SAPPHIRE
Sapphire belongs to the mineral species corundum. The name “sapphire” can also apply to any corundum that’s not red and doesn’t qualify as ruby, another corundum variety. All other colors, including pink, are referred to as sapphire. Usually, when one thinks of the color of a sapphire, blue comes to mind. Fine blues remain the most valuable and desirable members of the sapphire family.
Certain varieties of sapphires have phenomenal characteristics. Asterism in sapphires, caused by oriented inclusions of rutile, can produce wondrous six or twelve rayed stars. Some sapphires exhibit a color change from blue to purple or like alexandrite, from red to green. Locations in India and Burma have produced the most famous examples of sapphires. The Zanskar Range of the Himalayas in Kashmir is known for magnificent specimens. In more recent times, lovely examples have been found in the Helena area of Montana. Sapphires have been routinely heat treated for decades, perhaps centuries. Heat treatment “dissolves” the silk-like inclusions in sapphires, usually resulting in a more transparent and intensely colored stone. The changes produced by heating the gems are stable. |
THE HISTORY
Sapphire symbolizes nobility, truth, sincerity, and faithfulness. Its extraordinary color is the standard against which other blue gems—from topaz to tanzanite—are measured.
For centuries, sapphire has been associated with royalty and romance. The association was reinforced in 1981, when Britain’s Prince Charles gave a blue sapphire engagement ring to Lady Diana Spencer. Until her death in 1997, Princess Di, as she was known, charmed and captivated the world. Her sapphire ring helped link modern events with history and fairy tales.
In ancient Greece and Rome, kings and queens were convinced that blue sapphires protected their owners from envy and harm. During the Middle Ages, the clergy wore blue sapphires to symbolize Heaven, and ordinary folks thought the gem attracted heavenly blessings. In other times and places, people instilled sapphires with the power to guard chastity, make peace between enemies, influence spirits, and reveal the secrets of oracles.
A special orangy pink sapphire color is called padparadscha, which means “lotus flower” in Sinhalese, the language spoken in Sri Lanka. Stones from Sri Lanka were initially the only ones labeled with this marketable name. There’s no telling how many padparadschas have been sifted from Sri Lankan river gravel throughout history. Sri Lankans have a special affection for the color that’s traditionally been linked with their country.
Sapphire is the birthstone for September and the gem of the 5th and 45th wedding anniversaries.
For centuries, sapphire has been associated with royalty and romance. The association was reinforced in 1981, when Britain’s Prince Charles gave a blue sapphire engagement ring to Lady Diana Spencer. Until her death in 1997, Princess Di, as she was known, charmed and captivated the world. Her sapphire ring helped link modern events with history and fairy tales.
In ancient Greece and Rome, kings and queens were convinced that blue sapphires protected their owners from envy and harm. During the Middle Ages, the clergy wore blue sapphires to symbolize Heaven, and ordinary folks thought the gem attracted heavenly blessings. In other times and places, people instilled sapphires with the power to guard chastity, make peace between enemies, influence spirits, and reveal the secrets of oracles.
A special orangy pink sapphire color is called padparadscha, which means “lotus flower” in Sinhalese, the language spoken in Sri Lanka. Stones from Sri Lanka were initially the only ones labeled with this marketable name. There’s no telling how many padparadschas have been sifted from Sri Lankan river gravel throughout history. Sri Lankans have a special affection for the color that’s traditionally been linked with their country.
Sapphire is the birthstone for September and the gem of the 5th and 45th wedding anniversaries.
CARING FOR SAPPHIRES
Typically, it is safe to clean sapphires in the ultrasonic or the steamer. The best way to clean a sapphire is with a soft cloth and warm, soapy water. Sapphires are fairly hard stones and should be stored separate from softer stones as not to scratch them.
COLOR
Sapphire and the color blue tend to be interchangeable terms. But as we know, sapphires are available in many different colors, some in a colorless variety (similar to the appearance of diamonds) and in other colors, called "fancy colors". These include shades of orange, yellow, green, purple and pink. Three terms are used to refer to the color of sapphire:
- Hue - refers to the sapphire's basic color - blue, slight green, strong green, slight purple, and strong purple.
- Saturation - (also called color purity and intensity) is the extent to which the hue is masked by brown or gray.
- Tone - refers to the amount of color in the sapphire ranging from very light to very dark.
Blue sapphire color table combining saturation and tone. The table on the right shows the most desirable color range.
On its own, the word "sapphire" refers only to the blue gemstone variety. The term cornflower blue is often associated with the best quality sapphires. But this term carries with it a perceived difference in color for different people. In general, most experts can agree, that medium-to-dark vivid-blue (or violet-blue) sapphires are the best.
The most desirable colors tend to be vivid, pure and highly saturated without hints of brown or gray. You will often see dark black or gray areas in the sapphire, known as extinction. Extinction is affected by the tone, cut, lighting quality and lighting position. Fewer areas of extinction are preferred. Lighter-colored, shallower stones normally show less extinction than darker, deeper-cut stones.
Unlike diamonds that have a 23 letter color-grading system, sapphires lack a convenient method to characterize their color. This is due in large part to the extreme ranges of tone, hue and color purity in sapphires.
On its own, the word "sapphire" refers only to the blue gemstone variety. The term cornflower blue is often associated with the best quality sapphires. But this term carries with it a perceived difference in color for different people. In general, most experts can agree, that medium-to-dark vivid-blue (or violet-blue) sapphires are the best.
The most desirable colors tend to be vivid, pure and highly saturated without hints of brown or gray. You will often see dark black or gray areas in the sapphire, known as extinction. Extinction is affected by the tone, cut, lighting quality and lighting position. Fewer areas of extinction are preferred. Lighter-colored, shallower stones normally show less extinction than darker, deeper-cut stones.
Unlike diamonds that have a 23 letter color-grading system, sapphires lack a convenient method to characterize their color. This is due in large part to the extreme ranges of tone, hue and color purity in sapphires.