Scintillating Sapphire - The Facts You Must Know!
Are you a September-born girl/guy? Well, then you should wear a sparkling sapphire. It happens to be your birthstone too. Regarded to be one of the five primary gemstones found naturally, the regal blue or petite pink hue of the sapphire is enough to take your breath away. However, being enchanted by the appearance of this gemstone is not enough.
Be aware of the associated facts that will help you understand its hidden powers and the long and illustrious history behind wearing a sapphire embellished jewelry or talisman.
Do check out the information below to know more about the magnificent gem that is a sure-shot attention grabber:-
Meaning of The Term Sapphire
The word does sound pleasing to the ears, but you have no inkling of what it means. No worries! You will be excited to learn that the term sapphire originated from two different words.
The Greek word “sappheiros” and the Latin word sapphires both refer to the color blue. However, it is interesting that these terms were used to refer to Lapis Lazuli, a semi recipes stone of vivid blue. Ultimately, the vibrant blue began to be associated with the sapphire after it was discovered.
History of Sapphire
The first specimen of classic sapphires of violet-blue hues was sourced from the Kashmir Valley of India during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The standard price per carat of a sapphire was set at $242,000 in 2015, based on the price obtained for the auction of an authentic Kashmir sapphire.
Apart from India, sapphires have been discovered in Australian mines, with substantial deposits discovered in Madagascar in the 1990s. It is Madagascar that became the leading producer of sapphires presently.
Similar to diamonds, there have been a few sapphires that gained prominence for their beauty, color, and carat weight. Notable among them is the Star of Adam, the Star of India, and the Star of Bombay sourced from the mines of Sri Lanka.
Auguste Verneuil, a French chemist, found a way of making synthetic sapphires in 1902. Industrial use of sapphires became popular, with multiple industries utilizing the lab-grown gemstones to fulfill their objectives.
Power the of Sapphire
Blue sapphire has been highly popular since the Middle Ages. The shade was the color of royalty, and only the nobility was permitted to wear it on their persons. The color blue was believed to symbolize heaven. And wisdom was believed to be imparted by the Gods to the royalty.
The ancient Greeks wore it for guidance and to seek replies from the oracles. Buddhists and Hindus used it during religious ceremonies as it was regarded as a sign of enlightenment. Early Christian Kings wore it for protection by setting it in the ecclesiastical rings.
Go back a thousand or two thousand years back to the times of the ancient Jews who strongly believed that the Ten Commandments had been etched in a tablet of sapphire.
Colors of Sapphire
Yes! Sapphire was known for its amazing rich blue shade. However, this gemstone has been found in an astounding variety of colors worldwide. You will be able to buy a pink or purple sapphire as well as a yellow or green one. Although the blue sapphire retains its popularity, you would be able to come across a white, almost colorless sapphire that is strikingly similar to a diamond. The white sapphire has thus emerged as an alternative for a traditional diamond that is both affordable and eye-catching.
While you are welcome to select the sapphire according to its color, you would be intrigued to learn about the existence of a color-changing gemstone. The jeweler will advise you to hold the stone in front of the source of illumination to view the change of hue with alteration of the light intensity. You may find the sapphire appears blue during the day. It changes to a deeper hue and appears violet under incandescent light.
Sure, the color-changing sapphire is a relatively rare gemstone not found in India or Australia. Instead, you may have it sourced from Tanzania, Kampuchea, or even from selected locations across the United States of America. Not all color-changing sapphires are priced equally though. Instead, the gemstone is valued based on the intensity of color change.
Sapphire Life
The sapphire is an exceedingly hard gemstone and ranks second to the diamond. With an impressive score of 9 on Moh’s scale, you will not find the sapphire chipped or prone to scratching. This makes it ideal to be worn as jewelry. You may often find a classic sapphire accompanying a diamond on a two or three-stone engagement ring.
Apart from being an alternative to diamond due to its affordability, the sapphire is fit for daily use. You do not have to remove the ring when dealing with household tasks either.
Price of a Sapphire
The cost of sapphire is based on multiple factors in the same manner as a diamond. The color is one of the most significant aspects of sapphire, with blue being the most popular shade to date. However, blue comes in multiple hues, and the best color for sapphire is considered a Cornflower blue is seen in gemstones sourced from Kashmir.
The value is greater for larger gems with appreciable carat weight. The blue sapphire is usually distributed in large carat weight, thus adding to its price. It is surprising to learn that the most expensive sapphire to be sold had fetched a whopping $17 million.
Trivia
You would be astounded to know that the rarest sapphire is not blue. Instead, it appears to have a pinkish-orange color that has been found in Sri Lanka. Named Padparadscha Sapphire for the lotus flower, similar gems have been found in Madagascar lately.
A12-carat blue sapphire was a part of Lady Diana’s engagement ring, now adorned by Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge.
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