The word sapphire comes from the Latin sapphiru which means blue.

Sapphires come in a rainbow of colors from the vibrant blue of the midday sky, to the navy blue of the night sky, yellow reflections of the sun, and the pink of dawn and dusk. 25karats.com also offers sapphires in more unusual colors such as purple, orange, green and black.

Sapphire is the birthstone for September. It is also a traditional gift for those celebrating 5th or 45th anniversaries.

Sapphires belong to the family of minerals known as corundum. They are among the strongest natural gemstones in existence, second only to diamonds.

Sapphires have been found across the globe in countries as far apart as Australia and Kashmir, China and Cambodia. The majority of sapphires for sale at 25karats.com originate in Madagascar, Kashmir and Ceylon.

The most valuable sapphires are a mid color blue with a concentrated hue which remains constant under all lighting conditions.

Sapphires of up to 2 carats are common. Larger sapphires of up to 10 carats are not difficult to find in a variety of colors.

The largest cut and polished sapphire, with a weight of 61,500 carats is the Millennium Sapphire.

Sapphires are often associated with loyalty and dignity and are a favorite gemstone for royalty.

Most natural sapphires undergo heat treatment to improve their color and clarity. This industry-accepted practice results in a permanent enhancement and helps protect against accidental chipping or breakage.