Sapphires is a unique blue gemstone that everyone adores encrusted in their jewellery. It stands out in any piece that is designed and it catches everyone’s attention, without a hint of doubt! The precious sapphire is more than just beautiful and intrinsic. Like every gemstone, sapphire has its own set of history, facts and myths. Read on to know more!
The name “Sapphire” was birthed from the Greek term, ‘sappherois’ referring to the blue stone lapiz lazuli. Centuries back, Greece and Rome believed that the stone would prevent any harm to be caused to the kings and queens. It was denoted as a heavenly blessing, once upon a time and went on to holding value as chastity, influencing spirits and making peace between enemies.
The sapphire begun being symbolized as a sign of royalty and romance after Prince Charles’ engagement ring to the renowned Lady Diana Spencer was encrusted with sapphire in them. Now, sapphires signify many morals such as nobility, truth, sincerity and faithfulness.
The Blue Sapphire is also referred to “Neelam” in Hindi and it is debatably, the birth stone of Aquarius and Capricorn according to horoscopes. It is believed to ward off the evils and enhance the goodness of the planet, Saturn. Individuals who fall under this category are said to be hardworking, reserved and are known to lead a responsible life. According to medicine in India, sapphire is said to help get rid of the thyroid and throat chakra and calms the nervous system.
Wearing a blue sapphire is said to bring wealth, fame, a good name, health, prosperity, new opportunities and happiness in the life of the wearer. It wards off danger, travel problems, terror, thieves and accidents.
Besides zodiac signs, this stone is considered lucky for those who are born under the number 8 like 8th, 17th and 26th.
On the more scientific end, sapphire belongs to the corundum mineral variety. It is the second hardest substance on Earth, right after Diamonds. Blue is the traditional color of sapphire stones but they are also found in colours of near-red.
The stone lacks a cleavage but does consist of uneven fractures. The leading production of sapphire is Madagascar and is found largely in Sri Lanka, Burma and Kashmir.
Sapphire should be cleaned using a soft cloth or brush with warm soapy water and wiped clean off all the soapy residue. Exposure to extreme heat can change colour and strong household chemicals can erode the beautiful sapphire stone.
Here are 5 things you probably don’t know about sapphires:
- The rarest type of sapphire is a pinkish orange variety called padparadscha, a name that comes from the Sanskrit word for lotus flower.
- Sapphires are among the most durable naturally occurring elements in the world.The only natural item that can scratch a sapphire is a diamond.
- Sapphires can exhibit a phenomenon called the “star effect,” or asterism. This occurs when needle-like inclusions create a six-ray star pattern on the surface of a cabochon-cut sapphire, often called a “star sapphire.”
- Perhaps the most intriguing type of sapphire is the “color change” variety. These gemstones exhibit different colors depending on the lighting, often changing from blue in daylight to purple in incandescent light.
- Because of this hardness, sapphire also has industrial uses. The Apple Watch features lab-created sapphire glass in its screen.
If you’re looking to purchase some sapphire stones, we at Nikita Jewellers have the best of them. Our store at Vashi has over hundreds of jewellery pieces for you to pick and choose from, so be sure to visit us today!
Stay tuned to know more about jewellery designs and precious stones.
