Sapphire is one of the two gem-varieties of corundum, the other being ruby (defined as corundum in a shade of red). Natural sapphires Īn uncut, rough yellow sapphire found at the Spokane Sapphire Mine near Helena, Montana A sapphire jubilee occurs after 65 years. Sapphire is the birthstone for September and the gem of the 45th anniversary. Because of the remarkable hardness of sapphires – 9 on the Mohs scale (the third hardest mineral, after diamond at 10 and moissanite at 9.5) – sapphires are also used in some non-ornamental applications, such as infrared optical components, high-durability windows, wristwatch crystals and movement bearings, and very thin electronic wafers, which are used as the insulating substrates of special-purpose solid-state electronics such as integrated circuits and GaN-based blue LEDs. They also may be created synthetically in laboratories for industrial or decorative purposes in large crystal boules. Commonly, natural sapphires are cut and polished into gemstones and worn in jewelry. Pink-colored corundum may be classified either as ruby or sapphire depending on locale. Red corundum stones also occur, but are called rubies rather than sapphires. It is typically blue, but natural "fancy" sapphires also occur in yellow, purple, orange, and green colors "parti sapphires" show two or more colors.
The name sapphire is derived via the Latin "sapphirus" from the Greek "sappheiros", which referred to lapis lazuli. Medieval Europeans believed that sapphire cured plague boils and diseases of the eye and was also thought to be an antidote to poison.Sapphire is a precious gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum, consisting of aluminium oxide ( α- Al 2 O 3) with trace amounts of elements such as iron, titanium, chromium, vanadium, or magnesium. In some cultures it was even reputed to have healing powers as well. Ancient Persians believed the earth actually rested on a giant sapphire, which made the sky blue. Clerics of the Middle Ages wore sapphires because they symbolized Heaven. The elite of ancient Greece and Rome believed that blue sapphires protected their owners from harm and envy. For centuries, sapphire have adorned royalty and the robes of the clergy.
Long associated with royalty and romance, sapphires are also said to symbolize fidelity, sincerity, truth, faithfulness, nobility and the soul. Blue sapphire is one of the most popular colored stones but Jemima loves the fact that this birthstone comes in a rainbow of other colors.
Which comes from the Greek word sappheiros – cherished for thousands of years the name usually refers to the blue variety of corundum (ruby is the red variety).
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