• Deep blue sapphires are highly prized.saphir et diamants image by pgm from Fotolia.com
  
  Sapphires are famous for their brilliant blues and crystal clarity. However, they come in a range of colors from white to yellow, pink and black. Sapphire sources are concentrated in Asia, with Kashmir as the pinnacle of sapphire quality. While Asia is the richest source of sapphires, there are sapphire mines in Africa, Australia and the United States as well.
  
  

Kashmir

• According to Ruby-Sapphire, sapphires from Kashmir are the "peak" of sapphires around the world. A significant industry was built around sapphires in Kashmir during the late 1800s, but since then production has petered out. Because of this, Kashmiri sapphires are generally available only through collectors and estate auctions. Kashmiri sapphires are a rich, velvety deep blue, with the rare star sapphires being the most highly prized of all.
  
  

Myanmar

• The Mogok mines in Myanmar (formally Burma) produce the world's second finest sapphires, with imperial blue stones that do not require heat treatment to bring out the color. These stones, known as Burmese sapphires, are prized for their rich luster. Star sapphires are commonly found in the Mogok mines.
  
  

Sri Lanka

• Sri Lanka is the world largest producer of star sapphires, and also of sapphires over 100 carats. Sapphires from Sri Lanka are electric, cornflower blue although they commonly require heat treatment to bring out the true intensity of the color. According to Gems Brokers, Sri Lanka is famous for producing a wide range of colored sapphires---from sky blues to orange and pinks.
  
  

Thailand

• Thailand is an important part of the world sapphire industry not just because of the stones found there, but because it is home to some of the biggest sapphire heating, cutting and trading centers in the world. According to GemsDB, Thai sapphires are a deep, rich blue. While larger stones are found in Thailand, they tend to be cloudy, rather than the piercing clarity of a truly fine sapphire.
  
  

Madagascar

• Madagascar suffers from a lack of organized mining but produces very fine, small sapphires. According to Gems Brokers, Madagascan sapphires make up quite a percentage of the world sapphire market, but are sold in Sri Lanka and marketed as Sri Lankan originals.
  
  

Australia

• Australia is one of the world's largest producers of faceted sapphires. Australian sapphires are dark, verging on inky, and so usually require heat treatment to bring out a good color.
  
  

USA

• The main U.S. sapphire mine is in Yogo Gulch, Montana. While this mine produces fine, clear colored stones, it is rare that a stone over one carat is lifted from the area. Because of the lack of large stones, the Montana mines play a smaller role in the world sapphire market.