Green sapphire is a variety of corundum that has a distinctive hue. You can call a stone green, but this is just an optical illusion. If you look at a greenish sapphire under a magnifying glass, you will notice that its color comes from combining several layers together.
Natural green sapphire
Overlapping each other, the layers of yellow and blue give the mineral a pleasant green hue. These sapphires are often confused with emeralds, but emerald is a type of beryl, not corundum.
History of sapphire
Previously, all varieties of corundum were called sapphires; in the 19th century, red corundums began to be called rubies. All other stones continued to be called sapphires.
Gems of a green hue have long been popular; it is clear that people associate sapphire with a beautiful violet-cornflower blue color. Such stones are valued very highly and are called precious along with diamonds, rubies and emeralds.
Green sapphires are rare, but despite this, they are less expensive than their classic blue counterparts. Even so, it is difficult to call corundum cheap stones.
There is a legend that Alexander the Great had great love for sapphires; he preferred the green stone and ordered the court jeweler to select an appropriate setting for the gem and make a ring.
The commander wore the jewelry regularly; he loved the ring and believed that it was it that endowed him with wisdom and tranquility.
But not only Alexander the Great treated sapphires with great respect; King Solomon had a seal that was made precisely from this stone.
If we talk about the historical significance of the mineral, it has always been associated with those who were in power. It just so happened that crowns were inlaid with sapphires, they were inserted into rings and rings, believing that this particular stone would endow the ruler with wisdom and make him impartial.
However, blue sapphires were of particular value, but green ones also did not go unnoticed. They were inlaid with various items that monarchs wore with pride and pleasure. Because the name of the stone can be translated as beloved by power.
How to distinguish a real stone from a fake
Sapphires are often counterfeited because they are rare in nature. A fake can be bad, visible to the naked eye, but sometimes only a professional can distinguish an artificial stone from a natural one.
The mineral has no special signs indicating authenticity. At home, the origin of a gem will help determine its characteristics:
- Hardness _ In terms of strength, the corundum variety is second only to diamond, so a diamond or other sapphire can damage it. But the stone itself leaves marks on any surface, such as glass.
- Purity . There should be no gas bubbles or other defects inside the stone. The exception is small inclusions, which indicate a low-grade sample.
- Color . The color of the crystal does not change under different lighting, so it is checked under daylight and artificial light.
Real sapphire is resistant to mechanical damage.
Place of Birth
If we talk about green sapphires, there are not many places in the world where stones of this particular color are mined. On an industrial scale, mineral extraction is carried out in the following areas:
- Australia.
- Thailand.
- Russia.
- Sri Lanka.
The largest deposits are located in Australia, where sapphires of large sizes and various colors are mined, from classic cornflower blue to pink. Gems of a pleasant greenish hue are found in deposits in Thailand. In our country, corundums of this shade can be found in the Urals, but in small quantities. They are not large in size or high in performance. But in Sri Lanka, not only green sapphires are mined, but also stones of a rare orange-pink hue.
Charms and talismans
Green sapphire is not only a beautiful gemstone, but also a powerful amulet. While in the house, it will clear the space of negative energy, protect against accidents and repel unpleasant guests who wish harm to the residents.
If you put the mineral in the room where the family eats, you can increase financial income.
In the office, the crystal will help the owner to work harder, increase attentiveness and creativity. To strengthen family relationships, you should place the gem in the eastern or southeastern part of the apartment. Sapphire left in the nursery will protect the child from illness and improve his sleep.
Cutting methods
Gold is considered the best setting for sapphire; this metal can decorate the stone, making it brighter and more representative. You can also choose platinum as a frame; the metal also harmonizes well with the gem.
Jewelers love to work with sapphires of various colors, the reason for this is the high density of the stone. During the cutting process, various defects (microscopic cracks) can be eliminated from its surface, and inclusions that are in the structure can be made invisible.
Ring with green sapphire
Most often, corundum is shaped into an oval or circle; a fancy processing method can also be used, but only in certain cases. Craftsmen often use a trillion-type cut; it is called a step cut.
If the mineral is not of high quality, it is cut into a cabochon shape. This processing method can also be used if the corundum is large in size or has an asterism effect.
Asterism is a kind of defect in the structure of a stone that makes it unique. Visually, it seems that a star is hidden inside the mineral. It can have up to 12 rays.
A green sapphire with an asterism effect is a rather rare phenomenon; if a stone naturally has similar characteristics, then a priori it cannot be cheap. For this reason, to minimize costs, a jeweler may cut it into a cabochon shape.
Corundums are easy to process and can be given any shape; for this reason, in a store or boutique you can find jewelry inlaid with stones of various shapes. A certificate will help confirm the authenticity of the stone and its natural origin. It is this document that you need to ask the seller before making a purchase, especially if the jewelry is not very expensive.
Areas of application
Sapphire is a favorite mineral of jewelers. Using the right cut, you can eliminate minor imperfections or disguise inclusions of other colors, creating an expensive and unique crystal.
Most often, the stone is framed with silver or platinum, which highlight the color of the sapphire. Large samples are cut using the cabochon technique, which achieves a rare effect - a 6-rayed star seems to sparkle in the depths of the mineral. Jewelry with such gems is expensive and highly valued.
In addition to jewelry, green sapphire is used in magic, astrology and lithotherapy due to its mystical abilities.
A little magic
Gems have a mysterious energy that nature gave them, so magicians and sorcerers think. They have long used stones in various rituals and ceremonies. According to esotericists, sapphire has the following characteristics:
- gives a person wisdom and tranquility;
- makes him more reasonable and self-confident;
- increases the intellectual abilities of the owner;
- attracts wealth and prosperity;
- opens up a desire to learn new and yet unknown things.
Regardless of color, sapphire is a stone of wisdom and nobility. It reveals a person’s abilities, strengthens the prudence that was given to him by nature. Even in difficult situations, a person is able to make informed decisions, relying only on his opinion and the help of the stone.
The gem has powerful energy; it makes a person reasonable and confident in his decisions. By doing one way or another, the owner of the mineral will not doubt.
The stone enhances memory, increases intellectual abilities, and helps in assimilation of information. It is also used during meditation sessions. They say that sapphire opens all chakras and helps accumulate energy.
Corundum favors people who love to work; it will help them achieve success in business and solve problems. But the stone does not like lazy and uninitiative people; it will not help such an owner, the sapphire will remain inactive.
In the old days, the gem was loved not only by representatives of the authorities and the clergy, but also by scientists. It was believed that a talisman with green corundum would help achieve success in scientific activities and open the desire to learn and learn new things.
If the owner of the mineral does not have nobility, thinks only about himself or wants to harm another person, sapphire can “confuse the cards”, destroy plans and bring bad luck to the owner. It should also be feared by those people who do not have a strong character and suffer from a large number of complexes and self-doubt.
But not only esotericists pay special attention to corundums; astrologers have also studied the properties of sapphires for many years and found that they are not suitable for all zodiac signs.
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”.
Advice from astrologers
Astrology experts say that green-colored gems are suitable for representatives of the following zodiac signs:
- Aquarius.
- Pisces.
- Scorpios.
- Sagittarius.
Corundums of any shade are suitable for Aquarius; representatives of this sign can wear gold jewelry inlaid with these stones every day. Their character is such that they often avoid responsibility and do not like to make decisions on their own. Under the influence of sapphire, representatives of this zodiac sign will become wiser and more reasonable, learn to make decisions and take responsibility.
Pisces need support and support; they have a non-trivial mindset and a malleable character. Green corundum will help representatives of this sign become stronger. Pisces will be able to achieve their goals, find themselves in business and achieve certain results. The stone will be useful not only to those people who are engaged in business, but also to those who are engaged in creativity.
Scorpios have powerful energy, it is difficult for them to choose a stone and, in addition to sapphire, only topaz is suitable for representatives of this sign. Such people love to “live to the fullest,” they commit rash acts and have a stormy temperament. A green-colored gem will help pacify the energy of a representative of this sign; it will make Scorpio calmer and protect him from wrong decisions and actions.
The stone is ideal for Sagittarius; they can constantly wear jewelry inlaid with corundum. Representatives of this sign have a strong character, but they are not always able to direct their energy in the right direction and achieve success. Jewelry with sapphire will help Sagittarius to cope with this task and succeed in their favorite activity.
But among the zodiac community there are those for whom the mineral is categorically not suitable. The list of such zodiac signs is small; wearing jewelry with sapphire is not recommended:
- Taurus.
- Capricorns.
Taurus people love money, they know how to manage finances and are often fixated on achieving material well-being. Representatives of this sign should not wear green corundum, as they are prone to laziness. Reluctance to work, slowness and other character traits of Taurus can become an obstacle when interacting with a precious crystal.
Calm and courageous Capricorns will become melancholic and depressed under the influence of green corundum. Their character will change so much that it will be difficult to recognize representatives of this sign. Even Capricorn’s hard work will not save the situation; sapphire will not bring him any benefit in business and endeavors.
The mineral will not harm everyone else; the stone will become a good helper and, so to speak, a faithful friend.
How to wear it correctly
Jewelry with sapphires is not compatible with all stones. This capricious and noble mineral is compatible with opal, aquamarine, agate, topaz and malachite.
You cannot wear items with the green variety of corundum with pearls, emeralds, amber and jasper.
Rings with this crystal are recommended to be worn on the ring finger. In this case, it will give the owner good luck and happiness in his personal life. A ring on the index finger will protect the owner from damage and other dangers.
Medicinal properties
Sapphire has many useful properties; it is used not only by magicians and astrologers, but also healers are happy to resort to the help of the gem.
So, what medicinal properties does this corundum have?
- Will help get rid of vision problems. In order to feel the impact of a stone, it is enough to look at it for a few minutes a day.
- Helps cope with insomnia and other sleep disorders. To do this, it is recommended to place it under the pillow.
- Stimulates the heart, helps in the treatment of vascular diseases. If you wear jewelry with a mineral on your chest, it will stabilize blood pressure levels.
- Soothes pain. In order to get rid of the unpleasant sensation, it is enough to apply the gem to the sore spot.
Those products that were presented to a person as a gift have the greatest power. They are able to protect the owner with redoubled force and serve him for many years.
Price
The cost of sapphire jewelry depends on the size of the stone, its color, setting and other factors. The most expensive items are those framed in platinum. They are usually made to order, the cost is measured in tens and hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Jewelry in silver and gold frames is more available. Reduces price and synthetic origin or lack of belonging to a specific class.
A silver ring with sapphire can be bought for 3 thousand rubles. The same product in gold will cost 2.5-3 times more.
Earrings in a silver frame cost approximately 3-4 thousand rubles. You will have to pay 3-4 times more for gold.
A small sapphire pendant in silver costs from 2 thousand rubles. A gold frame increases the price at least three times.
The most expensive sapphires
Some specimens are unique, which is why their cost is incredibly high. The most expensive is the Millennium sapphire, weighing 61.5 thousand carats and worth $185 million. The public saw him only twice. Images of famous people are carved on the surface of the stone.
In terms of cost per carat, the “Giant of the East” from Sri Lanka is not far behind. It weighs 486.5 carats and is worth more than $1.5 million.
The most expensive sapphire piece of jewelry is Queen Victoria's brooch, a wedding gift from Prince Albert. Its cost is more than 7 million dollars.
physical characteristics
Raw sapphire
According to the chemical structure, sapphire stone is aluminum oxide. It is called crystalline alumina.
In its natural form it occurs in the form of crystals of various shapes:
- The density is 3.9 – 4.1 g/cm2.
- Melting point – 2050 degrees Celsius.
- The hardness of the mineral on the Mohs scale is 9, which means that only diamond is stronger than sapphire.
