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What Are Sapphire Gemstones Used For?

Sapphires are a type of mineral that contains trace elements of iron, titanium and chromium. There are five main types: padparascha, blue, fancy, color-change and star sapphires. Sapphires are precious gemstones, and their rich colors and rarity make them a popular stone of choice for rings and necklaces. Natural sapphires are also one of the hardest minerals in the world, second only to diamonds.

Jewelry
- Sapphires are the traditional 45th wedding anniversary gift.
  
  Sapphires are most commonly used in jewelry making to create rings, necklaces and bracelets. Individual gemstones are faceted, polished and set in a mount to display their cut, color and brilliance. Some sapphires are put through a special heat treatment process to enhance and brighten the natural color of the stone. The largest natural carved sapphire in the world is the millennium sapphire, which weighs 12.3 kg and has a whopping 61,500 carats.
Substrate
- Sapphire is used as a substrate in some cellphones.
  
  Thin wafers of sapphire are used as a substrate in high frequency circuits. Artificial sapphires are placed inside the circuit to help absorb and remove excess heat generated by the electric current. Sapphire substrates are called SOS chips or silicon-on-sapphire. The SOS chips are used in both digital and analog items, including satellite communication systems, computers and LEDs.
Particle Collectors
- Sapphires have extremely low impurity levels.
  
  Sapphire disks are used by NASA to collect particles in space. Diamonds, gold and silicon are combined with the sapphire, which is attached to the outside of the space shuttle. The precious gems collect particle information from outer space, which can then be analyzed back on earth. Several different types of gemstones are used because they each have individual attracting properties; sapphires are used for their ability to attract neon and helium.
Abrasives
- Sapphire flakes will increase the strength of metal drill bits.
  
  Because of sapphire's extreme strength and durability, it's used as an abrasive substance. Tiny flakes of sapphire are combined with molten metal to create super strong drill bits and jewelry-making tools. These tools can be used to cut, facet, drill or polish other gemstones that have a rating lower than 8 on Freidrich Moh's mineral scale of hardness.

Rocks & Minerals