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Pink Sapphire Formation



Sapphires are a sought-after gemstone because they’re durable, sparkling, and available in unique hues. Most people think of the blue variety of sapphires, but they’re available in yellow, green, white, purple and pink. Technically, pink sapphires are stones that are not red enough to be considered a ruby. Both sapphires and rubies are varieties of the mineral corundum, but the only difference between the two gemstones is the color.


Pink sapphires are a rare, beautiful precious gemstone with increasing popularity by collectors and jewelry enthusiasts. They’re a valuable gemstone because of their unique color that varies from a light pink to a deep magenta.


The Science Behind Pink Sapphire Formation


Like diamonds, sapphires take millions of years to form, and no two natural sapphires look the same. They’re formed beneath the earth’s surface under immense pressure and intense heat out of a mineral called corundum (aluminum oxide) that seeps into cracks in igneous or metamorphic rocks. Once the liquid cools, it turns into colorless crystals. However, when tiny traces of other minerals (often as little as 1%) mix with corundum, it turns the stone into various colors such as red, pink, blue, yellow, orange, etc. If the chromium content is higher you get a deeper red color, which makes the stone a ruby. If the content is lower, then you'll see a pink sapphire.


Colorless sapphires are rare because even a trace of another element alters the stone’s color. Most corundum contains color-causing trace elements. When the trace elements are iron and titanium, the corundum is blue sapphire. Only a few hundredths of a percent of iron and titanium can cause the color, and the more iron the corundum contains, the darker the blue. For pink sapphires, the more chromium, the deeper the pink hue.



Where Are Pink Sapphires Found?


Pink sapphires used to be considered extremely rare until additional pink sapphire deposits were discovered in Madagascar in the late 1990s. Until then, pink sapphires were considered exceptionally rare since they were only found in a few locations around the world. Most popular locations being Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and East Africa.


An extremely rare version of the pink sapphire is a pinkish-orange padparadscha sapphire that comes from Sri Lanka. The name came from the color of Sri Lanka’s lotus blossoms. Some describe the hue as a mixture between the color of a sunset and lotus blossoms. There are also orange sapphires from Tanzania’s Umba Valley. While they are orange in color, it tends to be much darker than the ideal, with brownish overtones. Thus most collectors do not feel they qualify as true padparadschas.


The Cultural Significance of Pink Sapphires


Sapphires represent the higher mind allowing one to connect to your intuition, improve clarity, and increase self-control. These gemstones were used throughout history for protection, good fortune, and spiritual discernment. Different cultures wore sapphires as protection from evil. In some Asian stories, these gemstones get compared to the sacred lotus flower that represents beauty, wisdom, and purity.


Some think pink sapphires act like magnets that attract good in your life. It is a stone of spiritual power and wisdom that also brings prosperity and helps sustain the gifts of life. It promotes the fulfillment of dreams and desires.


Pink sapphires increase one’s appreciation and gratitude, and promotes the thought that love is its own reward. It’s supposed to remind us of the desire of our hearts.


The color and the meaning has made pink sapphires a popular gemstone for engagement rings and fine jewelry gifts. Collectors also appreciate the value of this rare gemstone.


Conclusion


Pink sapphires elevate any piece of fine jewelry, so it’s no surprise that this rare gemstone is popular for earrings, necklaces, and engagement rings. They’re a durable and valuable gemstone for gemstone collectors or jewelry enthusiasts. The pink hues can vary from a light pink to a deep magenta, so you’ll find your perfect shade of pink. .


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