. This pattern is most visible under direct light, and can shine in many colors including blue, pink, gray, and black. The red version of this stone is known as star rubies.

Starbrite Sapphires

Starbrite sapphires get their name from their cut, developed by gem cutter John Dyer. This proprietary cut features a brilliant pattern of light and dark areas that radiates like a starburst. The unique faceting style creates this optical illusion, which can also be applied to other gemstones.

Silky Sapphires

Similar to star sapphires, silky sapphires get their soft glow from fine mineral rutile inclusions. Kashmir sapphires are known for this velvety texture. While silk can enhance the beauty of a stone, if the inclusions are too heavy it can reduce the transparency.

Color-change Sapphires

These rare and valuable stones change color depending on the lighting. For example, a sapphire may appear blue in daylight, but violet or purple in incandescent light. This effect is most often seen in sapphires from Sri Lanka or Tanzania. 

Parti-color Sapphires

Parti sapphires display two or more distinct colors, like blue and green or yellow and orange. Depending on the color zone, colors can appear distinct or layered and complex. These one-of-a-kind stones are mostly found in Australia and Montana.

Heated vs Unheated Sapphires

You may have noticed that many affordable sapphires are also heated. That’s because sapphires can be treated with heat to improve the color. This process can achieve desirable shades that would otherwise be found in a more expensive stone. 

Heated sapphires are still valuable, as sapphires are also prized based on their cut and clarity. However, the brilliant shades found in natural, unheated sapphires make them beloved by gem collectors.

Sapphire Care and Cleaning

At a 9 on the Mohs hardness scale, sapphire jewelry is resistant to scratches and chips. This makes it a great durable option for everyday wear. However, consider that inclusions, such as in silky sapphires or asterisms, will affect the stone's durability. For any type of sapphire, regular care and cleaning can help your gemstone sparkle for a lifetime.

Regularly clean your jewelry with warm soapy water and a soft brush. Avoid using harsh detergents on your sapphires. Never clean with solvents such as alcohol, paint thinner, or acetone, as these can damage the stone. Finally, make sure to check stones frequently to ensure their setting is secure.

Ready To Choose Your Sapphire?

With so many colors and effects available, sapphires are one of the most diverse gemstones in the world. They have been long prized for rings, earrings, necklaces, and other jewelry for a reason.

When shopping for sapphires, consider what factors are most important to you. That could include color choice, durability, budget, or mining practices. 

If you plan on wearing your ring daily, an Australian sapphire with minimal inclusions is an excellent and durable choice. But if you’re shopping for jewelry with a statement stone, a star sapphire is a classic and show-stopping option. Montana sapphires are popular for their balance between ethical mining, stunning colors and effects, and durability. 

Discover more stunning pieces in our limited-edition hand-mined Montana sapphire engagement collection today.