Sapphire: 'sa-"fIr - A gem variety of
corundum in transparent or translucent
crystals of a color other than red;
especially one of a transparent rich blue

Color: various colors, except for red
(ruby)
Mined: Australia, Burma, Sri Lanka,
Thailand
Moh's Hardness: 9
Birthstone: September (modern
birthstone), September (traditional
birthstone), May (mystical birthstone)
and August (Ayurvedic birthstone)

Sapphires, of the same mineral family as
rubies, corundum, can range in color
from orange/pink to black - anything but
red, which would make the stone a ruby.
Most prized sapphires are deep blue in
color. It was the deep blue color that
caused ancient Persians to believe that
the earth was a giant sapphire - the
beautiful blue sky reflected their proof
back to earth.