SAPPHIRE - Stone of Destiny

BIRTHMONTH: September

We associate this color with feelings of sympathy and harmony, friendship and loyalty: feelings which belong to qualities that prove their worth in the long term – feelings in which it is not so much effervescent passion that is to the fore, but rather composure, mutual understanding and indestructible trust. The sapphire symbolizes loyalty, but at the same time it gives expression to people's love and longing, which make it a great stone for engagement rings.

Sapphire is said to be the wisdom stone, stimulating concentration, enhancing creativity and promoting purity and depth of thought.

It is believed to focus and calm the mind as well as remove unwanted thoughts, depression and mental tension. It is known as the stone of new love and commitment and is claimed to be useful in encouraging faithfulness and loyalty. Sapphire is thought to bring peace of mind, serenity and prosperity.

MYTHS & LEGENDS

 The ancient Persians believed that the earth rested on a giant sapphire and its reflection colored the sky. The Tradition holds that Moses was given the ten commandments on tablets of sapphire, making it the most sacred gemstone. Because sapphires represent divine favor, they were the gemstone of choice for kings and high priests.

ABOUT THE STONE

This gem comes not in one but in all the shades of blue. Although blue is the main color of the sapphire, this gemstone also comes in many other colors: in yellow, pink, orange and purple and are referred to as ‘fancies’. In order to make it easier to differentiate between them, they are referred by their color description and gemstone name- yellow, purple, pink, green or white sapphires.

The sapphire belongs to the corundum group, the members of which are characterized by their excellent hardness, exceeded only by that of the diamond, the hardest mineral on earth, which makes it easy to look after, requiring no more than the usual care on the part of the wearer.

The gemstones in the corundum group consist of pure aluminium

Sapphires are found in India, Burma, Ceylon, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, Brazil and Africa. From the gemstone mines, the raw crystals are first taken to the cutting-centre where they are turned into sparkling gemstones by skilled hands. The cutter has to muster all his skill, for these gemstones are not only hard but the colors and intensities of it vary depending on the cut of the stone. It is therefore in the cutters hand to orientate the raw crystals in such a way that the color is brought out to its best advantage.

The bright light of day makes most sapphires shine more vividly than the more subdued artificial light of evening. So in fact it is not the darkest tone that is the most coveted color of the blue sapphire, but an intense, rich, full blue which still looks blue in poor artificial light.

Specialists and connoisseurs regard the Kashmir color with its velvety shine as the most beautiful and most valuable blue. Typical of the Kashmir color is a pure, intense blue with a very subtle violet undertone, this is intensified more by a fine, silky shine. It is said that this hue does not change in artificial light. But the Burmese color is also regarded as particularly valuable; it ranges from a rich, full royal blue to a deep cornflower blue.

The oldest sapphire finds are in Ceylon, or Sri Lanka as it is known today, where people were already digging for gemstones in ancient times. Ceylon sapphires are recognized by specialists by the luminosity of their light to mid-blue colors. Most blue sapphires come either from Australia or from Thailand.

Their value depends on their size, color and transparency but these are not the only main criteria, the origin also plays a major role. The most valuable are genuine Kashmir stones. Burmese sapphires are valued almost as highly, and then come the sapphires from Ceylon. The possibility of the gemstone's having undergone some treatment is also a factor in determining the price, since gemstones which can be guaranteed untreated are becoming more and more sought-after. And if the stone selected happens to be a genuine, certificated Kashmir or Burmese, the price will probably reflect the enthusiasm of the true gemstone lover.

Source: https://www.gemstone.org, https://www.firemountaingems.com/, https://www.gemsbrokers.org/

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