sapphire

Home > ... > Earth and the Environment > Minerals, Mining, and Metallurgy > Mineralogy and Crystallography > ...

Essential reading Compare
side-by-side World Encyclopedia A Dictionary of the Bible The Columbia Encyclopedia, ...

sapphire

sapphire precious stone. A transparent blue corundum , it is classified among the most valuable of gems. Sapphires are found chiefly in Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar and also in Australia and in the United States (in Montana). The sapphires from Kashmir are of a beautiful cornflower blue and are highly valued. The Sri Lankan varieties are paler; those from Montana have a metallic luster; and the Australian sapphires are of a dark blue shade approaching black. The terms yellow sapphire, purple sapphire, and green sapphire are used alternatively with Oriental topaz, Oriental amethyst, and Oriental emerald for other varieties of corundum. Like rubies of similar structure, some sapphires display a six-pointed star when cut to a cabochon (round-topped) shape and exposed to direct sunlight. Such star sapphires are usually obtained from Sri Lanka. Synthetic sapphires are made by the fusion of aluminum oxide, with titanium oxide added as a coloring agent.

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1E1-sapphire" title="Facts and information about sapphire">sapphire</a>

Give this article a thumbs-up on StumbleUpon

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"sapphire." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 15 Nov. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"sapphire." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (November 15, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-sapphire.html

"sapphire." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Retrieved November 15, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-sapphire.html

Learn more about citation styles

sapphire

A Dictionary of the Bible | 1997 | | Â© A Dictionary of the Bible 1997, originally published by Oxford University Press 1997. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

sapphire The second jewel in the walls of the new Jerusalem (Rev. 21: 19); and in Ezekiel's vision the heavenly throne resembled sapphire (Ezek. 1: 26).

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1O94-sapphire" title="Facts and information about sapphire">sapphire</a>

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

W. R. F. BROWNING. "sapphire." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 15 Nov. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

W. R. F. BROWNING. "sapphire." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (November 15, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O94-sapphire.html

W. R. F. BROWNING. "sapphire." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Retrieved November 15, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O94-sapphire.html

Learn more about citation styles

sapphire

World Encyclopedia | 2005 | Â© World Encyclopedia 2005, originally published by Oxford University Press 2005. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

sapphire Transparent to translucent gemstone variety of corundum. It has various colours produced by impurities of iron and titanium, the most valuable being deep blue.

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1O142-sapphire" title="Facts and information about sapphire">sapphire</a>

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"sapphire." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 15 Nov. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"sapphire." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (November 15, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-sapphire.html

"sapphire." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved November 15, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-sapphire.html

Learn more about citation styles

Related entries from encyclopedias, dictionaries and thesauruses

Rate these entries|See all related entries

Free newspaper and magazine articles

	Sapphire/Web 4.0 to Deliver Enterprise-Class Java Applications. Business Wire; 7/21/1997
	BOMBAY SAPPHIRE(R) Gin Launches Career of Emerging Designer Michael Kritzer. Business Wire; 2/26/2007
	Bluestone introduces Sapphire/Web for Windows NT and 95 -- The first production-strength, PC-based Web application development environment. Business Wire; 6/17/1996

Facts and information from other sites

Related articles from newspapers, magazines, and more

	Sapphire Jewelry: Liberal Colors Challenge Conservative Blues.(Brief Article) Magazine article from: Jewelers Circular Keystone; 2/1/2001; ; 700+ words ; ...bracelet embellished with sapphires set in granulated 22k...Company, Multicolor sapphire and pearl drop earnings...colored princess-cut sapphires by Ballerina Gem Company...price is $3,285. Sapphire bracelets with diamond...single- or multi-color sapphires. Prices available on...
	Sapphire/Web 4.0 to Deliver Enterprise-Class Java Applications. Business Wire; 7/21/1997; 700+ words ; ...BUSINESS WIRE)--July 21, 1997-- Sapphire/Web 4.0 Bridges Gap Between Client...Web Development Tool Functionality; Sapphire/Web Generates "100 Percent Pure Java...Monday announced a major upgrade to Sapphire/Web designed to deliver enterprise...
	Salem sapphire-maker sees clear sailing ahead Newspaper article from: The Boston Globe; 2/23/1997; ; 700+ words ; ...What he got was a clear sapphire, but split in three sections...major breakthrough because sapphires had never been created...system and using a "seed sapphire" to start the growth eventually led to pure sapphires, he said, and the Army...
	BOMBAY SAPPHIRE(R) Is the Perfect Serve at The 24th Annual Sony Ericsson Open. PR Newswire; 3/5/2008; 700+ words ; ...MIAMI, March 5 /PRNewswire/ -- BOMBAY SAPPHIRE(R) gin, the fastest- growing, super...the duration of the tournament, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE will host an exclusive, upscale lounge...The lounge will feature the aptly named Sapphire Ace, the perfect serve and the official...
	BOMBAY SAPPHIRE(R) Gin Launches Career of Emerging Designer Michael Kritzer. Business Wire; 2/26/2007; 700+ words ; ...Place in 4(th) Annual U.S. BOMBAY SAPPHIRE Designer Glass Competition. the Winner...Francois Bouchard. NEW YORK -- BOMBAY SAPPHIRE[R], the leading super-premium gin...has won the 4th Annual U.S. BOMBAY SAPPHIRE Designer Glass Competition for his inspired...
	Australian sapphires and rubies. Magazine article from: Rocks & Minerals; 3/1/2007; ; 700+ words ; ...fields, low-grade sapphire and ruby in older...quality of its fine sapphires. Many were marketed...ruby, nine blue sapphires, and two pinks. Tasmanian rough sapphires rarely reach 50...even with many sapphire sites, only records...
	Sapphire Essentials -- Effects Plug-in Package.(Sapphire special effects software from GenArts)(Column)(Evaluation) Magazine article from: Digital Video Magazine; 7/1/2002; ; 700+ words ; ...little plug-in package from GenArts called Sapphire (www.genarts.com). The GenArts Sapphire plug-in package delivers more than 200...vendor I used to test this plug-in package. Sapphire is available for all of Avid's products...
	SAPPHIRE TO SELL INTERACTIVE INTELLIGENCE SOFTWARE IN INDIA. News Wire article from: AsiaPulse News; 4/12/2000; 700+ words ; ...management software, today announced that Sapphire Infotech, an integrated end-to-end...Center(R) (EIC) throughout India. Sapphire Infotech is the third company in India...every aspect of business communications. Sapphire Callnet, an affiliate of Sapphire Infotech...
	BOMBAY SAPPHIRE Aligns With World Famous Cirque du Soleil(R). PR Newswire; 9/6/2006; 700+ words ; ...Exclusive Collaboration will feature BOMBAY SAPPHIRE gin martini cocktails in the Cirque du...Sept. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- BOMBAY SAPPHIRE(R), the leading super-premium gin...unprecedented exposure for the BOMBAY SAPPHIRE brand throughout the United States and...
	The Sapphire Group Reinvents Relationship Building On the Web With the Launch of InterestNetwork. PR Newswire; 9/24/1998; 700+ words ; The Sapphire Group Delivers Personalization to womenCONNECT...Sept. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- The Sapphire Group announced today interestNetwork...Kittelsen, CEO and cofounder of The Sapphire Group, explained that many of today...