SAPPHIRES

What is Sapphire?

Sapphires are one of the most prized gemstones alongside the likes of diamonds, emeralds, and rubies. A variety of the mineral corundum, the name sapphire can actually be used to describe any variety of corundum other than Ruby, despite being seemingly synonymous with the colour blue and blue gems.

Sapphire colour

Blue sapphires are undoubtedly the best-known variety of these precious gemstones though they can come in almost any colour and these are known as ‘fancy sapphires. Other colours of sapphire include pink, green, purple, orange, yellow, purple, and hues in between, as well as colourless.

An extremely rare variety is Padparadscha sapphire, a mix of pink and orange said to resemble the colours of a lotus flower. Picture a sunset in a stone and you’re headed in the right direction. This isn’t the only time that sapphires have been compared to flowers, with ‘cornflower blue’ stones being the standard for high-quality blue sapphires.

They can also be something of chameleons, coming in colour changing and bi-colour varieties. The latter is exceptionally rare and includes stones in which multiple colours appear, while the former can change colour depending on the lighting.

Sapphire Jewellery

As sapphires come in many colours, they can be paired with just about any metal. Traditionally, blue sapphires have been set into yellow gold, however, the icey hues of blue also sit well with white metals such as white gold, platinum or silver.

As previously mentioned, sapphires are a variety of the mineral corundum, as are rubies. Therefore, they rank at 9 on Mohs scale of hardness, and are perfect for all types of jewellery, including rings, necklaces, and earrings, as they don’t get too worn down over time. Due to this fact, sapphires are a great alternative to diamonds for engagement rings. There are some incredibly famous examples of sapphire engagement rings, such as Princess Diana’s engagement ring, which featured a 12-carat oval-cut sapphire. More recently, Princess Eugenie was given an engagement ring with a Padparadscha sapphire at its centre. The design looked remarkably similar to that of Diana’s.

Sapphire Cuts

Sapphires are formed with a hexagonal crystalline structure, which means it can easily be cut into a variety of shapes. However, it is best suited to cuts such as oval, as round brilliant will lead to more rough wastage when the sapphire is being faceted. It’s also good to note that a deeper cut stone will better show off the colour of the gemstone. Cabochon sapphires can also be popular in jewellery as well; a cabochon is a stone that has been polished smooth but is unfaceted. This is a great way of avoiding rough wastage and is simply a different style of cut.

Sapphire Value

As with all gemstones, sapphires’ prices are subject to the 4 C’s: cut, colour, clarity, and carat. Due to the variety of colours in which sapphires come and their varying values, a sapphire's price can range greatly. The most valuable of sapphires will be those with a deep blue hue and perhaps a hint of violet. Though sapphires are rarer than diamonds, carat for carat they are almost always cheaper, and therefore might make a good alternative for an engagement ring.

How to Care for Sapphire

As mentioned before, sapphires rank quite highly on the Mohs scale of hardness and, therefore, are unlikely to suffer from daily wear and tear. However, there are a few elements to consider if you have sapphire jewellery. 

First, if the sapphire is set in a claw setting, check occasionally to ensure these haven’t come loose, as then there will be a risk that the gemstone may fall out. This is due to a mixture of factors, including the fact that sapphires are a naturally hard stone and can wear and tear the metal they’re set in. Additionally, rings especially might suffer as they come into contact with lots of surfaces, causing the claws to come loose.

Should you wish to clean your sapphire jewellery, the best way to do so is with warm soapy water and a soft brush or cloth or an ultrasonic cleaner.As gemstones are of varying hardness and can scratch one another, it is always best to store them in separate compartments or pouches, especially when travelling. A diamond, ranking 10 on Mohs scale of hardness may mark the surface of your sapphire.

Sapphire Origins

While the exact details of sapphires’ initial discovery are not known, sapphires have been used in jewellery for millennia, favoured by rulers of Ancient Greece and Rome. The name itself comes from the word sappheiros, which most likely referred to lapis lazuli, another dark blue stone. Yet the gems were prized even before this, in Ancient Persia, when rulers believed the sky was painted blue by the reflection of sapphire stones. They have continued to be prized gemstones into the present day.

Where is Sapphire Found?

Sapphires are found all over the world, with some varieties being specifically found in certain locations. There have been known deposits on almost every continent, however notable deposits include those in Australia, Ceylon, Kashmir, Myanmar, Madagascar, and Montanna. 

Ceylon Sapphires - Mined in Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon, these sapphires are known for being lighter, brighter, and more vivid than the dark blue sapphires we’re familiar with.

Padparadscha Sapphires - Padparadscha sapphires are one of the rarest sapphires. The name is derived from the Sinhalese word for an aquatic lotus blossom, which shares the stones unique pink-orange colour. Padparadscha sapphires are mainly found in Sri Lanka, as well as Madagascar and Tanzania.

Kashmir Sapphires - Kashmir sapphires are what we picture when we think of a sapphire: picture blue velvet in a gemstone, smooth and slightly hazy. Kashmir sapphires get their name, unsurprisingly, from Kashmir, where a landslide in the early 1800s unearthed a deposit of gemstones. They have since been internationally renowned for their quality and colour.

Sapphire Mining

Many sapphires are mined from alluvial deposits. Alluvial deposits are the result of a process of erosion, in which rock fragments move into streams where they are fractured, releasing any gems they contain. These gemstones then settle in river beds and, over time, become concentrated in a particular location. Alluvial mines are fairly similar and it is mostly the level mechanisation that may vary from mine to mine. Sapphires can also be mined from closed pit operations.

A lot of the time, these mines can leave a devastating impact on the environment. As of 2008, Madagascar has begun to attempt to recover from sapphire mining. Sapphires were found in Madagascar in the late 1990s; by the early 2000s, the town of Sakaraha became the centre of gem-trading in Madagascar. Most of the mines in Madagascar were artisanal mines, often informal and unsafe. Unfortunately, as there were few other work opportunities, many worked in these mines despite conditions. Artisanal mining is one of the major drivers of deforestation in Madagascar, a hub of biodiversity. In 2016. Madagascan associations were established to refill the pits, restore the land, and plant trees. Though this is a testimony to the effort of people, it also speaks to the horrible impact mining can have on an environment and community.

Ethical Sapphires

Sapphires are found and traded worldwide, meaning they can be affected by the same human rights, working conditions, money laundering, corruption, and funding conflict issues that any gemstone or commodity can be.

There are currently no independently audited vendors for ethically sourced sapphires, although there are suppliers and jewellers who are very transparent about their process and mining methods such as Nineteen48, a Sri Lanka based company.

Sapphire Meaning

Owing to the fact that sapphires have been around for a long time, they have had many different meanings attached to them, most often nobility, truth, sincerity, and faithfulness. It’s certainly true that sapphires have long been associated with royalty, having been worn by rulers in Ancient Greece and Persia, as well as being the centre stone on the famous ring given by Prince Charles to Princess Diana. The ring featured a 12-carat oval blue Ceylon sapphire, surrounded by 14 diamonds, all set in 18ctwhite gold. It was created by then-crown jeweller, Garrard & Co. Sapphires also featured heavily on the Peacock Throne, a famed jewelled throne of the Mughal Empire in India, commissioned by Shah Jahan, who also commissioned the Taj Mahal. The throne features sapphires, predominantly used in the peacock’s tail, alongside other coloured gemstones. Sapphires have been worn by kings as they were believed to protect the wearer from envy, as well as attract divine favour.

Due to its colour, sapphires have long been associated with the sky. Persians believed that blue sapphires were actually chips from a huge pedestal that supported the Earth, the reflections of which coloured the sky. A famous line of poetry spoken by an unknown poet described sapphire as “the blue of a clear sky just minutes after sundown.” This association is even included in the bible, with such mentions as “Under his feet was something like a pavement made of sapphire, clear as the sky itself” from Exodus 24:10.

Biblical associations go deeper than this, as sapphire is mentioned at least twelve times throughout the bible. At one time, it was thought that perhaps the stone tablets on which the stone tablets on which the Ten Commandments were inscribed were made from sapphire, though perhaps the realisation of the enormity of such a sapphire dispelled this rumour. During the Middle Ages, blue sapphires were worn by the clergy to symbolise Heaven, and people associated the gemstones with heavenly blessings.

One of the most notable sapphires in the world, the Star of India, has long been associated with chastity, piety, and repentance, as well as helping to bring peace of mind and serenity. These themes of religion, protection, and wisdom recur throughout the history of the gemstone and can be found in cultures throughout the world.

Sapphire Treatments

Gemstones are regularly treated to change their appearance and sapphires are no exception. Heat treatments are used to intensify, or even induce, a blue colouration in sapphires. In addition, heat treatments can be used to remove silk inclusions or make them more prominent, depending on the desired effect. Silk inclusions are minute needle-like inclusions, and are responsible for the asterism in star sapphires, which is one of the reasons it may be desirable to make them more noticeable. Treatments should always be disclosed by the jeweller.