Is a sapphire rare?

As a gemologist with a deep understanding of the intricacies of gemstones, I can provide a comprehensive answer to your question about the rarity of sapphires. In the world of gemstones, rarity is often determined by a combination of factors including the stone's occurrence in nature, its durability, and its desirability among collectors and consumers. Let's delve into these aspects to understand the status of sapphires within the gemstone spectrum. **Step 1: Understanding the Rarity of Gemstones** Firstly, it's important to clarify that rarity in the context of gemstones is not solely about the frequency of a stone's occurrence in nature. While it's true that diamonds are rare in nature, their abundance in the gem world is due to their extreme durability and the demand they generate from consumers. This demand is fueled by marketing and the cultural significance diamonds have acquired over time. Step 2: The Mineral Corundum Sapphires, along with rubies, are varieties of the mineral corundum. Corundum, in its pure form, is actually quite common and is known for its hardness, ranking a 9 on the Mohs scale. This makes it an excellent material for use in abrasives and other industrial applications. However, the presence of trace elements within corundum is what gives sapphires and rubies their characteristic colors and distinguishes them from common corundum. Step 3: The Role of Trace Elements The color of a sapphire is influenced by the presence of trace elements like iron and titanium. For instance, the blue color in sapphires is typically due to the presence of iron and titanium. The scarcity of these trace elements, or the specific conditions under which they can create the desired color in corundum, can affect the rarity of sapphires. Step 4: Rarity and Desirability While corundum itself is not rare, the conditions required to form a sapphire are more specific and less common. This, combined with the desirability of sapphires due to their beauty and hardness, contributes to their perceived rarity in the gem world. Sapphires are also treasured for their use in jewelry and their historical and cultural significance, which adds to their value and desirability. Step 5: Rarity in the Market In the gemstone market, sapphires are considered relatively rare compared to other gemstones like quartz or topaz. This is due to the limited number of locations where sapphires can be found in significant quantities. Furthermore, the quality of sapphires can vary greatly, with the most valuable stones being those with a deep, vivid color and high clarity. Conclusion In conclusion, while corundum as a mineral is not rare, sapphires, as a gem variety of corundum, are indeed considered rare due to the specific conditions required for their formation, their desirability in the gemstone market, and their cultural significance. The rarity of sapphires is a nuanced concept that encompasses more than just their natural occurrence; it also involves their appeal and the value they hold in the eyes of collectors and consumers.

In nature diamonds are rare, but not so in the gem world. Rubies and sapphires are different colored varieties of the mineral corundum. Now corundum is a fairly common mineral. Ranking a 9 on the Mohs scale of hardness (diamond is a 10), corundum has been mined extensively for abrasives.