# Sapphire

Sapphire is a precious gemstone known for its beautiful blue color. It is often used in jewelry like rings and necklaces, making people feel special and elegant when wearing it.

- **Category:** [Mineral](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mineral)
- **Rarity:** Rare
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Also known as:** Blue Sapphire, Star Sapphire

![Sapphire](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Sapphire01.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Azuncha, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sapphire01.jpg)

## Appearance

The Sapphire is a precious gemstone, most famous for its deep, velvety blue hue. It can also appear in vibrant pinks, yellows, and even greens, distinguished by its strong sparkle and often hexagonal crystal shape.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia

## Interesting facts

- A special orange-pink sapphire is Padparadscha, named after a lotus flower!
- Sapphire is chemically identical to ruby; only the color difference separates them!
- Sapphire is used in smartphone screens for extreme scratch resistance!
- Star sapphires have silky lines inside that create a glowing, six-rayed star effect!

## Special abilities

- **Cutting Power:** Sapphire has incredible hardness (9 on Mohs) that allows it to scratch almost all other minerals, making it perfect for cutting tools.
- **Eternal Shine:** Sapphire has exceptional scratch resistance, meaning it stays sparkling and clear even after many years of wear.
- **Rainbow Colors:** Sapphire's trace elements, like iron or titanium, create its beautiful spectrum of colors beyond just blue.

## Measurements & details

- **Color Range:** blue, pink, yellow, green, purple, orange, black, colorless
- **Hardness:** 9
- **Luster:** vitreous
- **Specific Gravity:** 4
- **Crystal System:** hexagonal

## Traits

- [Ancient](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient): Ancient refers to organisms, objects, or geological formations that have existed for an extremely long period.
- [Gemstone](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/gemstone): A gemstone is a piece of mineral crystal which, when cut and polished, is used to make jewelry or other adornments.
- [Crystalline](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/crystalline): Crystalline describes a mineral or rock composed of crystals, often exhibiting a regular atomic structure and geometric external form.
- [Natural](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/natural): Natural refers to organisms, materials, or phenomena existing or produced by nature, not artificially created.

## Collections

- [Minerals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/minerals)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Sapphires are safe to admire but should be handled carefully to avoid scratches or damage.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Sapphire?

Compare crystal faces, growth shape, clarity and how the crystals cluster. A polished or tumbled stone has lost much of the natural shape that makes identification easier. Crystal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### What colors can Sapphire be?

blue, pink, yellow, green, purple, orange, black, colorless

### How hard is Sapphire?

9

### What kind of luster does Sapphire have?

vitreous

### What is Sapphire's specific gravity?

4

### What crystal system does Sapphire belong to?

hexagonal

## More Mineral

- [Quartz Crystal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/quartz-crystal)
- [Amethyst](https://www.snappit.app/explore/amethyst)
- [Rose Quartz](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rose-quartz)
- [Citrine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/citrine)

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Source: [Sapphire: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sapphire)