Yellow sapphire gets its name from two simple ideas: "yellow" describes its colour, and "sapphire" is the name given to every colour of corundum except red. The word "sapphire" comes from the Latin sapphirus and the Greek sappheiros, which originally meant "blue" and often referred to lapis lazuli.
Once scientists understood in the late 1700s that ruby and sapphire are both corundum, the name was extended to yellow, pink, green, and other colours. In India, the stone is called Pukhraj, from the Sanskrit Pushparaga. Until the late 19th century, yellow sapphire was also sold as "Oriental Topaz."
Where the Word "Sapphire" Comes From
The word travelled through several languages before it reached English.
| Stage | Word | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ancient Greek | sappheiros | Meant "blue" and usually referred to lapis lazuli, not the gem we call sapphire today |
| Latin | sapphirus | The form that passed into English |
| Possible Hebrew root | sappir | Often translated as "noble stone" |
| Possible Sanskrit root | śanipriya | Meaning "dear to Saturn," which fits the link between blue sapphire and Saturn in Indian astrology |
Scholars do not agree on a single origin, so the Greek, Hebrew, and Sanskrit roots are all treated as possibilities. What is certain is that "sapphire" first meant a blue stone.
Why Is a Yellow Stone Called a Sapphire?
For many centuries, only blue stones were called sapphires. That changed when gem scientists learned that sapphire and ruby are the same mineral. Only at the end of the 18th century did people understand that both are varieties of corundum, the mineral whose own name comes from the Sanskrit "kuruvinda," a word for rubies and sapphires.
Once this was clear, the name followed the mineral and not the colour. Today, every corundum that is not red is called a sapphire, and the colour is added in front:
| Colour of Corundum | Name |
|---|---|
| Blue | Blue sapphire (often just "sapphire") |
| Yellow | Yellow sapphire |
| Pink | Pink sapphire |
| Green | Green sapphire |
| Orange-pink | Padparadscha |
| Red | Ruby |
Non-blue sapphires are also grouped as "fancy sapphires." In yellow sapphire, the colour comes from trace amounts of iron in the crystal.
Pukhraj: The Indian Name
In India, yellow sapphire is called Pukhraj. It comes from the classical Sanskrit name Pushparaga, which is commonly explained as "flower colour." Sanskrit texts also use other names for the stone, such as Gururatna and Guruvallabha, which link it to Jupiter (Guru). In Vedic astrology, Pukhraj is the gemstone of Jupiter and one of the nine Navaratna stones.
One thing to watch: in everyday Indian use, the word "Pukhraj" has sometimes been applied loosely to other yellow stones, such as yellow topaz or citrine. When buying blue sapphire, always ask for the exact stone name on the report.
FAQs
1. How did yellow sapphire get its name?
"Yellow" describes its colour, and "sapphire" is the name used for all non-red corundum. The word sapphire comes from the Latin sapphirus and the Greek sappheiros, which meant "blue."
2. Why is it called a sapphire if it is not blue?
Because sapphire and ruby are both varieties of the mineral corundum. Once this was understood in the late 1700s, the name sapphire was used for every non-red colour.
3. What does the word "sapphire" mean?
It comes from words meaning "blue" or "blue stone." Possible roots include the Greek sappheiros, the Hebrew sappir ("noble stone"), and the Sanskrit śanipriya ("dear to Saturn").
4. What is yellow sapphire called in India?
It is called Pukhraj, from the Sanskrit Pushparaga. It is the gemstone of Jupiter in Vedic astrology.
5. What does Pukhraj mean?
Pukhraj comes from Pushparaga, which is commonly explained as "flower colour." Many sources describe it simply as the "yellow jewel."
