Sapphire or its mineralogical name CORUNDUM is a well known gemstone. It's an aluminum oxide with traces of coloring elements. Sapphires can be of all possible colors, including pink, and can also be colorless; partly colored sapphires are quite common. There are also natural sapphires which change color: they are purple in daylight and red in electric light.
Sapphires are very hard and can be worn in any form of jewelry and have long been popular as ring stones. Because of their high density they are usually smaller than most other gemstones of the same weight. They vary in transparency from complete clarity, through various degrees of cloudiness to sub-translucency, but some slight inclusions are not necessarily regarded as defect. The shimmering whitish sheen produced by microscopic needles of rutile and known as 'silk' is accepted as an attractive attribute within reason and as a proof that a stone is genuine.
As usual with gemstones, there is a vast difference in value between really fine specimens and those of lesser quality. Among sapphires, those with rich , but not too deep, blue color are prized most highly. The other colors are less in demand, perhaps because it is not generally realized that sapphires exist in all possible colors (except red). Padparadschas (orange sapphire) of rich color, a reddish-orange, are rare and fetch high prices among collectors.
In jewelry setting sapphires and rubies are often combined with diamonds which set off their color to perfection. Larger stones are often surrounded with small diamonds, smaller stones may be set alternately with diamonds of a matching size as in the traditional three stone or five stone rings. In such cases it is important that the stones should match exactly in color and that they should conform to the design in size. If one stone is lost, it may be quite difficult to match it.
Every conceivable method of imitation and synthesis has been employed to produce artificial rubies and blue sapphires. Glass and synthetic spinel have been used, as well as hydrothermal substitutes. Synthetic sapphires can now be produced in almost any shape and is widely used in the jewelry industry. Colorless synthetic sapphire has long been used as a diamond substitute on account of its hardness and purity.
Source : http://magazine.gem-fashion.com/sapphire.html
Jumat, 04 November 2011
6 Things You Should Know Before Buying a Sapphire
Color: The color of a sapphire is one of the strongest determinants of its value. Blue sapphires come in a range of shades. The brightest, most intense are the most valuable. Learn more about how color affects the value of sapphire
Clarity: Clarity is the other most important factor in determining the value of a sapphire. A high quality sapphire must be free from visible inclusions (internal imperfections). Learn more about how clarity affects the value of sapphire
Size: Large, quality sapphires are rare and expensive. For the same color, clarity and cut, the larger the sapphire, the more valuable it is. See pictures and learn more about how size affects the value of sapphire
Cut: Most sapphires available in jewelry are quite poorly cut. Perfectly cut sapphires are usually only available in the finest jewelry and their price reflects a premium. Learn how to tell the difference between a poor cut and a quality cut before buying your sapphire. Read about how cut affects the value of sapphire
Treatments, Synthetics and Imitations: Sapphires are often synthesized and immitated by other substances. In addition, almost all natural sapphires undergo some kind of treatment process. Learn about these before sapphire shopping. Read here to learn about treatments, synthetics and imitations of sapphire and how to tell the difference.
Meaning and Symbology: Sapphire has been revered for centuries all over the world. It is rich with symbolism and special healing properties. Learn more about sapphire meaning and symbology to see if it''s something you relate to.
Source : http://www.shopgemstones.com/sapphire.html
Clarity: Clarity is the other most important factor in determining the value of a sapphire. A high quality sapphire must be free from visible inclusions (internal imperfections). Learn more about how clarity affects the value of sapphire
Size: Large, quality sapphires are rare and expensive. For the same color, clarity and cut, the larger the sapphire, the more valuable it is. See pictures and learn more about how size affects the value of sapphire
Cut: Most sapphires available in jewelry are quite poorly cut. Perfectly cut sapphires are usually only available in the finest jewelry and their price reflects a premium. Learn how to tell the difference between a poor cut and a quality cut before buying your sapphire. Read about how cut affects the value of sapphire
Treatments, Synthetics and Imitations: Sapphires are often synthesized and immitated by other substances. In addition, almost all natural sapphires undergo some kind of treatment process. Learn about these before sapphire shopping. Read here to learn about treatments, synthetics and imitations of sapphire and how to tell the difference.
Meaning and Symbology: Sapphire has been revered for centuries all over the world. It is rich with symbolism and special healing properties. Learn more about sapphire meaning and symbology to see if it''s something you relate to.
Source : http://www.shopgemstones.com/sapphire.html
Sapphire
Sapphire or its mineralogical name CORUNDUM is a well known gemstone. It's an aluminum oxide with traces of coloring elements. Sapphires can be of all possible colors, including pink, and can also be colorless; partly colored sapphires are quite common. There are also natural sapphires which change color: they are purple in daylight and red in electric light.
Sapphires are very hard and can be worn in any form of jewelry and have long been popular as ring stones. Because of their high density they are usually smaller than most other gemstones of the same weight. They vary in transparency from complete clarity, through various degrees of cloudiness to sub-translucency, but some slight inclusions are not necessarily regarded as defect. The shimmering whitish sheen produced by microscopic needles of rutile and known as 'silk' is accepted as an attractive attribute within reason and as a proof that a stone is genuine.
As usual with gemstones, there is a vast difference in value between really fine specimens and those of lesser quality. Among sapphires, those with rich , but not too deep, blue color are prized most highly. The other colors are less in demand, perhaps because it is not generally realized that sapphires exist in all possible colors (except red). Padparadschas (orange sapphire) of rich color, a reddish-orange, are rare and fetch high prices among collectors.
In jewelry setting sapphires and rubies are often combined with diamonds which set off their color to perfection. Larger stones are often surrounded with small diamonds, smaller stones may be set alternately with diamonds of a matching size as in the traditional three stone or five stone rings. In such cases it is important that the stones should match exactly in color and that they should conform to the design in size. If one stone is lost, it may be quite difficult to match it.
Every conceivable method of imitation and synthesis has been employed to produce artificial rubies and blue sapphires. Glass and synthetic spinel have been used, as well as hydrothermal substitutes. Synthetic sapphires can now be produced in almost any shape and is widely used in the jewelry industry. Colorless synthetic sapphire has long been used as a diamond substitute on account of its hardness and purity.
Source : http://magazine.gem-fashion.com/sapphire.html
Sapphires are very hard and can be worn in any form of jewelry and have long been popular as ring stones. Because of their high density they are usually smaller than most other gemstones of the same weight. They vary in transparency from complete clarity, through various degrees of cloudiness to sub-translucency, but some slight inclusions are not necessarily regarded as defect. The shimmering whitish sheen produced by microscopic needles of rutile and known as 'silk' is accepted as an attractive attribute within reason and as a proof that a stone is genuine.
As usual with gemstones, there is a vast difference in value between really fine specimens and those of lesser quality. Among sapphires, those with rich , but not too deep, blue color are prized most highly. The other colors are less in demand, perhaps because it is not generally realized that sapphires exist in all possible colors (except red). Padparadschas (orange sapphire) of rich color, a reddish-orange, are rare and fetch high prices among collectors.
In jewelry setting sapphires and rubies are often combined with diamonds which set off their color to perfection. Larger stones are often surrounded with small diamonds, smaller stones may be set alternately with diamonds of a matching size as in the traditional three stone or five stone rings. In such cases it is important that the stones should match exactly in color and that they should conform to the design in size. If one stone is lost, it may be quite difficult to match it.
Every conceivable method of imitation and synthesis has been employed to produce artificial rubies and blue sapphires. Glass and synthetic spinel have been used, as well as hydrothermal substitutes. Synthetic sapphires can now be produced in almost any shape and is widely used in the jewelry industry. Colorless synthetic sapphire has long been used as a diamond substitute on account of its hardness and purity.
Source : http://magazine.gem-fashion.com/sapphire.html
Blue Sapphire - The Gemstone of Capricorn and Aquarius
Blue Sapphire or Neelam is the gemstone of the Zodiacs Capricorn and Aquarius. The Lord of these zodiac signs is Saturn or Shani. This gemstone is blue in color, the color which denotes royalty which the planet Saturn deserves.The sub stones or substitute gems for Neelam are Amethyst, Black Star,Lapis and Black Agate. The beautiful 'Blue Sapphire', is regarded as the 'Stone of the Stones' and is considered to give peace of mind, tranquility, happiness and spiritual enlightenment.
It is a very costly stone like Diamond and obtained by mining. The effect of this stone is the fastest of all stones. The effect of Blue Sapphire or Neelam can be favorable or unfavorable. Neelam is worn only if the effect is positive .Neelam would never bring unfavorable results to Capricorns. Blue Sapphire is also suited for saade saati and a favorable neelam bring in wealth, happiness and fame. It is said that this shani gemstone can turn a beggar to a king.
It is a very costly stone like Diamond and obtained by mining. The effect of this stone is the fastest of all stones. The effect of Blue Sapphire or Neelam can be favorable or unfavorable. Neelam is worn only if the effect is positive .Neelam would never bring unfavorable results to Capricorns. Blue Sapphire is also suited for saade saati and a favorable neelam bring in wealth, happiness and fame. It is said that this shani gemstone can turn a beggar to a king.
General info
Before going through the sapphire properties and meanings, let us first recapitulate that sapphire belongs to the group of four most precious stones in the world, where also we enumerate diamond, ruby, and emerald. Sapphire is a stone of protection and prophetic wisdom, a wondrous crystal that can watch over human destiny. It is believed to promote joy, faith, hope and protection during long journeys. It brings light and peace and opens the mind toward beauty and intuitive understanding. Sapphire stones are thought to be able to maintain the hope needed in order that our deepest desires and dreams will be fulfilled one day. The color of sapphire can be blue, purple, green, yellow, even black and colorless, with characteristic silky glow.
The most beautiful specimens of sapphire stones can be found in Sri Lanka (Ceylon), Tailand, India, Burma, Madagascar, Australia and Brasil. If the sapphire is coming from Burma, they are considered more costly than those from Ceylon or Madagascar. This is due to their glorious blue color. The sapphires from India are the rarest of all, which makes them the most expensive as their deposits in this part of the world have been depleted a long time ago.
The chemistry of sapphire crystals
The chemical formula of sapphire is Al2O3, which means that this stone is practically aluminum oxide, i.e., alumina. Since I believe everybody has seen aluminum metal and knows how it looks like, it is really amazing to me that its oxide can be so magnificently different. The hardness of sapphire stones is amongst the largest in the mineral world, approaching 9 out of the possible 10 on the Mohs scale.
Sapphire is a variation of corundum, which makes its structure almost identical to the structure of ruby. The difference is only in the minute amounts of additional atoms, so called impurities, which incorporate themselves in the corundum matrix and change many properties of sapphire vs. those of ruby. One of the properties is the color of course. The characteristic color of sapphire, the scientists believe, comes from iron and titanium impurities. In this particular case, one electron jumps from the Fe atom to the Ti atom. This electron then is able to absorb the energy of the red end of the spectrum, therefore effectively transmitting the frequencies from the blue - purple end of the ligh spectrum. This is exactly what gives sapphire the characteristic, well known deep blue color. It is thought that what produces the other colors of sapphire has to with the combination of iron and chromium. In sapphire under magnification one is often able to see threads of rutile, unlike rutile quartz where the rutile needles are visible with naked eye.
The healing and metaphysical properties
Sapphire is able to focus healing energies towards whoever needs them, even without the conscious participation of the recipient, which is a type of manifestation resembling independent inner higher intelligence. According to the tradition, Moses was given the 10 Commandments list on a plate made out of Sapphire, which makes this gemstone one of the most sanctified of all semi precious and precious stones. Due to these obvious Divine characteristic sapphire represents a sort of Divine stone, most desirable by royalty and aristocracy, as well as by highpriests. The British crown is saturated with large blue sapphires, symbols of pure and wise rein. The 423c Logan Sapphire from Sri Lanka is one of the largest known faceted sapphires in the world.
In Vedic astrology blue sapphire is related to Saturn, whereas yellow sapphire has a connection to Jupiter. According to the teaching of this ancient knowledge, the best gemstones to be used for amplifying the beneficial properties of the planets are those which are as pure. transparent and flawless as possible. Indeed such sapphires are hard to find especially if you don't want to pay incredibly high amount of money.
Sapphires are often marked as stones of destiny. They bring mental clarity, and clear perception. It has been argued that they also bring financial independence and even abundance in this area. On the other hand, sapphire is a symbol of the joyful devotion to God. From the point of view of metaphysical science and practice, we should divide the blue sapphires into two categories. The light blue sapphires are those that can be successfully used to balance the fifth chakra Vishuddha. The dark blue sapphires open the sixth chakra Ajna. So if you plan to use them for meditation, mark this distinction.
Sapphire gemstones symbolize truth, faithfulness and honesty. They increase the ability to communicate, release depressive moods and bring calmness, mental clarity, clear vision and peace.
In the crystal healing therapy they reduce the throat related problems, calm fever, nose bleeding, help with tuberculosis, and heal burns. Sapphires are also known to regulate the functioning of the endocrine glands, and help with cardiovascular and blood related diseases.
Sapphire should be cleansed every 15 days together with rock crystal and amethyst. Excellent elixirs and baths.
Sapphire gemstones jewelry
When it comes to jewelry made from sapphier, blue sapphire rings and engagement rings are highly popular but also can be very costly. This is probably due to the above mentioned interest of the royal families in the past, and also to the relative rarity of the transparent blue sapphire stones. Most examples of blue sapphire rings are seen alongside with gold or platinum, and readily combined with diamonds. The blue sapphires come in many nuances of the blue color, ranging from very light almost sky like blue up to the deep rich shades. Too deep blue colors are not advisable as they might then easily turn into black, depending on the inter play of external light.
The treatment of sapphires involves heating, which is the most common procedure to better the visual aspect of the gemstones, diffusion which includes chemical treatment and heating at the same time. By diffusion certain elements can be introduced into the sapphire, but this is a tricky procedure as there is no guarantee it will last long enough and that the effect will be homogeneously distributed throughout the sample. The most widely used treatment is artificial production of sapphires. Corundum is relatively easy to synthesize in laboratory, and since what you would need is aluminum as a start material, the procedure is relatively inexpensive. If you come across a sapphire gem which is incredibly cheap, do not believe it. It is a good indication of synthetic stone. The gemologists and the prominent jewelry stores can detect such artificial samples with high certainty. Have in mind that nearly all sapphires that can be found on the markets are treated one or the other way. It is estimated that less than one percent of the natural sapphires needs no treatment. Those are the most expensive ones.
Sapphires can be very costly. The prices depend upon the treatment involved, and of course, one can imagine that the treated are less expensive. The treatment can involve change in color, saturation of color, clarity and cut. One carat of gemstone quality sapphire, can cost somewhere from several hundreds of dollars up to several thousand. Understandably, the non-gemstone quality sapphires can be purchased for much less, even you can buy a sizable but non transparent sapphire stone for the equivalent of 50 dollars.
Source : http://www.sunnyray.org/Sapphire-properties-and-meaning.htm
The most beautiful specimens of sapphire stones can be found in Sri Lanka (Ceylon), Tailand, India, Burma, Madagascar, Australia and Brasil. If the sapphire is coming from Burma, they are considered more costly than those from Ceylon or Madagascar. This is due to their glorious blue color. The sapphires from India are the rarest of all, which makes them the most expensive as their deposits in this part of the world have been depleted a long time ago.
The chemistry of sapphire crystals
The chemical formula of sapphire is Al2O3, which means that this stone is practically aluminum oxide, i.e., alumina. Since I believe everybody has seen aluminum metal and knows how it looks like, it is really amazing to me that its oxide can be so magnificently different. The hardness of sapphire stones is amongst the largest in the mineral world, approaching 9 out of the possible 10 on the Mohs scale.
Sapphire is a variation of corundum, which makes its structure almost identical to the structure of ruby. The difference is only in the minute amounts of additional atoms, so called impurities, which incorporate themselves in the corundum matrix and change many properties of sapphire vs. those of ruby. One of the properties is the color of course. The characteristic color of sapphire, the scientists believe, comes from iron and titanium impurities. In this particular case, one electron jumps from the Fe atom to the Ti atom. This electron then is able to absorb the energy of the red end of the spectrum, therefore effectively transmitting the frequencies from the blue - purple end of the ligh spectrum. This is exactly what gives sapphire the characteristic, well known deep blue color. It is thought that what produces the other colors of sapphire has to with the combination of iron and chromium. In sapphire under magnification one is often able to see threads of rutile, unlike rutile quartz where the rutile needles are visible with naked eye.
The healing and metaphysical properties
Sapphire is able to focus healing energies towards whoever needs them, even without the conscious participation of the recipient, which is a type of manifestation resembling independent inner higher intelligence. According to the tradition, Moses was given the 10 Commandments list on a plate made out of Sapphire, which makes this gemstone one of the most sanctified of all semi precious and precious stones. Due to these obvious Divine characteristic sapphire represents a sort of Divine stone, most desirable by royalty and aristocracy, as well as by highpriests. The British crown is saturated with large blue sapphires, symbols of pure and wise rein. The 423c Logan Sapphire from Sri Lanka is one of the largest known faceted sapphires in the world.
In Vedic astrology blue sapphire is related to Saturn, whereas yellow sapphire has a connection to Jupiter. According to the teaching of this ancient knowledge, the best gemstones to be used for amplifying the beneficial properties of the planets are those which are as pure. transparent and flawless as possible. Indeed such sapphires are hard to find especially if you don't want to pay incredibly high amount of money.
Sapphires are often marked as stones of destiny. They bring mental clarity, and clear perception. It has been argued that they also bring financial independence and even abundance in this area. On the other hand, sapphire is a symbol of the joyful devotion to God. From the point of view of metaphysical science and practice, we should divide the blue sapphires into two categories. The light blue sapphires are those that can be successfully used to balance the fifth chakra Vishuddha. The dark blue sapphires open the sixth chakra Ajna. So if you plan to use them for meditation, mark this distinction.
Sapphire gemstones symbolize truth, faithfulness and honesty. They increase the ability to communicate, release depressive moods and bring calmness, mental clarity, clear vision and peace.
In the crystal healing therapy they reduce the throat related problems, calm fever, nose bleeding, help with tuberculosis, and heal burns. Sapphires are also known to regulate the functioning of the endocrine glands, and help with cardiovascular and blood related diseases.
Sapphire should be cleansed every 15 days together with rock crystal and amethyst. Excellent elixirs and baths.
Sapphire gemstones jewelry
When it comes to jewelry made from sapphier, blue sapphire rings and engagement rings are highly popular but also can be very costly. This is probably due to the above mentioned interest of the royal families in the past, and also to the relative rarity of the transparent blue sapphire stones. Most examples of blue sapphire rings are seen alongside with gold or platinum, and readily combined with diamonds. The blue sapphires come in many nuances of the blue color, ranging from very light almost sky like blue up to the deep rich shades. Too deep blue colors are not advisable as they might then easily turn into black, depending on the inter play of external light.
The treatment of sapphires involves heating, which is the most common procedure to better the visual aspect of the gemstones, diffusion which includes chemical treatment and heating at the same time. By diffusion certain elements can be introduced into the sapphire, but this is a tricky procedure as there is no guarantee it will last long enough and that the effect will be homogeneously distributed throughout the sample. The most widely used treatment is artificial production of sapphires. Corundum is relatively easy to synthesize in laboratory, and since what you would need is aluminum as a start material, the procedure is relatively inexpensive. If you come across a sapphire gem which is incredibly cheap, do not believe it. It is a good indication of synthetic stone. The gemologists and the prominent jewelry stores can detect such artificial samples with high certainty. Have in mind that nearly all sapphires that can be found on the markets are treated one or the other way. It is estimated that less than one percent of the natural sapphires needs no treatment. Those are the most expensive ones.
Sapphires can be very costly. The prices depend upon the treatment involved, and of course, one can imagine that the treated are less expensive. The treatment can involve change in color, saturation of color, clarity and cut. One carat of gemstone quality sapphire, can cost somewhere from several hundreds of dollars up to several thousand. Understandably, the non-gemstone quality sapphires can be purchased for much less, even you can buy a sizable but non transparent sapphire stone for the equivalent of 50 dollars.
Source : http://www.sunnyray.org/Sapphire-properties-and-meaning.htm
Sapphires
As I mentioned earlier, sapphire is corundum, too, and, its physical and chemical properties are virtually identical to those of ruby. In a natural state the gem crystallizes in the hexagonal system with two pyramidal faces. It is fractionally harder than ruby. Curiously, all corundums that are not rubies are classed as sapphires, which means that this particular gem exists in many colours, from blue to green, pink to mauve, white, grey, violet, yellow and orange.
The blue colour of sapphire is due to small amounts of titanium oxides and iron. The finest colour is found in the Kashmir specimens. Ceylon sapphires are generally of a vivid blue, sometimes only partially coloured. Those found in the United States (Montana) have a bright metallic sheen, while Australian sapphires are of a deep blue-green, almost black even. These are the least valuable but most widespread, being mined in great quantity. The coloured sapphires popular today come mainly from the mines in Thailand, Ceylon and Australia. Multi-coloured specimens are also known to exist.
Transparent sapphire, too, cut en cabochon, reflects the light to produce star-like bands. These star stones range in colour from black (black stone sapphire) to blue (saphir etoile). There is also a variety known as alexandrite which is blue in daylight and red-violet in Artificial light.
Both sapphires and rubies have been successfully and widely produced synthetically by the chemist, and in appearance, chemical composition and hardness are almost identical to the natural gems. Manufactured gems can generally be detected by the presence of minute black-rimmed, bright-centered air bubbles or curved bands, visible with the aid of a l0x magnifier.
The focus of the synthetic corundum production is in France, and South East Asian countries are among the biggest buyers. So beware of buying stones from foreigners or well-meaning friends who have just returned from an oriental holiday with the "bargain of the year" Your best course of action is to consult a professional jeweler of sound reputation. In all events, seek expert advice.
Source : http://www.mineralszone.com/gemstones/sapphires.html
The blue colour of sapphire is due to small amounts of titanium oxides and iron. The finest colour is found in the Kashmir specimens. Ceylon sapphires are generally of a vivid blue, sometimes only partially coloured. Those found in the United States (Montana) have a bright metallic sheen, while Australian sapphires are of a deep blue-green, almost black even. These are the least valuable but most widespread, being mined in great quantity. The coloured sapphires popular today come mainly from the mines in Thailand, Ceylon and Australia. Multi-coloured specimens are also known to exist.
Transparent sapphire, too, cut en cabochon, reflects the light to produce star-like bands. These star stones range in colour from black (black stone sapphire) to blue (saphir etoile). There is also a variety known as alexandrite which is blue in daylight and red-violet in Artificial light.
Both sapphires and rubies have been successfully and widely produced synthetically by the chemist, and in appearance, chemical composition and hardness are almost identical to the natural gems. Manufactured gems can generally be detected by the presence of minute black-rimmed, bright-centered air bubbles or curved bands, visible with the aid of a l0x magnifier.
The focus of the synthetic corundum production is in France, and South East Asian countries are among the biggest buyers. So beware of buying stones from foreigners or well-meaning friends who have just returned from an oriental holiday with the "bargain of the year" Your best course of action is to consult a professional jeweler of sound reputation. In all events, seek expert advice.
Source : http://www.mineralszone.com/gemstones/sapphires.html
Neelam - The Blue Sapphire - Saturn's Gemstone
The Strongest and the fastest acting gemstone among the nine planetary gemstones is Saturn's stone - Neelam (Blue Sapphire). It is also called Sauri ratna (Saturn's stone), Shanipriya (loved by Saturn). It is called Yakut in Persian.
!!!! In the Year 2001 Astro Journey made 37462 Gemstone reports !!!!!
Where it is Found:
It is found in Kashmir, Lanka, Russia, America etc. The best Sapphires are found in Lanka.There is a mine near Soomjam in Kashmir where best quality Sapphires are found. These are also called as Mayur Neelam as their color resembles the neck color of a male peacock.
Types:
Indranil: It is dark blue in colour and resembles the color of the neck of the peacock.
Jalnil: It is dark on the boundaries and light in the center.
!!!! Blue Sapphire was recommended to 8753 individuals by Astro Journey in the year 2001 !!!!
Effects:
As mentioned before it is the fastest acting gem stone. It will show its effect within 3 seconds, 3 minutes, 3 hours or 3 days. If beneficial one may get money or some major problem may be solved, if adverse accidents , financial losses or quarrels will accrue during this 3 day testing period. During this period one is sure to get dreams. One should judge whether to wear it or not by the quality of the dreams. If pleasant dreams come then it means that the Sapphire will be lucky for you.
Benefits:
If the blue Sapphire suits an individual then there will be gains from all sides. It will instill clarity of thought making one disciplined. There will be windfall gains, gain of property, freedom from depression and anxiety, freedom from disease etc. In will also remove the bad effects of the Seven and a half Year Saturn Cycle. It is the best panacea for depressive psychosis, frustration and alcoholism.
Source : http://www.astromandir.com/bluesapphire.html
!!!! In the Year 2001 Astro Journey made 37462 Gemstone reports !!!!!
Where it is Found:
It is found in Kashmir, Lanka, Russia, America etc. The best Sapphires are found in Lanka.There is a mine near Soomjam in Kashmir where best quality Sapphires are found. These are also called as Mayur Neelam as their color resembles the neck color of a male peacock.
Types:
Indranil: It is dark blue in colour and resembles the color of the neck of the peacock.
Jalnil: It is dark on the boundaries and light in the center.
!!!! Blue Sapphire was recommended to 8753 individuals by Astro Journey in the year 2001 !!!!
Effects:
As mentioned before it is the fastest acting gem stone. It will show its effect within 3 seconds, 3 minutes, 3 hours or 3 days. If beneficial one may get money or some major problem may be solved, if adverse accidents , financial losses or quarrels will accrue during this 3 day testing period. During this period one is sure to get dreams. One should judge whether to wear it or not by the quality of the dreams. If pleasant dreams come then it means that the Sapphire will be lucky for you.
Benefits:
If the blue Sapphire suits an individual then there will be gains from all sides. It will instill clarity of thought making one disciplined. There will be windfall gains, gain of property, freedom from depression and anxiety, freedom from disease etc. In will also remove the bad effects of the Seven and a half Year Saturn Cycle. It is the best panacea for depressive psychosis, frustration and alcoholism.
Source : http://www.astromandir.com/bluesapphire.html
ALL ABOUT
The most valuable color of Sapphire is a cornflower blue color, known as Kashmir Sapphire or Cornflower Blue Sapphire. Another extremely valuable Sapphire form is the very rare, orange-pink Padparadschah. An exotic type of sapphire, known as Color Changing Sapphire, displays a different color depending on its lighting. In natural light, Color Changing Sapphire is blue, but in artificial light, it is violet. (This effect is the same phenomenon well-known in the gemstone Alexandrite). Yellow and pink Sapphire have recently become very popular, and are now often seen in jewelry.
Going way back in time, Sapphires (excluding blue) were often called the same name as a popular gemstone of that color with the prefix "oriental" added to it. For example, green Sapphire was called "Oriental Emerald". The practice of applying the name of a different gemstone to identify the sapphire was misleading, and these names are no longer used. What was once called "Oriental Emerald" is now called "Green Sapphire". The same holds true for all other color varieties of Sapphire. However, the word "Sapphire" in its plain context refers only to blue Sapphire, unless a prefix color is specified. Sapphire with a color other than blue is often called a "fancy" in the gem trade.
Sapphire often contains minor inclusions of tiny slender Rutile needles. When present, these inclusions decrease the transparency of a stone and are known as silk. When in dense, parallel groupings, these inclusions can actually enhance by allowing polished Sapphires to exhibit asterism. Sapphire gems displaying asterism are known as "Star Sapphire", and these can be highly prized. Star Sapphire exists in six ray stars, though twelve ray stars are also known.
Sapphire is pleochroic, displaying a lighter and more intense color when viewed at different angles. Some pleochroic Sapphire is blue when viewed at one angle, and purple at a different angle. Color zoning, which forms from growth layers that build up during the formation of the stone, may also be present in certain Sapphires. Color zoning is responsible for certain Sapphires having lighter and darker colors in different parts of a crystal. Some Sapphire gemstones may even be multicolored such as purple and blue.
Sapphire is a tough and durable gem, and the only natural gemstone harder than Sapphire is Diamond. Despite this, Sapphire is still subject to chipping and fracture if handled roughly, and care should be taken to ensure it is properly handled. Sapphire was first synthesized in 1902. The process of creating synthetic Sapphire is known as the Verneuil process. Only experts can distinguish between natural and synthetic Sapphire.
Source : http://www.minerals.net/gemstone/sapphire.aspx
Going way back in time, Sapphires (excluding blue) were often called the same name as a popular gemstone of that color with the prefix "oriental" added to it. For example, green Sapphire was called "Oriental Emerald". The practice of applying the name of a different gemstone to identify the sapphire was misleading, and these names are no longer used. What was once called "Oriental Emerald" is now called "Green Sapphire". The same holds true for all other color varieties of Sapphire. However, the word "Sapphire" in its plain context refers only to blue Sapphire, unless a prefix color is specified. Sapphire with a color other than blue is often called a "fancy" in the gem trade.
Sapphire often contains minor inclusions of tiny slender Rutile needles. When present, these inclusions decrease the transparency of a stone and are known as silk. When in dense, parallel groupings, these inclusions can actually enhance by allowing polished Sapphires to exhibit asterism. Sapphire gems displaying asterism are known as "Star Sapphire", and these can be highly prized. Star Sapphire exists in six ray stars, though twelve ray stars are also known.
Sapphire is pleochroic, displaying a lighter and more intense color when viewed at different angles. Some pleochroic Sapphire is blue when viewed at one angle, and purple at a different angle. Color zoning, which forms from growth layers that build up during the formation of the stone, may also be present in certain Sapphires. Color zoning is responsible for certain Sapphires having lighter and darker colors in different parts of a crystal. Some Sapphire gemstones may even be multicolored such as purple and blue.
Sapphire is a tough and durable gem, and the only natural gemstone harder than Sapphire is Diamond. Despite this, Sapphire is still subject to chipping and fracture if handled roughly, and care should be taken to ensure it is properly handled. Sapphire was first synthesized in 1902. The process of creating synthetic Sapphire is known as the Verneuil process. Only experts can distinguish between natural and synthetic Sapphire.
Source : http://www.minerals.net/gemstone/sapphire.aspx
Introduction
Sapphire The blue sister of ruby. Ruby and sapphire are the same material, the mineral corundum, and the second hardest gemstone after diamond. Red corundum is known as ruby, while all other colors are referred to as sapphire. While blue is the classic sapphire color, sapphire is actually found in a wide range of colors.
Click to Enlarge
Sapphire colors
Buying Sapphire
Where is Sapphire found?
Common Sapphire Treatments
World-famous Sapphire
Sapphire gemology
Sapphire legends & lore
Sapphire colors
Blue is the most famous of the sapphire colors. The prized Kashmir and Burmese sapphires have a deep blue that is intense and velvety. These sapphires are not often seen on the market today. Sri Lankan and Madagascar sapphires are the most common today, with a wide range of colors from light sky blue to dark blue. Other producers of blue sapphire are Australia, Tanzania, Thailand, Cambodia, and the USA (Montana).
Colorless corundum is rare as faint shades of color are nearly always present. Many small white sapphires used in inexpensive jewelry are synthetic.
Purple sapphire is rare, but found in Sri Lanka and Tanzania. Iron and titanium impurities together may cause the purple hue of the stone.
Much yellow sapphire is on the lighter side. Heat treatment can produce a more intense yellow golden color, and beryllium-treated sapphire may be a brilliant yellow. These stones are found in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Australia, Tanzania and Madagascar. The yellow color is caused by traces of iron in the stone.
Padparadscha is the Sinhalese word for a Sri Lankan lotus flower. This very rare sapphire color should have a pink and orange color simultaneously. Color, brilliance, size and clarity will determine the value of these stones. A true padparadscha will always have a hint of pink.
Many sapphires that appear green consist of fine alternating bands of blue and yellow sapphire, which may be visible under the microscope. Green sapphires are found in Thailand, Sri Lanka, Australia, and Madagascar.
Buying Sapphire
Color
With blue sapphire, the most popular color, the intensity of blue as the most important factor. For example, you may have a huge stone of many carats, but if the color is a washed-out, weak blue, then the value of the stone will be lower. Look for a stone that has an intense, rich blue without being dark or inky. Overall, sapphires that are too dark or too light in color are valued less. However, light blue sapphires often have a brilliance that is rarely found in the darker stones.
Lighting
Sapphires look best viewed with fluorescent light or daylight. Incandescent light is more red, and sapphires look less attractive in this lighting.
Clarity
Sapphire tends to be cleaner than ruby. Look for stones that are eye-clean. This means no inclusions that are visible to the naked eye. Actually, extremely fine silk throughout the stone can enhance the value of some sapphires. The famous sapphires from Kashmir have a velvety blue color which is caused by this fine silk. This silk is needed for the star effect in star sapphire, however, too much silk weakens the color, making it appear undesirably grayish.
Cut
Various shapes and cutting styles are common with sapphires. Ovals, cushions, and rounds are seen, as are other shapes, such as the heart or emerald cut. Round stones can command a small premium. Cabochon-cut sapphires are also common. Used for star stones, the best cabochons are somewhat transparent, with smooth domes of good symmetry.
Sapphire location and deposits
Sapphires come from Thailand, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Tanzania and Australia. The United States, Cambodia, Nigeria, Kenya and China also produce some sapphires. Perhaps the most famous sources for sapphires are the Kashmir region of India, and Burma. Discovered over 100 years ago, the Kashmir sapphire has a lovely, velvety blue color prized by gem lovers. Burmese sapphires can also be fine, but like the Kashmir region, these two areas today produce very little material.
Today Sri Lanka and Madagascar produces most of the fine sapphires on the market. You can find a wide range of beautiful blues, from soft sky blue colors to deeply saturated hues. In addition, the Kanchanaburi region in Thailand and the Pailin region in Cambodia are renowned for deep blue sapphires. Tanzania, an old producer of sapphires in other colors, is now starting to produce blue sapphire from new deposits in the south.
Common Sapphire treatments
The most common treatment for sapphire is heat treatment. Stones are heated (generally before they are cut) to between 1700 to 1800 degrees Celsius (3100-3300 degrees F) for several hours. Most sapphires today are heated, and the stones of rich blue that are not heated can command enormous prices in today's market. Some blue sapphires may also be diffusion treated, though this treatment is more common for star sapphires. Beryllium treatment is now being used to produce stunning orange and red colors that were once rarely seen. All sapphire treatments should be fully disclosed by any reputable dealer.
World-famous Sapphire
Large sapphires are rare and often attract fame and myth. The largest star sapphire is the Star of India at an amazing 536 carats. Discovered about three hundred years ago in Sri Lanka, the Star of India was donated to the American Museum of Natural History by the financier J.P. Morgan. Later the infamous burglar Jack Murphy, Murph the Surf, stole the stone. Its recovery two months later only added to its fame.
The 423 carat Logan Sapphire is displayed in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. It is the largest faceted sapphire on public display and perhaps the largest blue sapphire known. This egg-sized, cushion cut stone from Sri Lanka is set in a brooch surrounded by 16 carats of diamonds. It was donated by Mrs. John A. Logan to the Smithsonian Institute in 1960.
Other famous sapphires include the Midnight Star, a 116 carat black star sapphire. The intensely blue 330ct. Star of Asia can be found in American Museum of Natural History. Also, the English Crown Jewels contain two famous sapphires: the St. Edward's and the Stuart Sapphire (104 carats).
Sapphire gemology
Species: Corundum
Color: Blue, colorless, pink, orange, yellow, green, purple, black
Chemical composition: Al2O3, Aluminum Oxide
Crystal system: (Trigonal), doubly pointy, barrel-shaped, hexagonal pyramids, tabloid shaped
Hardness: 9 (Mohs scale)
Specific gravity: 3.95 - 4.03
Refractive index: 1.762 - 1.788 +0.08 -0.04
Birefringence: 0.008
Optical character: Uniaxial
Color of streak: White
Absorption spectrum: Blue, Sri Lanka: 471, 460, 455, 450, 379; Yellow: 471, 460, 450; Brown: 471, 460-450
Fluorescence: Blue: none; Colorless: orange-yellow, violet
The coloring agents in blue sapphire are iron and titanium and in violet stones, vanadium. Small amounts of iron impurity will result in yellowish and greenish stones. Chromium will produce pinks, and iron and vanadium will produce orange tones. Rutile needle inclusions will result in a silky shine to the stone. If these needles are aligned in the same direction, then this causes the six-rayed star sapphire affect. These clumps of needles reflect the light in sixty-degree angles.
The Sapphire zodiac, myth & legend
Sapphire is the birthstone for those who are born in September. As for the Zodiac, it is regarded as the stone for the Taurus. If a Taurus wears a sapphire, it will protect one from and cure one's mental disorders.
Through history, sapphire symbolizes truth, sincerity, and faithfulness in relationships, and to bring peace, joy and wisdom to the wearer and owner. In the past, the sapphire was also believed to be a talisman that would protect you against evil spirits and other unsavory creatures of the night. The ancients regarded star sapphires as a powerful talisman protecting travelers and seekers. They were so powerful, they would continue protecting the wearer even after being passed on to another person.
Abbes Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179) chronicled the healing powers of gemstones in her book Physica. According to her view, gemstone are formed through the powerful combination of water and fire, therefore they hold powers corresponding to these phenomena. She also believed that each stone had a certain, divine blessing from God. She said this about sapphire: Who is dull and would like to be clever, should, in a sober state, frequently lick with the tongue on a sapphire, because the gemstone's warmth and power, combined with the saliva's moisture, will expel the harmful juices that affect the intellect. Thus, the man will attain a good intellect.
Source : http://www.gemselect.com/gem-info/sapphire/sapphire-info.php
Click to Enlarge
Sapphire colors
Buying Sapphire
Where is Sapphire found?
Common Sapphire Treatments
World-famous Sapphire
Sapphire gemology
Sapphire legends & lore
Sapphire colors
Blue is the most famous of the sapphire colors. The prized Kashmir and Burmese sapphires have a deep blue that is intense and velvety. These sapphires are not often seen on the market today. Sri Lankan and Madagascar sapphires are the most common today, with a wide range of colors from light sky blue to dark blue. Other producers of blue sapphire are Australia, Tanzania, Thailand, Cambodia, and the USA (Montana).
Colorless corundum is rare as faint shades of color are nearly always present. Many small white sapphires used in inexpensive jewelry are synthetic.
Purple sapphire is rare, but found in Sri Lanka and Tanzania. Iron and titanium impurities together may cause the purple hue of the stone.
Much yellow sapphire is on the lighter side. Heat treatment can produce a more intense yellow golden color, and beryllium-treated sapphire may be a brilliant yellow. These stones are found in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Australia, Tanzania and Madagascar. The yellow color is caused by traces of iron in the stone.
Padparadscha is the Sinhalese word for a Sri Lankan lotus flower. This very rare sapphire color should have a pink and orange color simultaneously. Color, brilliance, size and clarity will determine the value of these stones. A true padparadscha will always have a hint of pink.
Many sapphires that appear green consist of fine alternating bands of blue and yellow sapphire, which may be visible under the microscope. Green sapphires are found in Thailand, Sri Lanka, Australia, and Madagascar.
Buying Sapphire
Color
With blue sapphire, the most popular color, the intensity of blue as the most important factor. For example, you may have a huge stone of many carats, but if the color is a washed-out, weak blue, then the value of the stone will be lower. Look for a stone that has an intense, rich blue without being dark or inky. Overall, sapphires that are too dark or too light in color are valued less. However, light blue sapphires often have a brilliance that is rarely found in the darker stones.
Lighting
Sapphires look best viewed with fluorescent light or daylight. Incandescent light is more red, and sapphires look less attractive in this lighting.
Clarity
Sapphire tends to be cleaner than ruby. Look for stones that are eye-clean. This means no inclusions that are visible to the naked eye. Actually, extremely fine silk throughout the stone can enhance the value of some sapphires. The famous sapphires from Kashmir have a velvety blue color which is caused by this fine silk. This silk is needed for the star effect in star sapphire, however, too much silk weakens the color, making it appear undesirably grayish.
Cut
Various shapes and cutting styles are common with sapphires. Ovals, cushions, and rounds are seen, as are other shapes, such as the heart or emerald cut. Round stones can command a small premium. Cabochon-cut sapphires are also common. Used for star stones, the best cabochons are somewhat transparent, with smooth domes of good symmetry.
Sapphire location and deposits
Sapphires come from Thailand, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Tanzania and Australia. The United States, Cambodia, Nigeria, Kenya and China also produce some sapphires. Perhaps the most famous sources for sapphires are the Kashmir region of India, and Burma. Discovered over 100 years ago, the Kashmir sapphire has a lovely, velvety blue color prized by gem lovers. Burmese sapphires can also be fine, but like the Kashmir region, these two areas today produce very little material.
Today Sri Lanka and Madagascar produces most of the fine sapphires on the market. You can find a wide range of beautiful blues, from soft sky blue colors to deeply saturated hues. In addition, the Kanchanaburi region in Thailand and the Pailin region in Cambodia are renowned for deep blue sapphires. Tanzania, an old producer of sapphires in other colors, is now starting to produce blue sapphire from new deposits in the south.
Common Sapphire treatments
The most common treatment for sapphire is heat treatment. Stones are heated (generally before they are cut) to between 1700 to 1800 degrees Celsius (3100-3300 degrees F) for several hours. Most sapphires today are heated, and the stones of rich blue that are not heated can command enormous prices in today's market. Some blue sapphires may also be diffusion treated, though this treatment is more common for star sapphires. Beryllium treatment is now being used to produce stunning orange and red colors that were once rarely seen. All sapphire treatments should be fully disclosed by any reputable dealer.
World-famous Sapphire
Large sapphires are rare and often attract fame and myth. The largest star sapphire is the Star of India at an amazing 536 carats. Discovered about three hundred years ago in Sri Lanka, the Star of India was donated to the American Museum of Natural History by the financier J.P. Morgan. Later the infamous burglar Jack Murphy, Murph the Surf, stole the stone. Its recovery two months later only added to its fame.
The 423 carat Logan Sapphire is displayed in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. It is the largest faceted sapphire on public display and perhaps the largest blue sapphire known. This egg-sized, cushion cut stone from Sri Lanka is set in a brooch surrounded by 16 carats of diamonds. It was donated by Mrs. John A. Logan to the Smithsonian Institute in 1960.
Other famous sapphires include the Midnight Star, a 116 carat black star sapphire. The intensely blue 330ct. Star of Asia can be found in American Museum of Natural History. Also, the English Crown Jewels contain two famous sapphires: the St. Edward's and the Stuart Sapphire (104 carats).
Sapphire gemology
Species: Corundum
Color: Blue, colorless, pink, orange, yellow, green, purple, black
Chemical composition: Al2O3, Aluminum Oxide
Crystal system: (Trigonal), doubly pointy, barrel-shaped, hexagonal pyramids, tabloid shaped
Hardness: 9 (Mohs scale)
Specific gravity: 3.95 - 4.03
Refractive index: 1.762 - 1.788 +0.08 -0.04
Birefringence: 0.008
Optical character: Uniaxial
Color of streak: White
Absorption spectrum: Blue, Sri Lanka: 471, 460, 455, 450, 379; Yellow: 471, 460, 450; Brown: 471, 460-450
Fluorescence: Blue: none; Colorless: orange-yellow, violet
The coloring agents in blue sapphire are iron and titanium and in violet stones, vanadium. Small amounts of iron impurity will result in yellowish and greenish stones. Chromium will produce pinks, and iron and vanadium will produce orange tones. Rutile needle inclusions will result in a silky shine to the stone. If these needles are aligned in the same direction, then this causes the six-rayed star sapphire affect. These clumps of needles reflect the light in sixty-degree angles.
The Sapphire zodiac, myth & legend
Sapphire is the birthstone for those who are born in September. As for the Zodiac, it is regarded as the stone for the Taurus. If a Taurus wears a sapphire, it will protect one from and cure one's mental disorders.
Through history, sapphire symbolizes truth, sincerity, and faithfulness in relationships, and to bring peace, joy and wisdom to the wearer and owner. In the past, the sapphire was also believed to be a talisman that would protect you against evil spirits and other unsavory creatures of the night. The ancients regarded star sapphires as a powerful talisman protecting travelers and seekers. They were so powerful, they would continue protecting the wearer even after being passed on to another person.
Abbes Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179) chronicled the healing powers of gemstones in her book Physica. According to her view, gemstone are formed through the powerful combination of water and fire, therefore they hold powers corresponding to these phenomena. She also believed that each stone had a certain, divine blessing from God. She said this about sapphire: Who is dull and would like to be clever, should, in a sober state, frequently lick with the tongue on a sapphire, because the gemstone's warmth and power, combined with the saliva's moisture, will expel the harmful juices that affect the intellect. Thus, the man will attain a good intellect.
Source : http://www.gemselect.com/gem-info/sapphire/sapphire-info.php
Sapphire
In earlier times, some people believed that the firmament was an enormous blue sapphire in which the Earth was embedded. Could there be a more apt image to describe the beauty of an immaculate sapphire? And yet this gem comes not in one but in all the blue shades of that firmament, from the deep blue of the evening sky to the shining mid-blue of a lovely summer's day which casts its spell over us. However, this magnificent gemstone also comes in many other colours: not only in the transparent greyish-blue of a distant horizon but also in the gloriously colourful play of light in a sunset – in yellow, pink, orange and purple. Sapphires really are gems of the sky, although they are found in the hard ground of our 'blue planet'.
Blue is the main colour of the sapphire. Blue is also the favourite colour of some 50 per cent of all people, men and women alike. We associate this colour, strongly linked to the sapphire as it is, with feelings of sympathy and harmony, friendship and loyalty: feelings which belong to qualities that prove their worth in the long term – feelings in which it is not so much effervescent passion that is to the fore, but rather composure, mutual understanding and indestructible trust. Thus the blue of the sapphire has become a colour which fits in with everything that is constant and reliable. That is one of the reasons why women in many countries wish for a sapphire ring on their engagement. The sapphire symbolises loyalty, but at the same time it gives expression to people's love and longing. Perhaps the most famous example of this blue is to be found in music, in George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue". And the blue of the sapphire even appears where nothing at all counts except clear-sightedness and concentrated mental effort. The first computer which succeeded in defeating a world chess champion bore the remarkable name 'Deep Blue'.
What makes the sapphire so fancy?
Its beauty, its magnificent colours, its transparency, but also its constancy and durability are qualities associated with this gemstone by gemstone lovers and specialists alike. (This does not only apply to the blue sapphire, but more of that later on). The sapphire belongs to the corundum group, the members of which are characterised by their excellent hardness (9 on the Mohs scale). Indeed their hardness is exceeded only by that of the diamond – and the diamond is the hardest mineral on Earth! Thanks to that hardness, sapphires are easy to look after, requiring no more than the usual care on the part of the wearer.
The gemstones in the corundum group consist of pure aluminium oxide which crystallised into wonderful gemstones a long time ago as a result of pressure and heat at a great depth. The presence of small amounts of other elements, especially iron and chrome, are responsible for the colouring, turning a crystal that was basically white into a blue, red, yellow, pink or greenish sapphire. However, this does not mean that every corundum is also a sapphire. For centuries there were differences of opinion among the specialists as to which stones deserved to be called sapphires. Finally, it was agreed that the ruby-red ones, coloured by chrome, should be called 'rubies' and all those which were not ruby-red 'sapphires'.
If there is talk of the sapphire, most gemstone aficionados think immediately of a velvety blue. It's a versatile colour that becomes many wearers. A blue sapphire fits in best with a well balanced lifestyle in which reliability and temperament run together and there is always a readiness to encounter things new – as with the woman who wears it. The fact that this magnificent gemstone also comes in a large number of other colours was known for a long time almost only to insiders. In the trade, sapphires which are not blue are referred to as 'fancies'. In order to make it easier to differentiate between them, they are referred to not only by their gemstone name but also by a description of their colour. In other words, fancy sapphires are described as yellow, purple, pink, green or white sapphires. Fancy sapphires are pure individualism and are just made for lovers of individualistic coloured stone jewellery. They are currently available in a positively enchanting variety of designs - as ring stones, necklace pendants or ear jewellery, as solitaires, strung elegantly together or as sparkling pavée.
However, the sapphire has yet more surprises in store. For example there is an orange variety with a fine pink undertone which bears the poetic name 'padparadscha', which means something like 'lotus flower'. The star sapphires are another rarity, half-dome-cut sapphires with a starlike light effect which seems to glide across the surface of the stone when it is moved. There are said to have been gemstone lovers who fell in love with these sapphire rarities for all time. And indeed the permanence of relationships is one of the features that are said to belong to this gemstone.
Top-quality sapphires are rare
Sapphires, call them gemstones of the sky though we may, lie well hidden in just a few places, and first have to be brought to light through hard work. Sapphires are found in India, Burma, Ceylon, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, Brazil and Africa. From the gemstone mines, the raw crystals are first taken to the cutting-centres where they are turned into sparkling gemstones by skilled hands. When cutting a sapphire, indeed, the cutter has to muster all his skill, for these gemstones are not only hard. Depending on the angle from which you look at them they also have different colours and intensities of colour. So it is the job of the cutter to orientate the raw crystals in such a way that the colour is brought out to its best advantage.
Depending on where they were found, the colour intensity and hue of the cut stones vary, which means, later on, that the wearer is rather spoilt for choice. Should she perhaps go for a mid-blue stone which will remind her even on rainy days of that shining summer sky? Or should she prefer a lighter blue because it will continue to sparkle vivaciously when evening falls? The bright light of day makes most sapphires shine more vividly than the more subdued artificial light of evening. So in fact it is not, as is often claimed, the darkest tone that is the most coveted colour of the blue sapphire, but an intense, rich, full blue which still looks blue in poor artificial light.
Specialists and connoisseurs regard the Kashmir colour with its velvety shine as the most beautiful and most valuable blue. These magnificent gemstones from Kashmir, found in 1880 after a landslide at an altitude of 16,000 feet and mined intensively over a period of eight years, were to have a lasting influence on people's idea of the colour of a first-class sapphire. Typical of the Kashmir colour is a pure, intense blue with a very subtle violet undertone, which is intensified yet more by a fine, silky shine. It is said that this hue does not change in artificial light. But the Burmese colour is also regarded as particularly valuable. It ranges from a rich, full royal blue to a deep cornflower blue.
The oldest sapphire finds are in Ceylon, or Sri Lanka as it is known today. There, people were already digging for gemstones in ancient times. The specialist recognises Ceylon sapphires by the luminosity of their light to mid-blue colours. Having said that, most blue sapphires come either from Australia or from Thailand.
Their value depends on their size, colour and transparency. With stones of very fine quality, these are, however, not the only main criteria, the origin of the gem also playing a major role. Neither is the colour itself necessarily a function of the geographical origin of a sapphire, which explains the great differences in price between the various qualities. The most valuable are genuine Kashmir stones. Burmese sapphires are valued almost as highly, and then come the sapphires from Ceylon. The possibility of the gemstone's having undergone some treatment or other is also a factor in determining the price, since gemstones which can be guaranteed untreated are becoming more and more sought-after in this age of gemstone cosmetics. And if the stone selected then also happens to be a genuine, certificated Kashmir or Burmese, the price will probably reflect the enthusiasm of the true gemstone lover.
It is not often that daring pioneers discover gemstones on a scale such as was the case on Madagascar a few years ago, when a gemstone deposit covering an area of several miles was found in the south-east of the island. Since then, not only have there been enough blue sapphires in the trade, but also some splendid pink and yellow sapphires of great beauty and transparency. Meanwhile, experts in Tanzania have also found initial evidence of two large-scale gemstone deposits in the form of some good, if not very large sapphire crystals coloured blue, green, yellow and orange. And the third country to register new finds recently was Brazil, where sapphires ranging from blue to purple and pink have been discovered. So lovers of the sapphire need not worry: there will, in future, be enough of these 'heavenly' gems with the fine colour spectrum. Top-quality sapphires, however, remain extremely rare in all the gemstone mines of the world.
Source : http://www.gemstone.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=86:sapphire&catid=1:gem-by-gem&Itemid=14
Blue is the main colour of the sapphire. Blue is also the favourite colour of some 50 per cent of all people, men and women alike. We associate this colour, strongly linked to the sapphire as it is, with feelings of sympathy and harmony, friendship and loyalty: feelings which belong to qualities that prove their worth in the long term – feelings in which it is not so much effervescent passion that is to the fore, but rather composure, mutual understanding and indestructible trust. Thus the blue of the sapphire has become a colour which fits in with everything that is constant and reliable. That is one of the reasons why women in many countries wish for a sapphire ring on their engagement. The sapphire symbolises loyalty, but at the same time it gives expression to people's love and longing. Perhaps the most famous example of this blue is to be found in music, in George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue". And the blue of the sapphire even appears where nothing at all counts except clear-sightedness and concentrated mental effort. The first computer which succeeded in defeating a world chess champion bore the remarkable name 'Deep Blue'.
What makes the sapphire so fancy?
Its beauty, its magnificent colours, its transparency, but also its constancy and durability are qualities associated with this gemstone by gemstone lovers and specialists alike. (This does not only apply to the blue sapphire, but more of that later on). The sapphire belongs to the corundum group, the members of which are characterised by their excellent hardness (9 on the Mohs scale). Indeed their hardness is exceeded only by that of the diamond – and the diamond is the hardest mineral on Earth! Thanks to that hardness, sapphires are easy to look after, requiring no more than the usual care on the part of the wearer.
The gemstones in the corundum group consist of pure aluminium oxide which crystallised into wonderful gemstones a long time ago as a result of pressure and heat at a great depth. The presence of small amounts of other elements, especially iron and chrome, are responsible for the colouring, turning a crystal that was basically white into a blue, red, yellow, pink or greenish sapphire. However, this does not mean that every corundum is also a sapphire. For centuries there were differences of opinion among the specialists as to which stones deserved to be called sapphires. Finally, it was agreed that the ruby-red ones, coloured by chrome, should be called 'rubies' and all those which were not ruby-red 'sapphires'.
If there is talk of the sapphire, most gemstone aficionados think immediately of a velvety blue. It's a versatile colour that becomes many wearers. A blue sapphire fits in best with a well balanced lifestyle in which reliability and temperament run together and there is always a readiness to encounter things new – as with the woman who wears it. The fact that this magnificent gemstone also comes in a large number of other colours was known for a long time almost only to insiders. In the trade, sapphires which are not blue are referred to as 'fancies'. In order to make it easier to differentiate between them, they are referred to not only by their gemstone name but also by a description of their colour. In other words, fancy sapphires are described as yellow, purple, pink, green or white sapphires. Fancy sapphires are pure individualism and are just made for lovers of individualistic coloured stone jewellery. They are currently available in a positively enchanting variety of designs - as ring stones, necklace pendants or ear jewellery, as solitaires, strung elegantly together or as sparkling pavée.
However, the sapphire has yet more surprises in store. For example there is an orange variety with a fine pink undertone which bears the poetic name 'padparadscha', which means something like 'lotus flower'. The star sapphires are another rarity, half-dome-cut sapphires with a starlike light effect which seems to glide across the surface of the stone when it is moved. There are said to have been gemstone lovers who fell in love with these sapphire rarities for all time. And indeed the permanence of relationships is one of the features that are said to belong to this gemstone.
Top-quality sapphires are rare
Sapphires, call them gemstones of the sky though we may, lie well hidden in just a few places, and first have to be brought to light through hard work. Sapphires are found in India, Burma, Ceylon, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, Brazil and Africa. From the gemstone mines, the raw crystals are first taken to the cutting-centres where they are turned into sparkling gemstones by skilled hands. When cutting a sapphire, indeed, the cutter has to muster all his skill, for these gemstones are not only hard. Depending on the angle from which you look at them they also have different colours and intensities of colour. So it is the job of the cutter to orientate the raw crystals in such a way that the colour is brought out to its best advantage.
Depending on where they were found, the colour intensity and hue of the cut stones vary, which means, later on, that the wearer is rather spoilt for choice. Should she perhaps go for a mid-blue stone which will remind her even on rainy days of that shining summer sky? Or should she prefer a lighter blue because it will continue to sparkle vivaciously when evening falls? The bright light of day makes most sapphires shine more vividly than the more subdued artificial light of evening. So in fact it is not, as is often claimed, the darkest tone that is the most coveted colour of the blue sapphire, but an intense, rich, full blue which still looks blue in poor artificial light.
Specialists and connoisseurs regard the Kashmir colour with its velvety shine as the most beautiful and most valuable blue. These magnificent gemstones from Kashmir, found in 1880 after a landslide at an altitude of 16,000 feet and mined intensively over a period of eight years, were to have a lasting influence on people's idea of the colour of a first-class sapphire. Typical of the Kashmir colour is a pure, intense blue with a very subtle violet undertone, which is intensified yet more by a fine, silky shine. It is said that this hue does not change in artificial light. But the Burmese colour is also regarded as particularly valuable. It ranges from a rich, full royal blue to a deep cornflower blue.
The oldest sapphire finds are in Ceylon, or Sri Lanka as it is known today. There, people were already digging for gemstones in ancient times. The specialist recognises Ceylon sapphires by the luminosity of their light to mid-blue colours. Having said that, most blue sapphires come either from Australia or from Thailand.
Their value depends on their size, colour and transparency. With stones of very fine quality, these are, however, not the only main criteria, the origin of the gem also playing a major role. Neither is the colour itself necessarily a function of the geographical origin of a sapphire, which explains the great differences in price between the various qualities. The most valuable are genuine Kashmir stones. Burmese sapphires are valued almost as highly, and then come the sapphires from Ceylon. The possibility of the gemstone's having undergone some treatment or other is also a factor in determining the price, since gemstones which can be guaranteed untreated are becoming more and more sought-after in this age of gemstone cosmetics. And if the stone selected then also happens to be a genuine, certificated Kashmir or Burmese, the price will probably reflect the enthusiasm of the true gemstone lover.
It is not often that daring pioneers discover gemstones on a scale such as was the case on Madagascar a few years ago, when a gemstone deposit covering an area of several miles was found in the south-east of the island. Since then, not only have there been enough blue sapphires in the trade, but also some splendid pink and yellow sapphires of great beauty and transparency. Meanwhile, experts in Tanzania have also found initial evidence of two large-scale gemstone deposits in the form of some good, if not very large sapphire crystals coloured blue, green, yellow and orange. And the third country to register new finds recently was Brazil, where sapphires ranging from blue to purple and pink have been discovered. So lovers of the sapphire need not worry: there will, in future, be enough of these 'heavenly' gems with the fine colour spectrum. Top-quality sapphires, however, remain extremely rare in all the gemstone mines of the world.
Source : http://www.gemstone.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=86:sapphire&catid=1:gem-by-gem&Itemid=14
Sapphire
Sapphire (Greek: σάπφειρος; sappheiros, "blue stone"[1]) is a gemstone variety of the mineral corundum, an aluminium oxide (α-Al2O3), when it is a color other than red or dark pink; in which case the gem would instead be called a ruby, considered to be a different gemstone. Trace amounts of other elements such as iron, titanium, or chromium can give corundum blue, yellow, pink, purple, orange, or greenish color. Pure chromium is the distinct impurity of rubies. However, a combination of e.g. chromium and titanium can give a sapphire a color distinct from red.
Sapphires are commonly worn as jewelry. Sapphires can be found naturally, by searching through certain sediments (due to their resistance to being eroded compared to softer stones), or rock formations, or they can be manufactured for industrial or decorative purposes in large crystal boules. Because of the remarkable hardness of sapphires (and of aluminum oxide in general), sapphires are used in some non-ornamental applications, including infrared optical components, such as in scientific instruments; high-durability windows (also used in scientific instruments); wristwatch crystals and movement bearings; and very thin electronic wafers, which are used as the insulating substrates of very special-purpose solid-state electronics (most of which are integrated circuits).
Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sapphire
Sapphires are commonly worn as jewelry. Sapphires can be found naturally, by searching through certain sediments (due to their resistance to being eroded compared to softer stones), or rock formations, or they can be manufactured for industrial or decorative purposes in large crystal boules. Because of the remarkable hardness of sapphires (and of aluminum oxide in general), sapphires are used in some non-ornamental applications, including infrared optical components, such as in scientific instruments; high-durability windows (also used in scientific instruments); wristwatch crystals and movement bearings; and very thin electronic wafers, which are used as the insulating substrates of very special-purpose solid-state electronics (most of which are integrated circuits).
Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sapphire
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