Sapphire Gemstone Guide
Sapphire: The most precious blue gemstone
A symbol of wisdom and integrity, sapphires are one of our favourite gemstones here at Auree. Blue Sapphires are desirable due to their most wonderful depth of colour, durability and luster...and we're sure you'll be lusting after them as well! Here’s everything you need to know about sapphires…
How rare are Sapphires?
Sapphires have been around for millennia and admired by many different cultures and religions, from Greeks to Persians. According to many sources, sapphires date back to 800BC making them one of the oldest gemstones. Sapphires are found in igneous rocks around the world, with Sri Lanka, Madagascar and Australia having some of the biggest sapphire deposits. Other places that sapphires have been found and mined include Afghanistan, Cambodia, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, the USA, and Vietnam. High quality, large sapphires are now incredibly rare, and the gemstone in general is expensive due to its scarcity.
The technical stuff: How are Sapphires formed?
Sapphires are a variety of the mineral corundum, and they get their unique colour due to trace elements of iron, titanium, chromium, magnesium, and vanadium. Sapphire gets its name from the Latin ‘saphirus’ or the Greek ‘sapheiros’ which both translate to blue. While sapphires are best known for their royal blue colour, natural sapphires come in many other colours, including yellow, green, purple, black, pink, and orange. Sapphires are also one of the hardest gemstones, rated a 9 on the Mohs scale. Just behind diamonds and moissanite, sapphires are most used in jewellery but due to their hardness, they’re also used in many practical objects, like smartwatches, circuits, and electronics.
A big Four gemstone:
Sapphires are classed as one of the ‘Big Four’ gemstones, alongside Diamonds, Emeralds, and Rubies. It is the perfect gemstone to gift when celebrating special life events and big occasions. Sapphires are the official birthstone for September and represent the 45th Wedding Anniversary.
What does Sapphire Symbolise?
Like most gemstones, sapphires are full of meaning and health benefits. Sapphires are known as the stone of prosperity and are a symbol of innocence, knowledge, guidance, and good health. The deep blue colour of sapphires attracted many religions, like Hindus, Christians, Hebrews, and Buddhists, as many people believed the gem symbolised heaven. They’ve been used during worship and bishops and kings have all been known to wear them in rings and necklaces. Sapphires are also thought to have many health benefits and protection from diseases, evil and sorcery. Millions of years ago, sapphires were actually ground up and used in medicine, as it was believed that sapphires could strengthen the heart, muscles and be an antidote to poison.
The most iconic Sapphire Engagement Ring
Sapphires have always been used in Royal ceremonial jewellery, however the most iconic piece of Royal Sapphire Jewellery has to be the 12-carat blue sapphire and diamond engagement ring King Charles proposed to the late Princess of Wales in 1981. Now worn by Catherine, Princess of Wales, after Prince William proposed in 2010. It is one of the most iconic designs of the twenty first century and has been replicated many times. So, if you don’t know which ring you should pop the question with, why not make it a sapphire one?
Auree x Sapphires
We launched our Hampton Collection earlier this year, which features pretty 18ct Yellow Gold Vermeil pieces set with Sapphires, Rubies and Emeralds. Our Sapphire Earrings, Sapphire Bracelet and Sapphire Necklace sell out as soon as more arrive from our workshop so it seems you all like them too!
photocredits: countryliving.com, pinterest.com