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Even though it is pink, pink
sapphire is a member of the corundum family of sapphires. In
fact, there are a multitude of colors available besides blue and they
are referred to as "fancies".
Chemical composition
The chemical composition of this lovely hued gemstone is aluminum
oxide with a little chrome for the shades of pink. These gemstones
were formed thousands of years ago as they were exposed to the
earth's heat and pressure. It is possible that some pink sapphire
earrings and other pieces have been heat-treated to create a deeper
shade of pink.
Origins
Today, the stones from a pink
sapphire ring probably came from either Madagascar or Brazil.
These locations yielded up huge deposits when discovered in the 90s.
Prior to that, the pink gemstone was quite rare as limited numbers
came out of parts of Asia like Sri
Lanka, Vietnam and Burma.
Special occasions
Like many gemstones, the sapphire is assigned as a birthstone.
September babies can call this precious gem all their own. To be
different, surprise a birthday girl with pink sapphire
earrings instead of the expected blue. She will blush with
pleasure at the unique gift.
This lovely pink gemstone can also be used to celebrate a 45th wedding
anniversary. A pink sapphire ring is a great way to let her know
she's still as lovely as that blushing young bride from 45 years ago.
Speaking of love and romance, it is makes a great gift for Valentine's
Day. Yes, the ruby owns that holiday, but a pink heart-shaped
pendant says the same thing.
A bit of trivia
Ancient cultures often attached special powers to gemstones that they
came into contact with. They were influenced by the fiery colors,
crystal transparency or the way they resembled the moon, the sun and
the ocean. Sapphire has its own lore and legend attached to it.
To show how storied its history is, this gemstone was referenced in
the Bible as well as in Greek mythology. According to the myth,
Prometheus was the first being to wear the gem as jewelry after he
stole it from the gods. But, maybe the most important characteristic
is that, according to Indian culture, wearing it wards off evil
spirits. Whether it works or not, could it really hurt to wear a pink
sapphire necklace as a protective talisman.
Care and cleaning tips
Corundum is one of the hardest minerals on the planet. It is second
only to the diamond which has a rank of 10 on the Mohs
scale of hardness. Corundum has a rank of 9. This means that
cleaning pink sapphire jewelry is easy. At home, pieces can be soaked
in warm soapy water and scrubbed with a toothbrush. Ultrasonic
cleaners and steamers are also safe to use. Because of their
hardness, it is safe to wear this gemstone everyday.
Pink is a lot of things, but mostly it is feminine and sweet. Any
girl would blush with delight to open a box containing a pink
sapphire ring. |
