Sapphire

Blue sapphire is a gemstone made from corundum, the hardest mineral after diamond. It consists mainly of aluminum oxide, with traces of iron and titanium which give the mineral its characteristic blue color. This gemstone was first discovered in Kashmir in 1880.

To become a gemstone, sapphire must be mined, cut, and crafted into a desired shape. There are many major producing areas for blue sapphires including Sri Lanka and Myanmar.

Blue sapphires are considered highly desirable gemstones and their value can range from a few hundred dollars for a lesser quality stone to tens of thousands of dollars for a large, high quality stone.