


Many different trace elements may be present in corundum, slightly changing its chemical composition. Just what color is sapphire? Are these gemstones treated to alter their hues, or are they natural sapphires?Įven though sapphire is typically a blue stone, it turns out that sapphires come in just about every color you can imagine! Sapphire is a variety of a mineral called “corundum,” which is an aluminum oxide with the chemical formula α-Al 2O 3. If you have been shopping for sapphires recently, however, you may have noticed a surprising trend in sapphire jewelry. You may have seen sapphires advertised in different colors, and even something called “rainbow sapphire jewelry.” You probably envisioned a deep blue gemstone, right? The very name “sapphire” comes from the Greek word for “blue stone.” Even though historically that name probably referred to lapis lazuli and not to sapphire, the very fact that the name has been transferred tells you just how many sapphires are blue.
