Sapphire Gemstone

Sapphire Pronunciation

The pronunciation of sapphire is as follows: “SAF-fire” ( /ˈsæf.aɪər/ ).

Sapphire Pronunciation Variations

Hardness

Sapphire ranks 9 on the Mohs hardness scale, making it one of the hardest gemstones to occur naturally. Its only rival in terms of durability is diamond, which makes sapphire an excellent choice for any jewelry that might be subjected to the kind of wear and tear encountered in everyday life. What’s more, sapphire has proven virtually scratch-resistant—the only substances capable of marring it are the aforementioned diamond and corundum (the mineral from which sapphire forms).

Thanks to their durability, sapphires frequently adorn engagement rings, watches, and even serve in industrial applications, like high-end scientific instruments and smartphone screens. This combination of beauty and resilience makes sapphires a truly timeless choice of gemstone.

Luster

The brilliance of sapphires has a lot to do with their luster. The luster of a sapphire is vitreous (glass-like). However, luster alone does not make a gemstone brilliant. A gemstone cut and polished beautifully—a quality that is surely a prerequisite for gemstone brilliance—behaves in this glassy manner. However, a sapphire with a good cut and polish could very well exhibit this glassy behavior.

The brilliance of a sapphire is profoundly affected by its clarity and cut. Some sapphires, while otherwise flawless, are simply not as bright or beautiful as others because they have inclusions in the wrong places or of the wrong kind. But sapphires with the right characteristics—that is, with near-flawless clarity, a perfect cut, and not too many inclusions—are probably the most beautiful gemstones on earth.

Crystal System

Sapphires are of the trigonal crystal system, a subset of the hexagonal system. This crystal structure is what makes them durable and gives them their unusual optical properties. They naturally form as prismatic or tabular crystals and often show a six-sided shape.

Some sapphires also show pleochroism, which is to say they can look different colors when viewed from different angles. This unique characteristic adds to the intoxicating allure of each sapphire.

Crystal System and Key Features

Etymology

The name ‘sapphire’ comes from the Latin word sapphirus, which is derived from the Greek sappheiros and means ‘blue stone.’ However, the historical record suggests that this term was once used to describe lapis lazuli before it became associated with corundum sapphires.

Sapphires have been held in high regard for their heavenly blue color, which has often been associated with favor from on high, with wisdom, and with protection. In many parts of the world, they have been considered something like sacred stones, believed to endow the wearers with not just enlightenment but also some form of spiritual armor.

Location

Numerous, varied localities around the world are home to sapphires, with Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Thailand being among the most well-known. Sapphire deposits in Madagascar and Australia also produce gems with some unusual characteristics. All five locales yield sapphires with qualities that make these stones identifiable as originating from one of these regions.

Kashmir sapphires are renowned for their outstanding quality and their deep, velvety blue color. They are, in fact, among the highest-quality colored gemstones on the market today.

Sapphires from Burma (Myanmar) are prized and held in high esteem for their deep, rich, and vibrant blue color.

Sapphires from Ceylon (Sri Lanka) commonly exhibit a lively, vivid blue with superb clarity.

Sapphires from Australia frequently exhibit dark tones and sometimes appear nearly black because of their high iron content.

In addition, sapphires exist in many different hues, such as pink, yellow, green, and even completely colorless forms. The Padparadscha sapphire is the rarest, a breathtaking pink-orange gem, and primarily found in Sri Lanka.

Meaning & Energy

Wisdom, truth, and spiritual enlightenment have been long associated with sapphires. For many ancient cultures, wearing a sapphire was thought to not only improve these qualities but also to enhance mental clarity, encourage self-discipline, and increase the chances of finding inner peace.

In transhistorical traditions, sapphire is regarded as a protective and intuitive stone. It is said to help stabilize and calm emotions while strengthening one’s ability to concentrate, making it a potentially useful tool for meditation. One needn’t necessarily use a blue sapphire for these qualities to be realized—after all, gemstones come in a panoply of colors. However, the throat chakra particularly resonates with blue sapphires.

For centuries, sapphires have been associated with royalty. They were worn by kings and queens as symbols of divine favor and protection against evil. Even today, sapphire engagement rings, like the famous one worn by Princess Diana and now Kate Middleton, symbolize loyalty, sincerity, and everlasting love.

Varieties of Sapphire Gemstone

More than merely the classic deep blue gemstone most people associate with royalty, sapphire comes in a wide array of colors. Thus, it is a versatile choice for jewelry lovers and collectors. Besides the well-known blue sapphire, one can find pink, yellow, green, white, and even orange sapphires. The rarest of all, the padparadscha sapphire, is a stunning pink-orange variety that is reminiscent of a sunset.

The star sapphire is another fascinating category, exhibiting a striking optical phenomenon called asterism. When cut en cabochon, these stones display a star-like pattern on their surface, making them highly desirable. Some sapphires even change color under different lighting conditions, adding to their mystique and value.

Sapphire Color Varieties and Their Rarity

Ancient Myths

For a long time, sapphires have been held in high esteem across many cultures. They’ve often stood for, and still do, wisdom, divine favor, and protection.

In ancient Greece, sapphires were believed to link their wearers with the gods and to endow them with insight and spiritual clarity. The medieval European clergy wore blue sapphires with the same message; they symbolized heaven and divine truth.

An eminent legend relates to King Solomon, who is said to have worn a sapphire ring that endowed him with the wisdom to, among other things, converse with animals. In India, people associated sapphires with Saturn and believed that choosing them correctly could bring great fortune. But choosing the right sapphire was a matter of enormous importance because choosing the wrong sapphire could bring misfortune and add an element of mysticism to this gem’s reputation.

Physical Sapphire Gemstone Healing Properties

Although contemporary science doesn’t endorse crystal healing as a form of medicine, many enthusiasts are convinced that sapphire is a powerful physical agent with all kinds of beneficial properties. They say sapphire is beneficial for eye-related ailments. It’s not just recent devotees who believe this. Some ancient doctors who prescribed sapphire for eye illnesses did so with the conviction that it would improve the patient’s vision.

Furthermore, sapphire is believed to help with headaches, fever, and trouble hearing. Holistic healers claim that this gem is a support for overall health and a boost for the immune system. Regardless of the lack of scientific proof for these benefits, many individuals continue to view the sapphire as a gem of health.

Commonly Believed Physical Healing Properties of Sapphire

Emotional Sapphire Gemstone Healing Properties

Emotionally, people view sapphire as a gemstone that promotes mental clarity and inner peace. Countless individuals adorn themselves with sapphire jewelry in hopes of reaping the gemstone’s purported benefits of fostering enhanced focus, intensified self-discipline, and—most importantly—clear, coherent, and unclouded thoughts. For this reason, the sapphire is an ideal gem for those who are students, writers, or any kind of professional that requires sharp, unyielding mental faculties.

Besides the advantages for the intellect, sapphire is thought to be a help for turbulent emotions, reducing stress, anxiety, and depressive feelings. Some practitioners would have you believe that blue sapphire, in particular, has a cooling energy that helps individuals manage anger and emotional upheavals. As a result, many people seek sapphire for its reputed ability to confer balance and tranquility.

Chakra Sapphire Gemstone Healing Properties

The throat chakra (Vishuddha), responsible for communication and self-expression, is closely associated with sapphire in chakra healing practices. It is said that donning or meditating with a blue sapphire can assist individuals in speaking their truth with confidence and authenticity. This quality is what makes it an excellent gemstone for public speakers and leaders. It’s also a beneficial stone for those who have trouble with verbal expression.

Some sapphires of certain colors are also associated with various chakras. Yellow sapphire is linked with the solar plexus chakra, which is not only “associated with our identity but also with our digestive system and the center of our personal power” (“Understanding” 248). Meanwhile, the pink sapphire vibrates with the energy of the heart chakra and certainly can do no wrong in terms of amping up the healing powers of this juxtaposed energy center.

Sapphire is a beautiful gemstone with deep and lasting symbolism. In our modern world, this storied stone still resonates with meanings that vary from person to person. For the individual seeking a space within the ideal and the harmonious, sapphire may serve as an exquisite emblem of presence. For those who prize the delightful blue of lapis lazuli, “lapis” is the Latin word for stone, and “lazuli” is from the Arabic for blue.

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