Sapphire

n. hard precious stone, variety of corundum (usually deep blue in color)

It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with . ()Sapphire is the blue variety of the mineral corundum, an aluminium oxide (Al2O3). It can be found naturally or manufactured in large crystal boules for varied applications, including infrared optical components, watch faces, high-durability windows, and wafers for the deposition of semiconductors such as GaN nanorods. The mineral corundum consists of pure aluminium oxide. Trace amounts of other elements such as iron, titanium and chromium give corundum their blue, yellow, pink, purple, orange or greenish color. Sapphire includes any gemstone quality varieties of the mineral corundum except the fully saturated red variety, which is instead known as ruby, and the pinkish-orange variety known as padparadscha.
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Noun
1. a precious transparent stone of rich blue corundum valued as a gemstone
(hypernym) transparent gem
(hyponym) star sapphire
2. a transparent piece of sapphire that has been cut and polished and is valued as a precious gem
(hypernym) jewel, gem, precious stone
3. a light shade of blue
(synonym) azure, cerulean, lazuline, sky-blue
(hypernym) blue, blueness
Adjective
1. having the color of a blue sapphire; "sapphire eyes"
(similar) chromatic

(n.)
The color of the gem; bright blue.
  

(n.)
Native alumina or aluminium sesquioxide, Al2O3; corundum; esp., the blue transparent variety of corundum, highly prized as a gem.
  

(n.)
Any humming bird of the genus Hylocharis, native of South America. The throat and breast are usually bright blue.
  

(a.)
Of or resembling sapphire; sapphirine; blue.
  

A gemstone of the corundum family, although blue is the color most commonly associated with sapphires, they come in a range of colors from white to orange to green to pink. In fact, if a corundum gemstone is red, it is referred to as a ruby, but any other color, including the light pinkish "rubies" in inexpensive jewelry are properly referred to as sapphires. Sapphires were first synthesized in the 1920's, so it takes an expert to determine if a sapphire is natural. Natural sapphires are sometimes found that exhibit a star effect. These can be quite valuable if the star is centered and well-defined, but in 1967 the synthetic Linde Star Sapphire hit the market, and many star sapphires found today are these synthetics.