The Sapphire is a precious stone belonging to the corundum family, like the ruby. Sapphire comes in a variety of colors and hues, the best known being the blue variety, which has been widely mined throughout history. The name Sapphire is derived from the Greek word "sappheiros", which means "blue stone". As we will see later, Sapphires have many other fascinating properties that set them apart from all other types of gems. In this article, we take a closer look at what makes a Sapphire unique, where it is found, the different types of Sapphires and its value...

History of the Sapphire

For centuries, the Sapphire has been associated with royalty and romance. Indeed, traditionally, the Sapphire symbolizes nobility, truth, sincerity and fidelity. This association was reinforced in 1981, when Britain's Prince Charles gave a blue sapphire engagement ring to Lady Diana Spencer. Until her death in 1997, Princess Diana charmed and captivated the world. Her sapphire ring linked modern events to history and fairy tales.

In ancient Greece and Rome, kings and queens believed that blue sapphires protected their owners from envy and evil. In the Middle Ages, in the Catholic religion, clergy wore blue sapphires to symbolize purity, because of their sky-like color. The gem was often worn as a ring on the right hand, the one that gives the blessing, as a symbol of their devotion and closeness to God. Sapphires were also believed to preserve chastity, make peace between enemies, influence spirits and reveal the secrets of oracles.

The Sapphire evoked in history and folklore is often associated with the color blue as its name. Indeed, its name is derived from the Greek word "sappheiros", which means "blue stone". It was in the 1990s that multicolored sapphires became known thanks to their discovery in East Africa and Madagascar. These new discoveries have increased the availability of multicolor sapphires .

Composition and Origin of Sapphire

Sapphire is a variety of corundum, an aluminum oxide mineral that comes in a wide range of colors. When the corundum is red, the gem is called Rubywhen it comes in other colors, it is called colored sapphire. The best known variety of sapphire is the blue sapphire, which has been widely mined throughout history. Sapphires also come in other colors, including yellow, purple, orange, pink, green and white. Note that transparent corundum is the rarest, as it is the chemical impurities in the crystal structure that give the gemstone its color. The blue of sapphire is determined by the traces of iron and/or titanium in its chemical composition. The higher the iron content, the darker the blue of the sapphire. The red color of Ruby is caused by traces of chromium.

Sapphires are formed in metamorphic rocks, such as gneiss, one of the parent rocks that is rich in silicon and aluminum. The alumina and silica in metamorphic rocks mix with water and minerals to form large corundum crystals. It is found in rocks poor in silica

Multicolored and blue sapphires can be found in a variety of countries, including Madagascar, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Australia

On the Mohs scale, Sapphire (corundum) has a hardness of 9 out of 10. Considered the hardest stone just after diamond

Types of Sapphire

What we commonly call Sapphire is the blue variety. There are many types of sapphire, which differ in color. For example, the Ruby is the red variety of corundum, while the orange-pink colored Sapphire is called "padparadscha" Sapphire, known as the rarest and most sought after Sapphire. The name "padparadscha" comes from the Sinhalese meaning "lotus flower".

Blue Sapphires are by far the most common, followed by Yellow Sapphires. Other types of sapphires include purple, orange, green, pink and white. Ceylon Sapphire (Sri Lanka) is the most common type of Sapphire, followed by Malawi and Tanzania. Other notable Sapphire mines are located in Australia, Cambodia, Kenya, Madagascar and Nevada.

Properties of Sapphire

In the field of lithotherapy, the Sapphire many virtues, both physically and spiritually.

On a physical level, Sapphire is known to improve vision, as well as relieve migraines. Sapphire is said to promote sleep with positive dreams. These effects help to reduce fatigue and improve concentration. Sapphire would also allow you to reconnect to your body, preventing the onset of disease

Emotionally, Sapphire is known as a stone that promotes creativity and patience. In addition, it promotes dynamism and perseverance, helps calm fears and allows the expression of thoughts and emotions. Therefore, Sapphire helps to develop self-confidence

Sapphire is the birthstone of the month of September, the stone is a symbol of truth, strength and loyalty

Note that lithotherapy does not replace medical treatment or medical expertise.

Purification of Sapphire

When your Sapphire needs to be purified and to recharge itself. In order to clean it, you can plunge it in demineralized water for a few hours, then wipe with a soft cloth. You can then leave it to recharge under the sun for a few hours.