Sapphire
Sapphire is a September birthstone, July guardian angel birthstone, special apostle birth gem for December, and also an astral birthstone for the zodiac sign of Gemini. Sapphire – one of the earliest mentioned gemstones in ancient times. Its sparkling blue shining attracted people for centuries.
A classic style necklace with a magnificent blue sapphire as a center piece
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Sapphire is a gemstone variety of a mineral called corundum. On the Mohs scale it has a hardness of 9 which is just one behind diamond. This means that this gem is resistant to wear and tear and can be worn every day.
This gem is known as a blue birthstone though it can come in a variety of other colors like black, yellow, orange, grey, pink, purple, orange, brown, and even colorless. One of the most popular and timeless tints of the gem is velvety blue, also called ‘bleu du roi’ or royal blue. You can also say that ruby is a red variety of sapphire. In the US sapphire has to be of a certain red tone to be called a ruby. The rarest in nature and the most expensive non-blue sapphire is called padparadscha. It is an exquisite pink birthstone adored by many people.
“The living throne, the sapphire blaze,
Where angels tremble while they gaze.”
wrote Thomas Gray, English poet and scholar of the 18th century. The gem derives its name from Greek word ‘sappherios’ meaning sapphire and was generally used as a boys name at the time. There are various renditions of the name for this birthstone like for example sapphyr, sapir, saiffer, saffre, safeur etc. In Sanskrit sapphire meaning is ‘dear to Saturn’, god whose reign was regarded as a golden age. In ancient times another gemstone, lapis-lazuli, was actually referred to as sapphire.
Here is a beautiful and short 2:00 minute video of JaimeStoneCutting master gem cutter Patrice faceting a dark midnight blue sapphire.
Ancient Hebrews believed sapphire was a gem of wisdom. It was the stone of Joseph the Wise who was famous for resisting temptations. Some also believe that sapphire was set in the ring of King Solomon himself, and Queen of Sheba sang in a Song of Songs to him mentioning this gem. One of the sapphires was in the holy of holies and was a special talisman for the Jewish people. This gem was hidden when Roman Emperor Titus conquered Jerusalem.
Egyptians valued sapphire for its deep blue color which symbolized the purity of character. They often engraved the gem with rays of the sun and inlaid the carving with gold.
Seaside Sterling Silver Blue Sapphire Starfish Earrings
Watercolors Yellow Gold Multi Sapphire & Diamond Pendant
Throughout centuries sapphire was regarded as a gemstone of religious teachers. Pope Innocent III permitted sapphire in episcopal rings in the 13th century, and it was supposed to be set in pure gold. After that it was assumed that the gem was also a preserver of secrets.
St Jerome, one of the most renowned writers of early Christianity and a saint patron of writers, translators and librarians, regarded sapphire as a gem that protected its wearer from captivity, brought peaceful thought over their enemy, and gained favors from people of power and authority.
In the Buddhist tradition, sapphire was the 4th stone of Vishnu’s magical necklace. According to the epic of Ramayana, sapphires fell from the eyes of god Mahabali. The gemstone was a powerful symbol that could “open closed door, brings prayerful feelings and sounds the sweet bells of peace.” It was considered a gem of truth, friendship, and constancy, the rock that could inspire imagination and help the dreams come true.
Blueish or greyish cloudy sapphires would sometimes reveal six beams of light radiating from a point within a stone. They are often called ‘star sapphires’ and they were regarded to be a love charm six was a number sacred to Venus.
The wife of Charles the Great the Emperor of Romans possessed a talisman composed of two sapphires. This talisman was rumored to have kept the affection of Charles to her wife for the length of her life.
There were a number of famous sapphire specimens and lucky finds throughout history, and here are just a few of them.
Sterling Silver Sapphire and Diamond Evil Eye Ring
Black Star of Queensland is a huge 733 carat gem found in the mid-20th century in Australia. It served as a door stopper for 8 years until an American jeweler visited prospectors house and spotted it.
104 carat Stuart sapphire was in possession of various English royals and is currently on display in the Tower of London. It was on the Imperial State Crown of Queen Victoria and was also used by Queen Elizabeth II.
Logan Sapphire weighing 429 carats is the second largest blue sapphire known. It was named after Polly Logan who donated it to the Smithsonian.
Princess Diana was presented with an engagement ring with sapphire, that was later presented to Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge. Liz Hurley, Elizabeth Taylor, Penelope Cruz and Victoria Beckham were lucky enough to be presented with magnificent sapphire engagement rings. Countless other celebrities wore sapphire jewelry on the red carpet and other occasions.
The Ancient Alien Theory view on the birthstones.