Sapphires are gems that are natural gifts born in the womb of the Earth. A sapphire is one of the strongest elements, with durability very much comparable to diamonds. While we all know it to be a gem that enhances the beauty of jewellery, there is a lot more to it.
Going by ancient myths, Gaia or Earth as it is known, is balanced on a giant sapphire, and thus the sky reflects a blue hue. In Greek legends, the sapphire is said to be filled with mystical powers that symbolize wisdom and health.
Sapphires symbolize loyalty, honesty and truth, and it is not uncommon to find sapphires as crown jewels, especially in the United Kingdom and Holland.
Some facts
- Sapphires are found in different hues - pink, green, grey, and yellow, in addition to blue.
- Rubies and sapphires are the same mineral Corundum, they just differ in colour.
- Sapphires have a hardness of 7.5 to 9 on the Mohs hardness scale.
- A few famous women who wore sapphires are Princess Diana, Princess Kate the Duchess of Cambridge, Hollywood actress Elizabeth Taylor, and Napoleon Bonaparte’s wife Empress Josephine.
- Sapphires are counted among the Big Three Gemstones, alongside rubies and emeralds.
Quick guide on assessing the authenticity of Sapphire - The Four C’s
Colour
While sapphires have a blue hue, the colouration might vary a little. This is called colour zoning. We at Sogani Jewels look for saturations combined with clarity to check their authenticity.
Carat and Weight
Sapphires that have perfect clarity and colouration are rather rare. The larger ones tend to cost more when compared to smaller equivalents. Do you know the one worn by Catherine Middleton weighs 12 carats while the ones sold on the high street are 5 carats?
Clarity of Gems
Clear gems tend to be extremely rare and expensive. Commercially available sapphires usually have a few inclusions, i.e. any material trapped within the gemstone during the mineral’s formation. This can be anything from gas filled bubbles to insects and fractures. Our expert gemologists recommend those with the least inclusions, contributing to the most clarity and sparkle.
Cutting
Sapphires with an ingenious cut will reduce the appearance of small inclusions.
Are Sapphires treated or natural?
We recommend you purchase natural sapphires. Sapphires sold in the stores are fracture-filled or heat-treated to intensify their colour and hide any inclusions. Sapphires with tiny lines are not imperfect but rather emphasise the fact that they are natural and untreated.
Healing and Spiritual Power of Blue Sapphires
Blue Sapphire is not just a beautiful gemstone, it is also known for its extraordinary powers. Besides symbolising purity and love, it is known for its spiritual power. Do you know it is used for releasing blocked chakras in the body? It is also worn to gain both physical and emotional strength.
These beautiful blue gemstones facilitate self-expression and help those who need assistance in improving their communication and expressing their beliefs and truth. As we talked about its effect on opening chakras, it has a great effect on the throat chakra and is very healing for the thyroid. It also calms the nervous system and has a balancing effect on the mind.
Cleaning Tips
Sapphires are more durable than other gems, but they must be used with care.
Here are a few quick tips:
- Do not scrub harshly or apply excess pressure
- Clean using warm water and soap, scrubbing with an old toothbrush
- Air dry on a towel.
Now that you’re full to the brim with sapphire expertise, it's time to search for your perfect sapphire on our website soganijewels.com
Not only do we have a large selection of jewellery with gemstones, especially sapphires and diamonds, you won’t find such brilliant prices anywhere on the U.K. high street.
