Exquisite gems, sapphires are beautiful stones known for stunning colors and unique properties. Greeks wear sapphire for guidance when consulting the oracle. In Buddhism sapphire brings spiritual enlightenment, and Hindu practitioners use it during worship.
Sapphire is a later name for the blazing blue stone. Ancient Greeks know it as hyakinthos (hyacinth). The Greek sappheiros refers to lapis lazuli. Recognized for a striking blue hue, sapphires have a vast spectrum of colors, all called corundum.
Elementally, classic blue sapphires contain iron and titanium. The additional element chromium gives corundum the color pink, and more chromium parts make a sapphire more reddish and thus a ruby. Ruby is also a corundum gemstone.
An aluminum oxide mineral, corundum is a crystalline form of aluminum oxide (Al2O3) typically containing traces of iron, titanium, vanadium, and chromium. Classed at 9 on the Mohs scale, corundum is the third hardest natural mineral after diamond and moissanite.
This contributes to durability and its longstanding popularity in jewelry, particularly in rings for daily wear. It's unaffected by acids and most environments. The name corundum comes from Sanskrit Kuirvinda or the Indian name for corundum, Kauruntoka.
The vibrant colors of these alluring gems come from trace elements present during their formation. The striking blue in blue sapphires comes from iron and titanium, while pink sapphires derive their color from traces of chromium.
Sapphires are commonly found in igneous rocks, alluvial deposits, and metamorphic environments. Their formation involves a combination of heat, pressure, and specific mineral compositions.
Types of Sapphire
While blue sapphires have long been the most popular, the world of sapphires offers a variety of other colors, each unique and desirable.
1. Blue Sapphire
Blue sapphires are prized for their deep colors, although they also appear in paler blue hues. Their color is often associated with royalty and wisdom, making them a symbol of elegance and sophistication.
The richest toned stones exhibit a vivid hue and strong saturation, and are often used in high-end jewelry. Today's gem purveyors popularize sapphire in engagement rings by linking the stone to fidelity, which is part of the color theory meaning of blue, but not sapphires per se.
2. Parti Sapphires
Parti sapphires exhibit a range of colors within the same stone. Typically, these sapphires show a beautiful blend of green and yellow or blue and green. Their unique coloring offers captivating visual dynamics that often change with the angle of light.
3. Pink Sapphires
Pink sapphires have surged in popularity in recent years especially arising in the marketing of many lab-created stones. Pink sapphires range from light blush to intense fuchsia shades. Depth of color often influences their value, with richer pinks commanding higher prices.
4. Padparadscha
Named after the lotus flower, padparadscha sapphires blend pink and orange hues. This rare variety is among the most coveted, often fetching high prices at auctions. Purveyed as the "gem of sunrise", Padparadscha sapphires relate to warmth and serenity.
5. Star Sapphire
Star sapphires are distinguished by their asterism, an optical phenomenon creating a star-like pattern on the surface of the stone. This effect is caused by inclusions of needle-like crystals within the sapphire. Star sapphires are typically cabochon-cut to enhance this unique feature.
6. Color-Change Sapphire
Color-change sapphires exhibit different colors under varying lighting conditions. Most notably, they often appear blue in daylight and shift to purplish or violet shades under incandescent light. This rare characteristic is an allure for collectors.
Properties of Sapphire
Clarity and Cut: Sapphires can be found in high clarity, though many are cut to maximize their color rather than their clarity. It is not unusual to encounter sapphires with inclusions, which can add uniqueness to each stone.
Color: Sapphires exhibit a variety of colors, with the most famous being a deep royal blue, though they can occur in pink, yellow, green, and even clear. The presence of trace elements like iron and titanium contributes to their color diversity.
Formation: Sapphires form in metamorphic and igneous rocks. They require specific conditions, including high temperature and pressure, typically found in areas with significant geological activity. Rain and sedimentation can also play a role in the formation of sapphires over millions of years.
Sapphire Mythology of Ancient Greece and Rome
In Ancient Greece, sapphires ae beloved by the gods. These vibrant blue stones are a gift from heaven, often associated with the god Apollo, the deity of music, truth, healing and divination. The Delphic oracle delivers prophecies from Apollo.
Sapphire is considered enhance the intellect and bring divine favor. Romans link sapphire with royalty, power and protection. Crowns and royal robes are decorated with sapphires, The gemstone safeguards against envy and evil, so they say.
Sapphire Mythology in the Middle Ages
During the Middle Ages, blue sapphires take on a new meaning due to the Christian tradition. Associated with purity and heaven they are worn by church leaders as symbols of their commitment to God and a sign of status.
The stones represent the heavens, with deep blue hue symbolizing the sky. In common belief sapphires have protective powers, safeguarding the wearer from harm and ill fortune.
Early Christian kings trust sapphire's powers of protection by using it in royal rings. In ancient civilizations through to modern folklore sapphires are associated with divinity, wisdom, and protection. Sapphire is a birthstone of September.
Sapphire Mythology of India
In India, sapphires are called “Neelam,” and they hold a significant place in astrology and spirituality. They are considered powerful gemstones with the ability to bestow wealth, success, and good fortune upon their wearers.
In Hindu mythology, sapphires are associated with the planet Saturn (Shani), and it is believed that wearing a sapphire can mitigate the challenging influences of Saturn in one’s life. The stone is revered for its ability to bring clarity and wisdom.
Sapphire Mythology in Persian Lore
Persian cultures esteemed sapphires as symbols of Heaven and protection from evil spirits. Historical accounts suggest ancient Persian royalty hold sapphires in high esteem. They are marketed as stones attracting peace and tranquility, another feature of the color blue.
In Persia the gemstone helps the wearer communicate with the divine. In temples and houses of the elite it may be placed in altars and sacred spaces to attract good fortune and deific blessings.
Sapphire Mythology and African Folklore
Some African tribes view sapphires powerful talismans. They are said to embody the spirit of the earth and the heavens, bridging the gap between the two.
Stories suggest sapphires can reveal the truth and assist in divination, helping individuals discern hidden knowledge and wisdom. Sapphire is often included in spiritual practices.
Mining Sapphire
Sapphires are mined through various methods. In alluvial or placer mining, stones are extracted from riverbed deposits. Gold is collected much the same way. Gem-quality corundum, ie sapphire and ruby, is rarer even than diamond.
Miners can work for weeks without recovering any gems. Other methods include strip mining and shaft mining. In industrial mining, soils are stripped out of an area and the underlying material is mined, or shafts and tunnels are made through the rock.
Today, mining sapphires is an environmentally taxing process. Ethical concerns arise in various mining regions. Many jewelers and gem collectors are now ostensibly prioritizing ethically sourced or lab-created stones to promote sustainability in the gem industry.
All gem varieties of corundum, including the scintillating "star stone" sapphires and rubies, can be synthesized. Flame fusion is the oldest and most cost-effective method.
In flame fusion aluminum oxide powder (the main mineral in corundum) is melted using a flame. The molten material forms a long teardrop-shaped structure known as a "boule."
Inclusion of chromium in the aluminum oxide produces synthetic ruby. By introducing different minerals to the aluminum oxide, various colored sapphires can be produced.
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