What do you know about Sapphires?

After the diamond, Corundum is the second hardest mineral found on earth. “Sapphire” is given to all the gems found in the Corundum mineral series, apart from the red color variety called Rubies. Jewel Smiths, a renowned diamond ring company, says the word sapphire, meaning Blue, is derived from the Greek word “sapheiros” and the Latin word “saphirus.” However, it is usually thought to be as blue; it comes in a collection of colors, with blue merely being sapphires’ most common one. The association may come from the Blue and its historical importance within several religions. The second-largest sapphire is the 423 carats (85 g) Logan sapphire, kept in the National Museum, Washington, DC.

History

For a few years, sapphires have been considered essential and mystical gemstones. Since 800 BC, the country Persians had a belief that the blue sky was the reflection of sapphire gems. It is regarded as the holy stone of the Catholic Church, and many other religions also believe it represents the heavens. The Buddhists thought it helped in spiritual enlightenment, and the Hindus believed it to be one of the “great gemstones” to use for temple while worshipping. Many religions have applied some significance to sapphire gemstones.

Historically, the 12th-century kings wore sapphires around their necks to protect themselves from harm. It was meant to protect the wearer from envy ill-wishing, attract divine attention, and preserve chastity while discovering treason and fraud. During this period, people also wore sapphires to overpower negative thoughts. Sapphires were favored by sorcerers, too, as they enabled them to understand the most obscure oracles. With this, these gemstones were also believed to help protect against sorcery.

Source

The largest mines for sapphires are located in New South Wales, Australia, and Queensland. The mind of Yogo Gulch in the US, Montana is also the main source though they majorly include the small gems that are mostly used in industries. Sir Lanka is a popular country that hosts these stone mines. Recently the largest sapphire gem was discovered in a Sri Lankan mine that weighs 1,404 carats. Also, Kashmir used to be a place famous for the rare silky cornflower blue-colored sapphires, but the mine got exhausted, and no more gems have been found since.

Properties

These crystals commonly occur as double-pointed hexagonal pyramids, barrel-shaped, and tabloid shapes. The mineral corundum where sapphires gems are formed is found in metamorphic rocks and alluvial gem gravel deposits. They may also be found in pegmatites.

Sapphires are excellently tough and of glasslike luster. This gems specific gravity can be from 3.58 to 3.61 and its Mean Refractive Index is between 1.712 — and 1.740, and the hardness on the Moh’s scale is 9.

Colors

Sapphire gets its color from the trace amounts of elements in corundum such as iron, titanium, chromium, copper, vanadium, or magnesium. These impurities can give the mineral various colors like blue, yellow, purple, orange, pink, or green. Sapphires can come in many patterns and shades, even in greys and blacks, while some may hold no color at all. If the stone contains some titanium element, you get a brilliant blue color. In addition, if it includes a trace of chromium, you get the pink color. Sometimes the gems can also hold two or more traces of elements that create exotic colored sapphires such as purple and lime green.

Benefits of Importance

This gem is the birthstone for September. It was believed to preserve integrity, discover fraud and treason, and protect from poison, plague, fever, and skin diseases in ancient times. Now, its most common perception is as the stone of wisdom. Sapphires help bring learning, mental acuity, and spiritual healing. They can calm nerves which supports in achieving mental clarity.

Sapphire gems are believed to activate the third eye and throat chakras, allowing one to access a deeper level of self-consciousness. Due to this, sapphires can help bring a positive attitude towards life and bring about calm energies when the mind is busy. It is also useful for channeling healing powers from a higher source into the healer, so it’s popularly used among Reiki healers.

Sapphire is considered the stone of fidelity, love, and commitment and hence is commonly used in engagement rings. Sapphires are also used as a professional support gemstone. It is said to stimulate executives’ and writers’ minds, promote awareness of higher principles for historians and researchers, and support better judgment for lawyers and journalists. A symbol of honest leadership and wisdom, sapphires can also be used to increase discipline and self-motivation.

How to Identify Sapphires

• Natural gems are formed with tiny bits of other matter, so they mostly include flaws and inclusions. Look for blemishes and specks. If you can find any, then that stone is real.
• Another way is to perform a breath test. Breathe on sapphire to fog it up. Now count how long it takes for that fog to fade away. Natural stones clear up in just one or two seconds, while fake sapphires may take five seconds to clear up.
• Look for air bubbles inside the stones. After taking a close look, if you see any, it is fake. Be sure to turn it over and examine the gems from each angle or corner. These bubbles are only visible from one angle.
• Another way is to watch the light reflections from your gems. Shine a flashlight on the stone in a dark room. If the gemstone is real, it will only reflect the light of the same color as the sapphire. If the sapphire is made of glass, it will also reflect other colors.

Wearing a Sapphire Stone

Before wearing any gem, it’s essential to know its importance and the methods of wearing it. Here are a few suggestions by jewelry stores in california which should be remembered before buying a sapphire gemstone to wear.

It should be worn on the right-hand middle finger on a Saturday, just after the appearance of scars, and can be worn with other stones.

• A bluestone, popularly known as Neelam in Hindi, should be mounted on yellow gold or white gold or silver.

• The weight of the stone ideally should not be less than 3–4 Ratti (360 mg), and it should be stored full of water in a copper bowl.

• The Blue gems must be worn by the Capricorns and Aquarius ascendants. These can be worn by those whose Saturn’s Position in the horoscope is weak.

• Professionally, people in dance, martial arts, cinematography, drama, and direction can benefit from Neelam. Wearing the gems can help a person become a political leader or a great industrialist. Law practitioners and Magistrates can also wear a blue gem for success in their profession.

• Preferably, a gemologist or an astrologer should be consulted for more detailed benefits and rituals before wearing this stone. The Neelam must be worn by the Capricorns and Aquarius ascendants. It can also be worn by those whose Saturn’s Position in the horoscope is weak.

Conclusion:

So this is the overall view of sapphires. It helps the wearer to become more patient, reliable and determined. This gem is also believed to protect the wearer from greediness and envy. You can design Rings with sapphires. Or perhaps, if you are searching for gemstones as per zodiac sign, Jewel Smiths is a good choice. They have designs crafted solely for every budget range and guide their clients in choosing the best one.