Sapphires come mainly from Thailand, Sri Lanka, Australia, Cambodia. Kashmir and Burma (now known as Myanmar) are the most famous and well-known sources of sapphire. Kashmir sapphire was discovered over 100 years ago and has a rich velvet-blue color prized by the industry. Burma sapphires, from the same region that produces quality rubies, are also considered fine quality.

Most fine sapphire on the market today comes from Sri Lanka, which produces sapphires that range from delicate sky blue to rich saturated blues. Kanchanaburi in Thailand and Pailin in Cambodia are also renowned for their deep-blue sapphires.

The United States, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, China and Madagascar also produce some sapphire. The deposits in Montana produce a range of fancy sapphires, which are sapphires in colors other than blue.

Two new mining localities that are showing promise include Madagascar, which has produced some exceptionally fine sapphires in small sizes, and Tanzania, which has produced sapphire in other colors than blue but is starting to produce blue-colored sapphires as well from a new deposit in the south of the country.