Why is sapphire a royal stone?

Today I want to tell you about one of the most beautiful and amazing stones – sapphire. Honestly, I love this stone very much and I am sure that many readers share my love for sapphires. In addition, sapphires of different colors are popular in the jewelry market all over the world and even children probably know about this stone, captivating with its beauty. But still, I will risk writing about these unique stones, and in my article I will try to tell as many interesting facts about sapphires as possible. Sapphire is a representative of the category of precious stones and is one of the varieties of corundum, as well as ruby. This category also includes natural diamonds, rubies, emeralds, natural pearls in raw/natural or processed form and some amber formations. In ancient Greece, the word sappheiros was used to describe any valuable blue stone, and it is believed that the word sapphire came into our language precisely from Greek. Also, there is an assumption that sapphire got its name from the word canipriya, which translated from ancient Indian means “beloved by Saturn.” To be honest, I believe the first version more. In Tsarist Russia, this stone, like other valuable blue minerals, was called baus for a long time. And only in the 18th century, the Swedish chemist G. Vallerius proposed calling blue corundum sapphire. Sapphire kaleidoscope. On the hardness scale, sapphire is second only to diamond (sapphire’s hardness on the Mohs scale is 9, while diamonds have a hardness of 10). The main feature of these stones is the rich palette of colors. Moreover, all “colored” sapphires (except blue) are called fancy – stones of orange, pink-orange, yellow, green and pink, as well as colorless stones, which are called leucosapphires. The most valuable are stones from blue to blue-green shades, and the real “king” of sapphires is a cornflower-blue velvety color of moderate intensity. Star sapphires are highly prized – a type of stone with a well-defined asterism effect, and when such a sapphire is illuminated, the figure of a star appears on it. Also, star sapphires are called “stones of destiny”, and the rays of a star are considered to be faith, hope and love. So, the shade of sapphire depends on the presence or absence of impurities of titanium, iron and chromium. For example, the color of blue sapphires is a combination of iron and titanium impurities. And impurities of iron and chromium form the color of golden and orange sapphires. But if the only impurity is chromium, then the stone has a red or pink tint. Where are the best sapphires mined? It’s no secret that the quality and appearance of sapphire, like any precious or semi-precious stone, depends on the deposit. Each deposit produces stones with its own characteristics. But do not forget that in any deposit there are stones of different quality. Therefore, a top quality Ceylon sapphire will be more valuable and therefore more expensive than an average Kashmir sapphire, despite the fact that Kashmir sapphires are the most valuable. So, as many of you already know, Kashmir (India) is one of the most famous sources of sapphires, although most of them are “old” stones. Due to its reputation, and the fact that there is no new mining in the region, Kashmir sapphires are highly sought after by collectors. In terms of beauty, Burmese sapphires (Mogok, northern Burma) are almost as good as Kashmir sapphires. But the extraction of stones from this deposit today is limited. Burmese sapphires are slightly darker than Kashmir sapphires and their color is often described as “midnight blue”. In addition, they are more transparent. But Ceylon sapphires boldly occupy an honorable third place in the list of the best stones. In the deposits of Sri Lanka, stones of almost any color are mined, and this country is also famous for the excellent quality of the sapphires mined. The most famous mining site is Ratnapura. In addition, in Sri Lanka I mine the largest sapphires in the world! Stones from this country became especially popular at the moment when Prince Charles presented his bride Princess Diana with an engagement ring with a Ceylon sapphire. Sapphire is the stone of the chosen ones. Sapphire is considered a truly royal stone, since for many centuries it was valued by representatives of the ruling dynasties – sapphires were almost always decorated with crowns, scepters and robes of monarchs of a wide variety of empires. I’ll tell you about some of them. For example, the crown of the British Empire is decorated with two historical and truly beautiful sapphires. The bright blue “Saint Edward” weighing 167 carats (adorns the upper cross of the crown) was worn in the ring of King Edward the Confessor back in the 104th century. The “Stuart” sapphire set into the back of the crown is also of ancient origin. This bright blue stone, weighing XNUMX carats, once adorned the Scottish Crown and is believed to have been worn by Mary Stuart. Crown of the British Empire. In the state of the Russian Empire, between an openwork diamond cross and a half-hoop, a huge sapphire of 200 carats is placed surrounded by diamonds! The orb was made in 1762 for the coronation of Empress Catherine II the Great. But the imperial power acquired its modern appearance only under Emperor Paul I. A huge sapphire appeared under the cross, and a large diamond appeared in the center of the diamond belts. Power of the Russian Empire. Did you know that one of Empress Josephine’s favorite pieces of jewelry was Queen Marie Antoinette’s sapphire set? The jewelry set consists of seven items – a tiara, a necklace, earrings, two “small” and one large brooch. The parure is decorated with 29 Ceylon sapphires, weighing more than 20 carats. Sapphire parure of Empress Josephine. Josephine’s sapphire parure tiara. If we talk about the famous sapphires of the English royal family, we cannot help but recall another piece of jewelry that the whole world knows today. We are talking about an engagement ring with a 16-carat sapphire surrounded by diamonds that belonged to Princess Diana and was a gift from Prince William to his bride Kate Middleton. On the left, Lady Diana Spencer and Prince Charles on the day their engagement was announced, February 24, 1981. On the right are Lady Kate Middleton and Prince William. The most famous sapphires. Of course, we can talk for a long time about celebrity sapphires, because there really are quite a few of them. But I will only talk about some of them. First of all, I want to introduce you to the “Millennium Sapphire” – the largest sapphire in the world! The stone was found in Madagascar in the Ilakaki deposits. Its weight is 61500 carats and its price is about half a billion dollars! Currently, the “Millennium Sapphire” is kept in a private collection in Hong Kong. The Millennium Sapphire is the largest sapphire in the world. The Logan sapphire from the island of Sri Lanka weighs much less than the Millennium Sapphire – “only” 423 carats. Currently, this beautiful stone is kept in Washington at the Smithsonian Museum. The sapphire adorns the ring, which was once owned by John Rockefeller, and is surrounded by twenty beautiful crystal clear diamonds. It’s really hard to take your eyes off such beauty! This famous sapphire received its name from the name of its last owner, Rebecca Guggenheim Logan, who donated it to the museum. I gave third place to an equally charming sapphire called “Star of Asia”. The stone is also housed in the Smithsonian Museum, which acquired it to add to its gem collection. The “Star of Asia” weighs 330 carats and was found on the island of Sri Lanka. Actually, that’s all that is known about him. Sapphire “Star of Asia”. Queensland Black Star Sapphire – the name reflects both the nature of the gemstone and its origin. The 733-carat Star of Queensland is the largest black star sapphire in the world, so it was hard not to mention this beautiful sapphire. It was discovered in the 1930s in Queensland in northeastern Australia. The stone has an oval shape and is cut into a cabochon. The Black Star is said to be up for sale and has a top price of $88 million. Queensland Black Star Sapphire. The Ruspoli sapphire completes my short list of celebrities. This stone is also known as the Wooden Spoon Merchant’s Sapphire and the Grand Sapphire of Louis XIV. According to legend, this sapphire was found by a wooden spoon merchant in the Indian province of Bengal. A little later, the Italian Francesco Maria Marescotti Raspoli, Marquis of Cerveteri, took possession of the sapphire. Eventually, the sapphire was acquired by Louis XIV. The Ruspoli sapphire is a 135,8 carat crystal of an almost flawless blue color. It has the shape of a simple cubic hexagon; sapphire received this cut back in Ancient India. The stone has only one small flaw in the form of a foreign inclusion. Without him, he would be simply perfect. The sapphire can now be found in the Apollo Gallery of the Louvre in Paris. Sapphire “Raspoli”. Thank you for your attention!
I hope you learned a lot of new things 🙂
Best regards, your Silver_avenue. Stunningly beautiful and mesmerizing to look at, the regal sapphire stone has been the central element in the luxurious jewelry of monarchs, aristocrats and other nobility since time immemorial. It has become a symbol of justice, power and strength. A mysterious and amazing gem is out of fashion. Together with red ruby ​​and green emerald, cornflower blue sapphire is one of the four most desirable and expensive gemstones, second only to diamond. Jewelry with deep blue accents becomes family heirlooms and is passed down from generation to generation.

History and unique properties of the stone

A beautiful Indian legend tells about the appearance of sapphire. Long ago, a poor man living in a slum prayed to Brahma. Before his death, he asked to take at least one look at the paradise gardens and luxurious golden palaces in the abode of the gods. Brahma could not let a mortal into the city in heaven, but still fulfilled the unfortunate man’s request. He poured the drink of immortality onto the ground. Its drops turned into beautiful blue stones, in the shimmering depths of which people could discern paradise. This gave them hope and comfort. The first mentions related to the gem appeared in the 10th century BC. The wisest King Solomon used the stone to inlay his throne and seal. In the Middle Ages, all high priests wore sapphire rings, and European monarchs decorated their crowns and tiaras with the stone. Those in power valued the gem for its unique magical and healing properties. It is believed to help in healing the body and soul. Thanks to its calming blue energy, the stone promotes peace and complete rest. It was used as a magic elixir for:

• migraine;
• insomnia;
• dizziness;
• fevers;
• high or low blood pressure.

Sapphire also helps balance emotions and reduce physical symptoms associated with stress and anxiety. The stone clears the mind of negative thinking patterns, lifts your spirits and instills faith in your own strength. Since the gem is inextricably linked with wisdom, it serves as a conductor for positive energy and a deeper understanding of one’s desires. Sapphire prevents the owner from feeling confused and depressed. It promotes determination and helps you connect your intuition at the right moments to make the right choice.

The connection of the stone with divine forces focuses consciousness. With its help, people with psychic abilities explore past lives, interpret dreams and make astral travel.

Sapphire is the traditional stone for those born in September under the sign of Virgo or Libra. But it also works well for Sagittarius, Taurus and Aquarius. To balance all chakras, it is recommended to combine a blue gemstone with amethyst or lapis lazuli. Bracelets with sapphire and helping stones will surround the owner with healing vibrations, since the jewelry will be located directly near the pulse line on the hand.

Physical characteristics and value of the stone

The most important factors that influence the value of a sapphire are cut, clarity, carat weight and color. Most gemstones are heat treated to improve their hue. This does not reduce their value.

Sapphires range in color from light blue to extremely rich, deep tones. The expensive stone has a dark velvety color with an even distribution of shade and a small number of inclusions. Although the cornflower blue gemstone is considered the most popular, on the jewelry market there are incredibly beautiful pendants with sapphire in orange, pink, green and purple colors.

The price of a mineral is also affected by its deposit. Specimens from Kashmir, Myanmar and Ceylon are considered rarer and more expensive than those found in other places (Sri Lanka, Australia, Tanzania, Madagascar).

Sapphire is one of the hardest gemstones. It ranks 9th on the Mohs scale, second only to diamond. It is very difficult to scratch. It is this feature that helps distinguish the original from a fake. With pressure, move the edge of the coin along the surface of the stone. There will definitely be a mark left on the “glass”.

Sapphire jewelry: what to wear and how to care for it

The range of jewelry with blue stones is quite rich. You can choose small sapphire earrings to wear every day, or buy a luxurious necklace for a special occasion. Your color type doesn’t matter. The stone is suitable for both blondes and brunettes. But it looks especially impressive on those with blue eyes. It’s no wonder that Princess Diana loved sapphire jewelry so much.

The gem plays effectively directly on the body. It goes well with all precious metals. Pendants framed in gold will suit dark-skinned girls, and silver-framed ones for fair-skinned girls. The transparency of the stone and the depth of its color are most successfully emphasized by its proximity to a scattering of diamonds or cubic zirconia. A classic evening look is a set of sapphire earrings and a pendant paired with a little black dress or a strict plain suit with a low neckline.

The catalog of the AURUM online store contains not only women’s jewelry with sapphire, but also models for men. A signet ring made of red gold with a dark blue stone in the center will be a wonderful gift for a loved one on a special occasion. And if you want to please a representative of the fair sex with an unusual and luxurious gift, order a necklace with sapphire and diamonds. Delivery of goods is carried out throughout Ukraine.

The gemstone does not require special care. It is easy to clean with ordinary soapy water and a cloth, sponge, or soft bristle brush. Complex stains can be removed by rubbing with a cotton swab dipped in ammonia. To prevent the gem from losing its natural shine, store it in a box away from sunlight and be sure to remove it before visiting the solarium and sauna.