Nobility. Truth. Sincerity. Faithfulness. Only blue sapphire symbolizes all these precious traits. The name sapphire is derived from the Latin word "saphirus" and the Greek word sappheiros both meaning blue. In this article we’ll explore some unique and wonderful qualities of this precious gemstone, some history, some famous sapphire wearers & some inspiration if you are thinking of making a blue sapphire an addition to your jewelry collection.
What is blue sapphire?
Blue sapphire is a member of the mineral corundum species of gems. Interestingly, in it’s purest form, corundum is actually colorless. Most corundum contains trace elements - when those trace elements are iron and titanium, the result is blue sapphire.
Did you know? Ancient myth held that sapphire’s blue resulted from exposure to the sun & that the longer the gems ripened under the sun’s rays, the more blue color hues would be intensified.
Sapphire in through the centuries
Ancient Persians believed the entire world rested upon a pedestal made of a blue sapphire, which gave the sky its beautiful color.
In ancient greece, blue sapphire was dedicated to the god Apollo, believing that the beautiful blue gems granted them favorable responses from their beloved deity.
During the Middle Ages, the clergy wore blue sapphires to symbolize heaven and the common people thought sapphire would attract heavenly blessings.
For centuries, blue sapphire has been associated with royalty and romance. This bond was reinforced in 1981, when England’s Prince Charles gave a blue sapphire engagement ring to Lady Diana, becoming of course, Princess Diana. In 2011, Prince William wed Kate Middleton with the very same sapphire engagement ring belonging to his parent. The Duchess of Cambridge wears this gorgeous piece, affectionately referred to as a “Princess Di” style ring.
Where is sapphire mined?
Blue sapphire is mined all over the world, however, the finest quality blue sapphires come from Kashmir, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and some new Madagascar deposits. Some estimated suggest that the mines in Australia have given us more sapphires in combined carat weight than any other source in history. In the USA, Montana was home to several blue sapphire deposits, yielding millions of carats of rough sapphire over the past 100 years. Thailand and India are the primary locales for cutting blue sapphire.
Celebrating notable occasions with blue sapphire
For hundreds of years, the September birthstone has been solely blue sapphire. Birthstone jewelry in the form of necklaces, earrings, bracelets and of course rings have featured the sapphire gemstone. Sapphire falls right between the August birthstone of peridot and the October birthstone of opal.
Today the 45th wedding anniversary is also celebrated with blue sapphire jewelry.
Durability
Sapphire is an excellent gemstone for every day wear, with a rating of 9 on the Mohs scale. Only a diamond has a higher rating at 10, the very hardest mineral substance on earth.
Did you know? Sapphire comes in a wide array of colors. Fancy sapphire colors include pink sapphire, yellow sapphires, and the rare Padparadschas. Padparadschas have a rich hue described as salmon, sunset or ripe guava. The color comes from the trace elements of iron and chromium and they typically are of the most expensive of all fancy sapphires.
What is star sapphire?
Star sapphire belongs to the phenomenal corundum category because of star-like rays that intersect across the stone. The star effect is called asterism. In a nutshell, when a sapphire has enough tiny, needlelike inclusions called silk to display a star, the sapphire can be fashioned into a cabochon cut to proudly show the star.
How do I care for my sapphire jewelry?
While a blue sapphire has a very high hardness rating on the mohs scale, it is still a precious gemstone and should be treated with care. The best way to clean your sapphire jewelry at home is with mild soapy water. Gently scrub the front and back of the gemstone to remove built up dirt and things like hand lotion. Rinse with warm water and air dry. Of course, visiting your local jeweler for more detailed cleaning is always a good idea!
To the inspo!
At Perrara, we have some of the most amazing sapphire necklaces, rings and earrings. We are dying to share some of our current favorites!
This pretty little blue sapphire three stone ring is set with a 1.38 carat cabochon cut blue sapphire. This means the top of the sapphire is a soft domed shaped. We love the eagle prongs and the way the soft yellow gold creates a timeless design.
This bubble ring from Parade Designs in California, boasts varying hues of blue sapphire, pink sapphire & yellow sapphire (combined with tsavorite green garnet) for a fun pop of color.
Have you considered a blue sapphire for your wedding band or anniversary band (to celebrate those amazing 45 years)? We adore this shared prong blue sapphire band by Tacori. The crisp white gold compliments the royal blue of the sapphires, and the simplicity really allows the sapphires to take all the praise.
This blue sapphire wrap bracelet by Anne Sportun is the perfect way to wear a sapphire birthstone. This amazingly versatile piece can be worn as a wrap bracelet (shown) but also as a long necklace or a doubled short necklace. We’ve even seen this cameo as an ankle bracelet. Now that’s a win-win-win-win!
This absolutely stunning 2.89 carat blue sapphire ring is cut into a timeless oval shape, and flanked by marquise cut diamonds. White gold is the ultimate backdrop for this sapphire ring that could easily be an engagement ring.
Let’s not forget about our gentlemen! This white gold wedding band by Bleu Royale features random set blue sapphires all round the exterior. If a blue stone is your vibe, come in and try on this beauty in real life and see if it’s totally “you”.
In Summary:
Although the birthstone for September, blue sapphire can be worn by anyone at any time. It’s blue color is simply exquisite and versatile. We’d love to show you even more sapphire jewelry in our Kelowna showroom, located at 101-590 KLO Road. Will you add a stunning piece of sapphire jewelry to your collection? We hope so!
With Love, Perrara
Author: Lisa Maloney, Proprietor
