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Blue
is Sapphire's main colour. Blue is also the favorite colour of about
50% of the population, men and women alike. This colour, which is
strongly associated with Sapphire, is also linked to emotions such
as sympathy and harmony, friendship and loyalty. These emotions belong
to features which are permanent and reliable – emotions where overwheming
and fiery passion is not the main element, but rather composure, mutual
understanding and unshakeable trust. Sapphire blue has thus become
a colour related to anything permanent and reliable, and this is one
of the reasons why women in many countries settle on sapphire for
their engagement rings. Sapphire symbolises loyalty and faithfulness,
while at the same time expressing love and yearning. The most famous
musical example for this melancholic shade of blue can be found in
George Gershwin's “Rhapsody in Blue” Sapphire's blue colour is also
evoked where clear competence and controlled brainwork are the issue.
After all, the first computer ever to wrangle a victory from a chess
grandmaster and world champion was name “Deep Blue”
The
modern word sapphire is derived from the ancient Latin tern “Sapphirus”
which means “The Stone of Saturn”
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The
sky is just a gigantic blue sapphire stone into
which the earth is embedded – this belief was cherished in ancient times.
And, in fact, does there exists a better image to describe the beauty
of an immaculate Sapphire of purest blue? This gemstone exists in all
the shades of blue skies, from the deep blue of evening skies to the bright
and deep blue of a clear and beautiful summer sky which charms all people.
The splendid gemstone, however, also comes in many other colours, not
only in the transparent greyish misty blue of far horizons, but also displaying
the bright fireworks of sunset colours – yellow, pink, orange and purple.
So Sapphires are really and truly heavenly stones, although they are being
found in the hard soil of our so-called “blue planet” |
| Choosing a Sapphire |
All
gem quality corundum that is not red is called Sapphire. Often when
people refer to Sapphires, they mean blue Sapphires. Other colour
Sapphires such as orange, yellow, violet, green, white and pink are
referred to as fancy Sapphires. Unless a colour is stated, Sapphire
is assumed to be blue.
Like
other types of corundum, Sapphire always has good luster. Similar
to rubies, Sapphires come in many different shapes and sizes, providing
great variety to gemstone lovers and ensuring the enduring popularity
of Sapphire jewelry.
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| Proper Sapphire Care |
Intense
medium dark blue is the most sought after colour for blue Sapphires,
However, very fine Sapphires are extremely rare. Midnight blue Sapphires
have traditionally been looked down on but today midnight blue Sapphires
jewelry is increasingly popular, particularly for Sapphires earrings.
Intensity,
uniformity and purity of color are the most important considerations
when making a decision about the purchase of a blue Sapphire. Fine
blue Sapphire should not contain any overtones or secondary colours,
for this will lessen the beauty of this precious gemstone. As the
overall beauty of the stone will depend on the cutting, this characteristic
must always be taken into consideration.
Dark
blue Sapphires will appear black under low light settings, while fine
blue Sapphires will maintain their colour in any light setting. Blue
Sapphire jewelry remains one of most sought after jewelry types with
rings, earrings, pendants and Sapphires necklaces. All making not
only a beautiful addition to any collection but also a fairly sound
investment. Some Sapphires (colour change Sapphires) will change between
blue and violet depending on the light. Various heat treatments produce
different colour Sapphires.
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| Say It with Sapphire |
Sapphire symbolises sincerity and faithfulness and is thus considered
an excellent choice for an engagement ring.From ancient times, people
have had the belief that Sapphire is…
- For those who are born on Saturday.
- For those who are born in September.
- For those who are born during 00.01 – 04.00 HRS.
- For those whose zodiac falls under the years of Rabbits, Dragon
and Pig.
- For those whose zodiac sign is Taurus ( from 20 April – 21 May )
- For those who celebrate their second and fifteenth wedding anniversary.
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| When Sapphire was
found |
The
most renowned sources for Sapphires are Myanmar and Kashmir, where
Sapphires was discovered in 1881 when a land - slide in the Himalayas
uncovered beautiful blue pebbles.
Sapphires
are found in India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia,
Brazil, Africa and China.
Today most fine Sapphires on the market comes from Thailand which
is one of the world’s most important ruby and sapphires trading center.
From
the gemstone mines the rough crystals are supplied to the cutters,
where skilled hands turn them into sparkling gemstone. A cutter must
draw on all his experience and deftness when cutting sapphires, because
these gemstones are not only hard, they also display a different colouring
and satiation depending on the perspective. Therefore, then, the cutter
must align the orientation of the stone in such a way as to bring
about the best possible of colour.
The largest
cutting factories are in the Chantaburi Province of Thailand. Bangkok
is generally where the world’s buyers come to purchase sapphires as
well as ruby.
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| Sapphire Lore |
Throughout
the world, Sapphire has been traditionally associated with royalty,
worn by kings to protect them from harm The ancient Persians believed
that the earth rested on a giant Sapphire whose reflection gave the
sky its colour. Legend has it that if a poisonous snake was put into
a vessel along with a Sapphire, the rays from the gem would kill it.
Our ancestors interpreted this to mean that Sapphire was an antidote
against poison.
Sapphire
was honored by ancient priests and sorcerers for it was said to enable
them to foretell the future. Because Sapphire represents divine favor,
it was the gemstone of choice for kings and high priests. Tradition
holds that Moses was given the Ten Commandments on tablets of Sapphire,
making it the most sacred gemstone. Sapphire has long symbolized truth,
sincerity and consistency. Sapphire engagement rings are given to
express commitment and loyalty of their heart. Prince Charles chose
a blue Sapphire for Princess Diana’s engagement ring.
Medieval
priests in Europe would wear Sapphire jewelry believing it had the
ability to quell wicked impulses and impure thoughts. Sapphire was
lethal to venomous insects and reptiles. Sapphires were believed to
have gender : dark stones were designated female, light ones were
male. Sapphire is thought to make its wearers amiable, wise, virtuous,
and strong. The stone preserved the wearer from envy and attracted
divine favor Egyptians associated the clear Sapphire with the eye
of Horas, Greeks identified the white Sapphire with Apollo and was
used by the oracles at Delphi.
The stone
was used by the Greeks to stimulate the opening of the third eye and
to tap into the subconscious and super conscious over mind. Clear
Sapphires, like diamonds, are the guardians of love. When given to
one another it enhances love for each other and tunes your psyches
to one another. In the old days, it was used to banish envy and jealousy.
Sapphire is the US. State Gemstone of Montana where many beautiful
corn flower blue Sapphires have been found. Sapphire is also the national
gem of Greece Sapphire is said to be the Fall gemstone of the season
The famous
explorer, Sir Richard Francis Burton carried a large star Sapphire
on his dangerous travels, believing that it brought him good fortune
wherever he went |
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