Sapphires
The sapphire is also a part of the mineral species called corundum, which is known for its hardness and durability. Sapphires are found in rock or in the beds of streams and have been mined or panned for many centuries. Sapphire is best known in its blue variety, however it comes in essentially every color. The red is known as ruby. Sapphire, the celestial gemstone, has been treasured for thousands of years. The ancient Persians believed that the earth rested on a giant sapphire and its reflection colored the sky. Sapphires are found in all the colors of the heavens—from midnight blue to the bright blue of the noon sky, from the rich gold of sunrise to the fiery orange-red of sunset, and even the delicate violet of twilight.