YOGO AND MONTANA SAPPHIRES FAQ
Information from American Gem Corporation

Where do American Sapphires come from?
Sapphire was discovered in Montana in the late 1800s by a gold miner working on one of the gravel bars on the Missouri River near Helena. Today, Montana sapphires are appreciated for their world-class color, clarity and brilliance.

What are sapphires?
Sapphires are one of the four precious gems (the other three being emerald, ruby and diamond). Sapphire and its fraternal twin the ruby are both composed of the same material, corundum, the crystalline form of aluminum and oxygen. Sapphires come in virtually every color of the rainbow; when red they are called ruby.

What makes the colors?
In its pure state, corundum is colorless. Tiny trace amounts of metallic elements create color. The blue in sapphire comes from the simultaneous presence of titanium and iron, while orange sapphires are produced when the necessary amounts of chromium and iron are present. Pink sapphires have small amounts of chromium. Iron can produce both green and yellow sapphires. Greater amounts of chromium create the red found in rubies.

What makes the American Sapphire special?
Typically, sapphires and rubies have color but very little brilliance. Diamonds, on the other hand, have brilliance but very little color. American sapphires from Montana have remarkable color and brilliance. There are some colors from Montana that are found no where else in the world. This combination is what makes the American sapphire so appealing and unique.

Why consider a sapphire?
Sapphires are moderately priced compared to diamonds, they are far less common than diamonds and are less susceptible to breakage. Sapphires are one of the hardest gemstones on earth and are extremely durable, which means they will remain beautiful forever. For centuries, sapphires have been the choice of royalty for engagement rings. Sapphires are available in every color imaginable, which allows you to select the perfect gemstone to reflect your personal style.

Caring for sapphires...
To avoid scratching, sapphires should be stored separately from diamonds and other sapphires or rubies. When cleaning, soak and wash sapphires in warm, sudsy water using a mild detergent.

Montana Sapphires

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