Sapphire stone: properties, photos and who it suits according to zodiac sign

Sapphire is a gemstone, one of the types of mineral called Corundum. From ancient Indian, the name of the stone means “beloved by Saturn,” and in Ancient Greece, sapphire was the name for any valuable stone that had a blue color. Nowadays, as a rule, dark blue gemstones are called sapphire. But at the same time, sapphires of yellow, green, blue and other colors also exist in nature. Most of the sapphires are concentrated in Southeast Asia, Australia and the USA.

Mineral – Sapphire

Story

It is believed that the stones were first discovered in southeast Asia. Their first name is corundum. Jewelers today call all corundums except red (ruby) sapphires. When asked what kinds of sapphires there are, a mineralogist will answer unequivocally – only blue ones.

The name is interpreted differently:

As a translation from Greek, meaning “blue stone”.
From “sipru”, which in Ancient Babylon meant “scratching”.

The second option speaks about the hardness of the mineral.

Rus' knew him as the azure yacht. In the East they are sure that the magic drops of Amrita, the elixir of immortality, became sapphires.

Photo of sapphire stone

Rich blue sapphire is the stone of rulers, for which it is called royal. At the same time, it should be the way nature created it, without the intervention of a jeweler. Such specimens were chosen for rings by the first Christian pontiffs.

Famous Jewels

Jewelry with deep blue sapphire, without cutting or refining, was used by the first rulers and church hierarchs. The most famous artifacts:

seal of King Solomon;
ring of the first Christian pontiffs;
ring of the English monarch Edward the Confessor (11th century);
ring with an insert of the most expensive shade: rich, medium blue with purple reflections, plus 32 diamonds; went at auction for $5 million.

Princess Diana loved products with sapphires. Style icon Lady Di made the gem popular. The gold ring with a pink stone, once given to Diana by Prince Charles, was given by their son to his fiancée Kate Middleton on their engagement day. After the wedding, she inherited the rest of the jewelry. Along the way, it turned out that in thirty years the price of the ring had risen a hundred times.

Description

This mineral is jewelry corundum, crystalline alumina. On the Mohs hardness scale, only diamond is higher than it. Other characteristics of the stone:

glass shine;
high strength;
dichroism, that is, beam splitting, creating a play of light;
porous structure, as a result of which completely pure stones are rare.

In addition to the classic blue, there are other shades called fantasy. The colors of sapphire are determined by impurities.

High temperatures discolor the crystal, but x-rays do the opposite. At the beginning of the twentieth century, artificial stones were synthesized.

Physico-chemical properties of stone

Property	Description
Formula	Al2O3
Impurity	Fe2+, Fe3+, Ti
Hardness	9 on the Mohs scale
Density	3.95—4.00 g/cm³
Refractive index	1,766—1,774
singonia	Trigonal.
Kink	Uneven to conchoidal.
Cleavage	Absent.
Shine	Glass.
Transparency	From transparent to opaque.
Color	Blue and cyan in various shades, colorless, pink, orange, yellow, green, violet, black.

Where is it mined?

The most valuable ones, cornflower blue, come from Indian Kashmir, but there are less than five percent of them. Expensive “Ceylon” blue and rare pink specimens come from Sri Lanka.

A quarter of the world's production comes from Australia. However, these are not the most valuable types of sapphires. The same low quality, with a greenish tint, is found in Southeast Asia.

Technical stones are mined in the Urals and the Kola Peninsula.

Therapeutic effect

Sapphires and the properties of the stone to heal the soul and body were studied in the ancient world. It improves the functioning of the psyche and all organs:

Accelerates relief from hysteria, epilepsy, depression, nightmares.
In case of vision problems, the eyes are washed with “sapphire” water.
Cures arrhythmia.
Eliminates back pain.
Heals wounds, growths, ulcers.
Fights bronchial asthma.
Dissolves and removes stones from the body, relieves renal colic.
Immunostimulant.
Useful for female infertility.

A sapphire of a certain color cures “its” ailments:

blue – heart, skin, inflammation, headache;
yellow – stress, depression, immunity. It regulates the functioning of the body as a whole, but it has strong energy, which means it provokes anxiety or restlessness when worn constantly;
pink – calms excess emotions, “unblocks” indecisive people;
green – vision, sleep;
white - restoration of mental balance;
black – restores self-confidence.

Stones and water infused with them, which are used to moisten areas of the body and wounds, are healing. It is recommended to pour the mineral at sunrise.

Magic properties

It is not for nothing that precious stones are considered magical - they connect the subtle plane with the physical world. They make the owner healthier and reveal better qualities. Therefore, they are useful for children so that they become good people.

Its magical specialization depends on the color of the sapphire:

white – suitable for those seeking connections with the subtle world. It will help you achieve your goal by activating the owner’s potential. Good for a gift to your significant other;
blue – acts as a sedative, helping to think clearly. Among those who are suitable and even need such a stone are timid, shy people. He will add decisiveness and directness to them. Useful for anyone whose goal is to develop superpowers or activate the “third eye”;
yellow is a talisman of the family hearth, an amulet against external negativity, anxiety, and inexplicable fears. For practitioners of magic, it will enhance their abilities and connection with the subtle world. Suitable for creative people as a generator of inspiration;
star-shaped - sharpens intuition;
green – cures selfishness, forcing you to pay attention to others. The significance of the stone for a house where there is quarrel is palpable, as it extinguishes the problem. Indispensable for remembering dreams;
pink is a magnet that attracts in real life what the owner is thinking about. Therefore, at the mental level, caution is needed so that troubles do not materialize in one’s life;
blue - especially with a star, a powerful talisman that attracts good luck, love, an ally on the path of knowledge;
black is a strong amulet against dark forces and enemies.

The magical properties of sapphire are enhanced by the setting. Gold gives courage and helps you become a winner. This is a symbol of undying love - a sapphire wedding is celebrated after 45 years of marriage.

Silver complements the healing effects of the stone. The stone makes women more attractive and men more decisive. Gives the owner joy, stimulates creativity, strengthens memory, and allows you to realize the craziest ideas.

Video: Unique properties and jewelry made of sapphire

Only natural, untreated sapphire exhibits magical properties and healing effects.

The use of magic is possible only with good intentions. Otherwise, the decoration will remain just a decoration. Often the negativity sent by the owner is returned.

What color are sapphires?

The natural color of sapphire has nothing in common with what we see on store shelves. A freshly mined crystal can come in a variety of shades, from bluish-white to lilac. What gives it its jewelry value is the most complex refining, which can result in other colors in addition to the signature blue:

Pink;
Yellow;
Pale green;
Dark grey;
Violet.

International jewelry standards distinguish two most valuable shades of sapphire - Royal Blue and Cornflower. The least common ones in nature are bright pink and black, or rather dark purple. As a rule, they do not reach the workshops, but are transferred to geological museums or private collectors for fabulous money.

Colors and types

The answer to the question of what color sapphires are is simple - from white to black, except red. Red corundum is called ruby.

Blue

A classic but rare and valuable look. Varieties of this sapphire range from bluish to deep blue. A crystal is considered blue if it contains no more than 15% of other shades. If the indicator is higher, these are “fantasy” specimens.

The gold standard characteristic is the color of clear sky or cornflower. Specimens that are too dark lose significant value.

Star-shaped specimens are recognized as powerful talismans.

Green

Micro-level research shows that the appearance of green is created by the combination of yellow and blue crystals.

Star-shaped

A mysterious representative of the sapphire clan. Any colour. The name comes from an optical effect - when light hits the surface, a multi-rayed star appears. This phenomenon, asterism, is caused by inclusions of rutile. If its concentration is insufficient, the star will be blurry. To ensure the full effect, the stone is polished with a cabochon.

The best samples in the world are mined in Thailand.

Yellow

Rarely found, slightly cheaper than blue. It comes in orange to yellowish shades. Weakly colored specimens are classified as transparent. Uniform tones are rare.

In the East, a lotus-colored sapphire stone is revered - pink or yellow-orange, called padparadscha.

Yellow minerals with defects are a source of negative energy.

White (leucosapphire)

The color of the stone shows that there are no impurities. This quality plus high transparency makes it comparable to a diamond. Jewelers take advantage of this by combining diamonds and white sapphires in jewelry. Externally, the products are indistinguishable, but sapphire reduces the cost of the product several times.

To obtain a white specimen, light stones of other colors are heated.

Black

Stones of varying degrees of transparency, with shine and iridescence on the edges. The most powerful amulet made of corundum, especially in the appropriate frame.

A sapphire of this color is suitable for serious men. The ring will improve your well-being, organize your thoughts, and protect you from spontaneous actions.

Black stone is a wealth magnet, effective in silence and prudence.

Blue

One of the most expensive and prized shades. Almost all blue specimens were obtained in India.

Among those for whom such sapphires are suitable are rulers, philosophers, and aesthetes. Dangerous for people mediocre in every sense, since the gem will aggravate this trait.

Violet

Known as "oriental amethyst".

Pink

Rare view. Almost all stones come from Sri Lanka or Madagascar. The delicate color allows the gem to show its beauty in the sun. The cost of a sapphire is several times less than that of a pink diamond, so both are equally popular.

Alexandrite

The color of the stone changes depending on the lighting.

Declassed

Substandard, that is, specimens unsuitable for use in any field - with numerous foreign inclusions, too dark or opaque.

For such a sapphire the prices are appropriate.

Modern accessories

The physical and aesthetic qualities of sapphire allow designers not to restrain their imagination. Jewelry with stones is made in different styles so that everyone can choose the right option.

Property	Description
Chemical formula	Al2O3
Selection form	Hexagonal dipyramids, sometimes in combination with a hexagonal prism; Barrel-shaped crystals are typical when the apices of the bipyramids are cut off by the faces of the basopinacoid. The surface of the faces of the dipyramids and prisms is stepped due to polysynthetic twinning and is covered with streaks parallel to the pinacoid plane. Rhombohedral and tabular crystals are also characteristic.
Color	Sapphires come in a variety of colors, including pink and red-violet. Classic stones have a bright blue color of varying intensities from pale blue to indigo blue. Colorless - leucosapphires. The rest are called fancy sapphires.
Transparency	Transparent, translucent.
Hardness	9

Range

Sapphire is suitable for making all types of jewelry, including children's and men's.

The most popular are rings, earrings and pendants.

Earrings and ring with sapphire

The stone setting is gold (585°) or silver of the highest standard.

The cut, like other precious stones, is determined by the quality of the gem. Clean specimens are processed geometrically or fancy, contaminated specimens are treated with cabochons.

Depending on the frame material, sapphires are complemented with small diamonds or cubic zirconia.

Origin

Almost all jewelry inserts, especially silver ones, are hydrothermal, declassified or synthetic stone. This is usually specified on the tag or in the product description.

When buying antiques or receiving an inheritance, you should remember that factory products produced in the USSR in the 1960-80s have artificial inserts. The tag doesn't say this.

Compatibility with other products

Multicolor sapphire does not need much help. It itself successfully imitates other minerals, including diamonds.

Earrings, brooch or ring with sapphires of different shades always look sophisticated and elegant. They are not combined with malachite or beryl or pearl accessories.

Brooch with sapphire

A duet of a stone with diamonds, rubies, cubic zirconia, amethysts, and garnets is recognized as good.

Mineral care

No matter how durable the gem is, jewelry with it needs careful care.

Products in gold or platinum frames (but not silver) are cleaned with a soft cloth or brush with a weak detergent solution and rinsed with water. Or immerse in a soap solution and expose to the sun for 2-3 hours.

Before cleaning, consider how the mineral and the setting are held together. If it is glue, then it is better not to experiment and take it to a jewelry workshop.

You cannot overheat a gemstone, because if it has already been “improved”, it will not tolerate another procedure. Ultraviolet radiation and household chemicals have a detrimental effect on sapphires.

A beautiful expensive pebble deserves a personal place in a box or a separate box with a soft backing, without “neighbors”.

Who is the jewelry suitable for?

The multi-color range makes the gemstone universal in age, appearance type, wardrobe and style.

Delicate light shades (especially pink) will decorate blondes. Rich blue – brunettes.
Earrings or studs made of rose gold with a miniature multi-color or single insert are suitable for a young girl. Older ladies will prefer large blue solo stones.
Silver accessories or white gold studs of classic design are appropriate in the office.
A slightly frivolous mix of pebbles of different colors plus an openwork frame is suitable for a date, a romantic dinner or a bachelorette party.
A bracelet, necklace, brooch, in which a large cornflower blue insert is complemented by a scattering of diamonds, is a win-win option for special occasions or important events. This is an elite combination that makes the hostess a queen.

Jewelry with a stone is the best gift for a sapphire wedding, that is, the 45th anniversary of marriage.

An impressive men's ring with a black or dark blue insert of strict shapes made of white or red gold is an option for a business man.

Sapphire and Zodiac

According to the horoscope, sapphire has a positive effect on almost all signs.

It suits Sagittarius more than others - it will make ladies charming, wise, men - decisive, determined to win.
Aries will reduce the ardor that creates problems.
According to their zodiac sign, it suits ambitious Scorpios - it will bring them peace, shielding them from negativity and instilling self-confidence.
Virgos should wear it if they want to become more sociable.
It is worth choosing for those whose sign is Aquarius. The stone will endow them with efficiency and attract them to spirituality. It will help young people to become more eloquent and skillful in negotiations.
Taurus will be helped if he is ready to take responsibility. The Gemini zodiac sign will make useful acquaintances that will develop into strong friendships.
Helper for health-conscious Cancers. According to this zodiac sign, sapphire is useful in the healing process. Cancers will not become more generous and grateful with him.
For Leos, it will create internal harmony, eliminate doubts, anxiety, and help achieve success in any endeavor.
For Pisces and Libra, this is just decoration.
But what zodiac sign doesn’t need it is Capricorn. The gem will strengthen the stubbornness inherent in it and take away strength.

They don't wear it all the time. The stone must be undamaged.

The best magical properties for all zodiac inhabitants are manifested when the owner has reached 36 years of age. By this age, Jupiter, the patron saint of the stone, completes its third revolution.

How to recognize synthetics

Only a specialist knows everything about sapphires. For a person far from this sphere, the task is difficult.

Instead of a precious stone, they offer samples of three types:

from glass;
synthesized;
natural cheap stone.

The properties of the sapphire stone make it possible to establish the origin:

Only the same sapphire or diamond can scratch a natural crystal. There will be no traces left of other tools.
The description of natural stone indicates a heterogeneous structure, visible in bright light. If it is “ironed”, without inclusions, it is synthetic.
Glass rhinestones passed off as sapphires are recognized by their low strength and internal gas bubbles.
Under an ultraviolet lamp, the artificial sample will turn green.
In your hands, natural stones, unlike glass, do not heat up immediately. This method does not work in the case of natural but cheap minerals.
Thus, you can distinguish sapphire from tourmaline only with the help of a special composition that jewelers have.

It is not worth saving on testing, because the price of a real sapphire stone is high, and synthesis methods are being improved. Saving when purchasing is also inappropriate. It is better to purchase jewelry in a store with certificates.

The crystal structure requires verification. Sometimes the top is real and the bottom is glass. Visually the seam is invisible, but visible under a magnifying glass.