African sapphire is very well known the world over. There are several kinds of sapphire, depending on where the stones originate, and they're not very far apart, but have some very different characteristics. Umba sapphire comes in nuggets from the mud of the Umba region of Tanzania, the same region where the well-loved tanzanite stone originates. It is often pastel and truly amazing! Tunduru sapphire, sometimes called Tunduru garnet, comes from the Tunduru region of Africa, a state of Tanzania. It is often striking for its brilliance and for its autumn shades.
Sapphire come in a huge variety of cuts, the most popular being rondelles, pears, hearts and other briolettes, and other shapes. The colors can range from brilliant reds, (usually called ruby) to pinks, greens, oranges, yellows, purples, and yes, even blue! The orange-pink, very intense shade is called "padparadscha" and has a very interesting story behind it. It tends to be the color of a brilliant sunset or sunrise.
