In ancient Greece and Rome, kings and queens were convinced that blue sapphires protected their owners from envy and harm. In the 12th Century, the sapphire was known as the most appropriate stone for ecclesiastical rings. The Cingalese believed that the star sapphire served as protection and a guard against witchcraft. The great Oriental traveler, Sir Richard Francis Burton, had a large star sapphire which he referred to as his “talisman,” for it always brought him good horses and prompt attention wherever he went.
Celebrities in Sapphires
More recently, the sapphire is often the go-to jewel for A List celebrities. Princess Diana made sapphires fashionable in the 80s when it was the sensational stone in her engagement ring, how worn by the Duchess of Cambridge. Celebrities with sapphire rings include Penelope Cruz and Victoria Beckham. Is The Mutton (not a celebrity!) also has a sapphire engagement ring.
What type of stone is a sapphire?
The sapphire is a corundum, an aluminum oxide with a trigonal crystal structure, in the same family as the ruby. The only difference between a ruby and a sapphire is simply the color. If there's a hierachy of gemstones in terms of hardness and desirability, rubies and sapphires are second only to diamonds. Diamonds are listed as a ten in terms of hardness, sapphires as a nine. The attribute of hardness of the sapphire makes it a perfect choice for jewellery that needs to stand up to everyday wear, such as in rings or bracelets.
A stone in many colors
Many people assume the sapphire is always blue. But the gemstone comes in an array of colors including violet, dark grey, orange, yellow, pink, green and black.A special orangey pink sapphire color is called padparadscha, which means “lotus flower” in Sinhalese, the language spoken in Sri Lanka. Stones from Sri Lanka were initially the only ones labeled with this marketable name. Princess Eugenie's engagement ring features a stunning padparadscha sapphire.
Blue sapphires come from Burma and Kashmir, where the blue tone is the most pure to the true spectral blue, and the stones tend to have a unique velvety lustre. Sapphires from Sri Lanka have an almost pastel blue. Many sapphires also come from Australia, which are dark blue but with a slightly green undertone, similar to those from Thailand. These tend to be less expensive than sapphires from Burma, Kashmir and Sri Lanka.
Caring for Sapphires
As they're a hard stone, sapphires can be cleaned in almost any way. Warm, soapy water is best, though you might also try ultrasonic cleaners and steamers. You can also try using water with a touch of ammonia in it. If you have a fracture in your sapphire or own a star sapphire, do not use mechanical cleaning methods as a sapphire can shatter with one single blow, if hit sharply.
Explore Is This Mutton's Birthstone of the Month Series
Garnet (January), Amethyst (February), Aquamarine (March), Heliotrope (March),Diamond (April), Emerald (May), Pearl, (June), Moonstone (June), Peridot (August), Opal (October), Tourmaline (October), Topaz (November), Citrine (November), Tanzanite ( December), Zircon (December).
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