- The colours purple and violet are often confused, but are actually distinct hues. Purple is a blended hue: red with a mixture of blue. These colors may be considered more obscure due to the availability of other purple and violet gemstones.
- Sapphires are far more durable and brilliant than other stones of the same colour.
- Sapphires are the birthstone for the month of September.
- Many purple sapphires show subtle shifts in color under different kinds of lighting. They will appear violet under daylight or fluorescent lighting, and distinctly purple under incandescent lights.
- Purple Sapphires rate 9.0 on the mohs hardness scale, making them one of the best gemstones for use in jewellery.
- Purple sapphires come from Sri Lanka, Kenya, Tanzania, Madagascar, and Myanmar.

August 19, 2014
by Perrine Comeille