What Is a White Sapphire?

The Mineral

• In its natural form, sapphire is a mineral called corundum, which is a crystalline form of aluminum oxide.

Color

• When corundum is red, it is known as ruby. When it appears in other colors, it is called sapphire. White sapphire does not contain the iron, titanium or chromium that gives other sapphires color, according to Thai Gem.

Hardness

• Sapphire ranks second only to diamonds with a rank of 9 on the Mohs Hardness Scale.

Origins

• White sapphire is native to Sri Lanka, Australia, Thailand, Myanmar, Madagascar, Cambodia and Tanzania, according to Kai Jewels. Many white sapphires come from Sri Lanka, which has earned the stone the name "Ceylon white sapphires."

Fun Fact

• Ancient Egyptians linked white sapphire to the eye of Horus. Ancient Greeks discovered white sapphire on the island of Naxos and used it when prophesying at the Oracle of Delphi, according to Thai Gem.