Varieties: Sapphires are part of the corundum family, and their color can vary widely. Blue sapphires are the most famous, but they can also be found in pink (often called pink sapphires), yellow (known as yellow sapphires), orange, green, purple, and even colorless (referred to as white sapphires).

Durability: Sapphires are one of the hardest natural substances, measuring 9 on the Mohs scale of hardness, just below diamonds. This makes them highly resistant to scratching and suitable for everyday wear in jewelry.

Sources: Major sapphire deposits are found in countries like Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Australia, and Kashmir (renowned for its highly prized Kashmir sapphires). Each location often produces sapphires with unique qualities and colors.