Sapphires, gemstones of the skies, are hidden in the hard soil of our so-called blue planet. An ancient belief says that the sky has got its color from reflection of the blue sapphire stone onto which the earth rested. Sapphire belongs to the non-red variety of corundum group (red is ruby) & is the second hardest natural mineral, after diamond. It is given a 9.0 on the Mohs scale of hardness.

More about the gem

Although sapphires come in many colors including white, purple, colorless, green & sunset hues like orange, yellow & pink, but blue remains the main color. Many women go for sapphire for their engagement rings as this color signifies endurance & fidelity. Which is best is highly subjective & depends upon individual preference also. Generally the most desirable sapphires are those with an intense blue color, & plenty of sparkle and life.

Their beauty, magnificent colors, their transparency, hardness & permanence are those qualities which make sapphires favorite for gemstone jewelry. Sapphires are used in all categories such as rings, earrings, pendants & necklaces, as solitaire stones etc. Sapphire is the official birthstone for the month of September. It is also one of the birthstones for the Zodiac signs of Pisces, Taurus, and Virgo & Sagittarius. Sapphire is given as a gem for the 5th, 23rd & 45th wedding anniversaries.

Intangible powers

Sapphire is believed to have powers of spiritual enlightenment. It was believed that a sapphire would protect the wearer from envy & attract divine favors. This was the reason for which kings used to wear sapphires. It also symbolizes loyalty and faithfulness, while at the same time expressing love & yearning. When exchanged with a loved one, sapphires enhance feelings for one another and attune the two psyches.

The world of fine sapphires

The value of a sapphire depends on size, color & transparency. For very fine qualities these criteria are supplemented by information on the origin of the gemstone. Another pricing factor is a possible treatment. A stone which has not been treated becomes more valuable. The most valuable sapphires are real Kashmir stones. Almost as highly cherished are stones from Burma, followed by Ceylon-Sapphires. Sapphires are also found in India, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, Brazil and Africa. Top quality sapphires, however, remains a rarity in the gemstone mines all over the world.