In its purest form, aluminum oxide is colorless. It is the impurities and other elements that determine its color. When we use the term sapphire, we mean blue sapphire. In Greek, "sappheiros" means "blue-colored stone". It is the combination of impurities such as iron and titanium that gives sapphire its coveted color. The more iron a sapphire contains, the bluer its color.

- Where it comes from: As with rubies, Asia is the cradle of sapphire. The three most important sources are Kashmir, Sri Lanka and Myanmar. Blue sapphires from these locations are considered to be of better quality than anywhere else. Sri Lanka represents one of the world's most gem-rich lands. Most sapphires considered to be of superior quality and weighing over 100 carats come from Sri Lanka. Depending on its provenance, different terms and characteristics are attributed to the sapphire, sometimes to a fault. And it's not easy to confirm a stone's origin simply on the basis of its brilliance, its inclusions, the intensity of its color... For example, a sapphire whose color is similar to that of a cornflower, with its dominant violet-blue to pure velvety blue hue and its depth, is known as a "Kashmir sapphire", criteria typical of sapphires from Kashmir. This type of sapphire is very rare. Other important Asian sources are Thailand, Vietnam, China and Cambodia. More generally, sapphires are also found in Africa (Niger, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania) and Madagascar, where many have been mined for decades. They are often resold elsewhere as Sri Lankan or Ceylonese sapphires. Other sources include Australia and the USA (in the state of Montana). Most sapphires are cut in Asia.

-A rainbow of sapphires: Sapphire has a hidden face... It can take on a multitude of appearances, satisfying even the most demanding of admirers... One of the most coveted colors is pink-orange, orange-rose: this is the famous Padparadscha, which means "lotus flower" in Sinhalese. This sublime color, comparable to the flesh of a ripe guava, elevates this sapphire to the rank of the noblest and most esteemed. It owes its color to elements such as iron and chromium. Its color is unique. Like Padparadscha, sapphires of intense sparkling pink are highly prized for their uncommon beauty. Their color is largely due to chromium. A combination of iron, chromium and titanium generally contributes to the sapphire's purple color. There are also red-purple sapphires whose color is not due to chromium, but to the presence of beryllium. Green sapphires derive their color from several elements, including iron and titanium. It's not always easy to find green sapphires with bright intensity and vibrant brilliance. Other stones, such as tsavorites and tourmalines, are generally brighter green. Iron also contributes to the yellow-orange color of a sapphire.

Traces of chromium are sometimes added to give this color. Colorless sapphire or "leucosaphir" (leuco meaning white, colorless in Greek) is the purest of sapphires, as it is not colored by any impurity. It has often been used as a diamond substitute and is now more affordable. As is black sapphire, which has enjoyed a successful period with the success of black diamonds. Philippe Tournaire likes to paint with the palette of colors offered by sapphire, a gem full of surprises. By combining them, the artisan jeweler creates a harmony all his own: sparkling colors burst forth from the painting to bring it to life. It's the magic of the sapphire rainbow!