Sapphire

Sapphire: A gem variety of corundum in transparent or translucent crystals of a color other than red; especially one of a transparent rich blue
Color: various colors, except for red (ruby)
Mined: Australia, Burma, Sri Lanka, Thailand
Moh's Hardness: 9

Sapphires, of the same mineral family as rubies, corundum, can range in color from orange/pink to black - anything but red, which would make the stone
a ruby. Most prized sapphires are deep blue in color. It was the deep blue color that caused ancient Persians to believe that the earth was a giant sapphire - the beautiful blue sky reflected their proof back to earth.