What does sapphire look like: the colors of the stone, how to distinguish it from a fake

“Everyone chooses their own color in life. Someone is sunny yellow,

some are cloudy gray, and some are depressingly black.

Each of us is responsible for our own choices...”

Elchin Safarli (“I will return”).

Sapphires have accompanied kings and royalty since ancient times. This gem belongs to the first group of precious stones, which also includes diamonds and emeralds. All valuable types of corundum are commonly called sapphires. The exceptions are red sapphires and rubies. In Ancient Rus', these minerals were known as azure yakhont. There is an opinion that the word “sapphire” comes from the Babylonian “sipru” and means “scratching”. This seems to be true, because the mineral’s hardness is second only to the carbon crystal lattice of diamond.

Physical properties

These precious minerals, which nature generously colors in a wide variety of shades, really consist only of virtues. Science explains the amazing variety of colors by the chemical composition of the crystal. On the Mohs scale, the strength of sapphire is rated nine, second only to diamond. The transparency of the crystal ranges from zero to complete. But the glass shine of this precious variety of corundum invariably remains noble. The cleavage of the mineral is imaginary, and the density is indicated by the value 4.00 g/cm³.

Raw sapphire

Stone purity table

A table was compiled to determine the purity of the azure yacht.

Category	Transparency level	Presence of inclusions inside
1	Ideal	There may be small inclusions that are noticeable upon close examination with a powerful magnifying glass.
2	The minerals are transparent, the shade is more saturated.	There are defects visible with a simple magnifying glass.
3	Opaque specimens.	Inclusions visible to the naked eye.
4	Cloudy samples with low transparency.	There are many defects.

This table will help the average person determine the category of a gem and its approximate cost. After all, the lower the purity of the sapphire, the lower its price.

Medicinal qualities

Healers and lithotherapists claim that natural sapphire crystals affect the human energy field, curing headaches, depression, diabetes, dysfunction of the joints and help with paralysis and asthma, women's diseases, and have a good effect on the lungs.

A pendant with this stone, located in the heart area, has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system, relieving arrhythmia.
Water charged with a sapphire stone at sunrise alleviates the condition of patients with kidney and urinary system diseases.
To treat abscesses, ulcers, boils and similar problems, sapphires are worn as close to the skin as possible.
Crystal in silver relieves problems with the spine and relieves attacks of rheumatic pain.
By holding a pebble in cold, clean water for just a few seconds and applying it to your eye, you will receive an amazing remedy for relieving tension in the optic nerve.

Where is it used?

The scope of application depends on the origin, appearance, characteristics of the sample.

Jewelry

Transparent stones are used for jewelry. The most expensive ones are blue and cornflower blue. They are cut for inlay; with the effect of asterism, they are processed into cabochons. Transparent high-quality sapphires of all shades are a desirable material for jewelers.

The stone is used in optics

Other areas

Leucosapphires are valuable industrial raw materials. It is used for ophthalmic scalpels, eye lenses, transparent optical systems, and braces. Artificial stones are used to make parts for waterjet machines, rocket and airplane glasses, sodium lamp burners, and lasers. Titanium-activated synthetic sapphire is used in titanium-sapphire lasers.

The magic of sapphires

The vibrational energies of sapphire crystals have a powerful protective effect, not only protecting their owners from negativity, but sometimes even transforming negative influences into positive ones. In addition, this mineral gives peace and encourages contemplation. An amazing stone can bring out the best positive qualities in a person, awaken curiosity, make him more decisive, kind, and even help restore muscles.

One of the unique magical properties of sapphire is its ability to neutralize poisons in food. For women, this stone is considered a talisman of chastity and feminine virtue.

Treated sapphire

Characteristic

The color itself, its name refers us to precious stones that have a very bright, eye-catching shine. In the same way, in clothes that boldly and confidently help you make an impression, declare your individuality and nobility.

And since the synonyms of precious stones are luxury, mystery, durability, the shade of such stones reflected in clothes is no exception.

Sapphire conveys a mood of confidence, determination, and harmony. Regarding combinations: there are colors that are easy to combine, and there are more complex ones. But each tandem has its own charms, strengths and ways to arouse admiration. To do this, it is enough to learn some of the secrets of such mixtures and be able to competently dilute this or that set with the necessary accessory.

What types of sapphires are there?

With all the color variety, sapphires also differ in four main indicators - this is the so-called rule of four “Cs”. This includes:

Color.
Cleanliness (Clariti).
Cut.
Weight (Carat).

Based on these values, the price of the stone is calculated. The classic color of corundum is blue. Other sapphires (and there are about 2000 of them) are usually called fancy sapphires. The color of the mineral also changes when exposed to X-rays or high temperatures.

Blue. The most valuable are Kashmiri crystals, medium blue in color, as if shrouded in a foggy haze. Crystals from the state of Burma are rare and alluring stones of two shades: from the color that is commonly called midnight blue to samples of bright cornflower blue color. Stones from Sri Lanka are popular and of excellent quality. Among them are many valuable samples of high carat weight. Brazil also surprises us with the diversity of the palette of this mineral, among which there is blue. The Australian deposits are blue-black, while the Ural deposits are gray-blue.
Green. Crystals of this color are quite rare. The most beautiful of them are given to us by the deposits of Sri Lanka, the rest are found in Thailand, Australia, Madagascar and the Kola Peninsula in Russia. Shades of green sapphires can have a yellow tint, soft olive, green-blue and iridescent sea green. Their price, compared to other sapphires, is quite low.
Star-shaped. Dark sapphires are mesmerizing with their charm, having the effect of asterism, which we see in the outlines of a six- or twelve-rayed star flickering on the crystal. It is customary to process such stones exclusively using the cabochon technique, which emphasizes the mystical beauty of the mineral. A large number of star sapphires are mined in Thailand, near the town of Tamai, as well as in Australia and Africa. The Queensland Black Star is the most famous star sapphire.
Yellow. Relatively inexpensive, but surprisingly beautiful, yellow sapphire belongs to the fantasy category. They can be a soft pastel shade and, conversely, very intensely colored. The weight of such stones is usually no more than 20 carats, which does not at all detract from their energetic impact. Yellow sapphires are mined in Brazil, Tanzania, Burma, America, Thailand, China and Madagascar. The overwhelming number of sapphires of this color are found in deposits in Sri Lanka.
White. Sapphire, considered white, is actually colorless, visually resembles a diamond and is even often adjacent to it in products. This is pure aluminum oxide. The mineral does not contain impurities, which provide a variety of shades to other types of corundum. The main deposits of white sapphires are located in Australia, Thailand, China, Brazil and America.
Blue. This shade of stone is considered one of the rarest. Delicate, a little cold. Similar crystals are mined in India, Sri Lanka and Australia. The stone itself is clean and transparent, not as dark as a classic-colored sapphire. It is customary to frame this look with gold and platinum.
Violet. The purple tone of sapphire is violet. Its variations can vary from purple-pink to blue-violet. More recently, this stone was mistakenly called oriental amethyst. The purple-colored mineral usually does not exceed 10 carats. Such sapphires are mined in Australia, a small part is supplied by the state of South Wales. In America, Montana, in the Yogo deposit, amazing examples of purple sapphire are also found, which do not change their color even under artificial light.
Pink. The second purple shade of the mineral is pink. These are currently popular stones, the price of which is constantly increasing. It is pink jewelry that is usually given to loved ones on Valentine’s Day as a stone that magically awakens tenderness. These corundums are from deposits in Sri Lanka and Indochina. Pink sapphires from a new development site - Madagascar - are slightly cheaper in price.
Padparadscha. There are sapphires of an unusual pink-orange color, which appears under a certain play of light. They are called "padparadscha", which translates as 'lotus flower'. This is a rare and expensive stone.
Red sapphire is called ruby. This is the same mineral with the same formula. However, the magic of his energy is still a little different. This is by no means a pacifying stone; rather, it can be called one that kindles the flames of passions!
Alexandrite. There are also special, simply extraordinary sapphires. These crystals are able to change their color depending on the lighting. This type of mineral is called alexandrite sapphire. They are mined in Tanzania and Australia.
Declassed sapphire. The modern jewelry industry has a number of technologies that enhance or change the color of inexpensive natural corundum samples. One such method is diffusion. Thus, as a result of crystal refining, iron oxide gives a blue color, iron and nickel - red and orange, and titanium - asterism. This is legal, and the mineral remains natural. But sapphires that have undergone diffuse processing are lower in price. Therefore, the label of such a product should be marked “decl.”, which means “declassed”.

Silver bracelet with sapphires

Who is it suitable for?

The gem is distinguished by the fact that it is equally friendly to any owner. But there are some nuances.

Horoscope

The zodiacal compatibility of sapphire is very wide. Some important notes are presented in the table below.

Zodiac signs	Compatibility	What does it give to men?	What does it give to women?
Aries	+++	Calms excessive ardor and negative emotions	Will help you find your place in life, explore the world
Taurus	+	Protects from negativity
Twins	+++	Helps you find true friends and regulate your restless disposition	Protects against depression, removes negative energy
Cancer	+	Will give good luck, protect from negativity	Will attract positive energy
a lion	+++	Strengthens restraint and thoroughness	Will help you decide in life
Virgo	+	Strengthens will and determination	Helps develop communication skills
Scales	Determination	Creativity
Scorpion	+	Directs internal energy into a creative direction and protects against negativity	Calms passions and fills life with positive emotions
Sagittarius	+++	Courage, determination	Sexy, charming
Capricorn	_
Aquarius	+	Will develop oratory skills, protect from evil people	Will give inner relaxation, the ability to empathize, develop intuition
Fish	+	Increases internal energy	Balances the state of mind

Note: +++ fits perfectly; + can be worn; - Not recommended.

Sapphire for Leo is an opportunity to neutralize vanity and pride in oneself, if any. The stone will increase your diligence and help you achieve your goals. It is better to have yellow and pink sapphires.

Sapphire's zodiac sign does not suit Capricorn. However, representatives of this sign can also wear a wonderful stone if a clear connection is felt with a specific piece of jewelry, and the owner himself is a balanced person.

By name

To whom are the properties of the sapphire stone most suited by name?

By choosing him as a talisman, Antonina can hope for reciprocal love.

Lyudmila will become more flexible, more compassionate, wiser.

The gem will bestow the favor of fate on Rose.

It will help Gregory make friends, protect him from temptations, and relieve him from internal turmoil.

Egor will be given the favor of fate and prudence.

It will add modesty to Kirill, teach him loyalty and the desire for justice.

With his help, Stepan will be able to comprehend his life goal, to know himself.

Regardless of the name, the talisman gives the owner secret power over people, the desire to acquire new knowledge, useful experience, like-minded people, and makes life easier. But its owner must be pure in thoughts.

With other stones

Sapphire looks best alone or in combination with diamonds.
It is also magnificent when surrounded by rubies, amethysts, garnets, cubic zirconias. In terms of energy (and style), pearls and other opaque stones are not suitable for him. It should not be combined with malachite and beryl. As for the setting, sapphire looks ideal in silver, gold and platinum. Silver gives it severity, purity, sublimity. Gold and platinum ennoble even more, making it truly regal.

Talismans and amulets

Natural sapphire stone can become a wonderful talisman or amulet. It should be understood that a talisman is an object, a decoration that, with its energy flow, carries the owner in the direction of good luck. And amulets can serve both as amulets and create positive energy of advancement to solve a specific problem.

Thus, a sapphire talisman encourages the owner to do good and bright deeds, develops interest in the unknown, helps achieve his plans, and imparts peace and justice. A sapphire amulet protects from fear, evil people, can save a person from bad habits or ignite passion in a loved one. Much depends on the color of the stone and the task being set. Sapphires also have the ability to reveal the carrier of dark energy. Star sapphires have a special power, that is, they have the effect of asterism.

It is believed that sapphire is not contraindicated for all zodiac signs except Capricorn.

Natural or artificial

Corundum, which includes sapphire, in jewelry can be natural, that is, natural, or synthetic.

To avoid buying a fake for the price of a gemstone, pay attention to the following points when purchasing:

Natural sapphire has a uniform color. It may contain internal cracks and shallow inclusions. If, when looking at a mineral through a magnifying glass, you notice clusters of small “needles” of different lengths, then have no doubt that this is a natural specimen in front of you.
When a precious mineral is illuminated with ultraviolet rays, it will glow white, while a synthetic or grown mineral will glow greenish.
Sapphire is a hard stone, second only to diamond in hardness. There are no scratches on it, like on a fake.

The best guarantee that you are purchasing a genuine piece of jewelry is having a certificate with all the characteristics of the stone.

Such characteristics that affect the cost of a stone and jewelry with it include:

Color. There are 3 shades. Bright blue belongs to class 1, medium saturation is category 2, light blue is class 3.
Purity. The fewer inclusions a stone contains, the higher it is valued, and the more expensive the jewelry with it will be.
Cut. There are many cutting options: from traditional “oval”, “pear”, “circle” to fancy ones, for example, “heart”.

Thus, if you are purchasing a piece of jewelry with a gemstone, and the label says such characteristics as “0.25 2/2 sapphire,” then this means that you are looking at a natural cut mineral weighing 0.25 carats in a medium blue hue, having minor inclusions. Such a stone in a gold frame will take its rightful place in your jewelry collection.

How to distinguish a fake?

The color of corundum is blue or cornflower blue. Although crystals can be purple, yellow, pink, green, orange, red. Or they can be completely colorless. But any sapphires of noble quality visually look as aesthetically pleasing as possible.
Treatment. You should definitely ask what kind of treatment the stone was subjected to. In widespread use, it is a method of heating a stone to its maximum temperature. This brings out the color of the crystal, giving it optimal brightness and evenness of color. So, only sapphire of a decent level of four “C” can withstand heat treatment. If the crystal is artificial, the processing will most likely show streaks on its surface.
Ultraviolet. After heat treatment, a natural sapphire crystal placed under ultraviolet rays will begin to produce white reflections. Artificial - green in color.
Sapphire "with a star". When purchasing a sapphire with an asterism effect, you should pay attention to the mobility of the star’s rays. For natural corundum, rotation will show the movement of the rays. For artificial ones, their central position will not change.
Blotches and inclusions. Under the magnifying glass of a microscope, natural stone will definitely show natural inclusions. But in a high-quality natural mineral they should be visible only under optical magnification. There is an option that the stone is natural, but inclusions are visible to the naked eye. The price of such a stone cannot be high. Artificial sapphire will not show inclusions at all.
Inclusion bands on a mineral. If the stone is lowered into clear water in a transparent container and placed on a sheet of white paper, and then light is directed at it from the side, the inclusion stripes of the natural crystal will be located straight. In artificial ones they will be curved. In addition, a natural sample is much heavier and will quickly sink in a container. A fake is unlikely to sink to the bottom at all.
Damage. Corundum is a very hard stone. Therefore, if you try to apply any scratches to the crystal, the natural origin of the mineral will not allow you to do this. And artificial, accordingly, will allow.
Doublet. Some craftsmen have adapted to gluing stones by combining a plate of real sapphire at the top and an artificial one at the bottom. Optics will also help you see the connection line.
Place of sale. Important advice: you need to carefully choose where you buy. Let it be a store with a good reputation.

Ring and earrings with sapphires

Style application

The sapphire shade can successfully participate in looks of the most varied semantic content and style. For example, in office trends, its mysterious blue will add individual notes to the most boring and restrained ensemble. A business suit of this color will demonstrate high intelligence, a tendency towards conservatism and authoritarianism, and the lady’s authority. This is a great alternative to the typical gray and black outfits. Such psychological and optical characteristics of the sapphire shade make it possible to use it even under the strictest dictates of a business dress code.

Another mesmerizing shade of the blue palette - navy - is often used in sailor uniforms and in nautical style looks. Sapphire can successfully and exceptionally replace it in similar trends. Based on it, even more spectacular and impressive images are obtained. And naturally, wardrobe items of a thick and rich sapphire shade are absolutely indispensable in the compositions of the casual fashion trend. Today, leather jackets and down jackets, raincoats and coats are made in this color. An equally logical use of sapphire shade is in country and sport-chic style looks. For all his restraint, he can take an active part in romantic sets and evening ensembles, where a bit of intrigue and a touch of mystery never hurt.

How to care?

Sapphire is a stone that appreciates proper care.

If it gets dirty, you should wash it with a regular toothbrush dipped in a soap solution to which a drop of ammonia has been added. Then rinse with running water and polish with a soft cloth.
Ultrasound and steam treatment clean the mineral well.
In addition, the products must be regularly shown to a jeweler, who can perform a routine inspection of the jewelry and clean the stone professionally.

Take care of your stone, and it will delight you with its radiance and beneficial effects for many years.