Sapphire
About
Sapphire is a variety of corundum and is treasured for its durability and array of colours. Known primarily for its deep blue hue, sapphire also comes in shades of pink, yellow, green, purple, and more, except red (which is ruby). Sapphire has been valued since ancient times for its association with wisdom, protection, and royalty, with major sources found in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Madagascar, and Kashmir.
Birthstones & Anniversaries
Sapphire is the birthstone for September.
Crystal Healing Energy
The overarching theme of sapphire is wisdom and protection. Often considered a stone of mental focus and inner strength, sapphire is believed to help with clarity of thought, personal discipline, and self-expression. Its grounding energy is said to protect against negative energies, enhancing confidence and faith in one’s intuition. In crystal healing, sapphire is often used to encourage honesty, clarity, and spiritual insight.
Facts
Colour Zoning: Natural sapphires often display zones of colour concentration, which can be used as an identifying characteristic.
Star Sapphire: Some sapphires exhibit asterism (a star-like pattern) due to aligned rutile inclusions, making them prized collector’s items.
Durability: With a Mohs hardness of 9, sapphire is one of the hardest gemstones, suitable for everyday wear.
Historical Significance: Known as the “stone of wisdom”, sapphire has been revered across cultures and is often associated with royalty and spiritual insight.
Primary Sources: Major deposits are found in Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Myanmar, and the Kashmir region, each known for producing sapphires with unique colour qualities.
Science
Mineral: Corundum
Crystal System: Trigonal
Chemistry: Al₂O₃
Colour: Typically blue but also pink, yellow, green, purple, orange, and colourless (fancy sapphires)
Refractive Index: 1.762 to 1.770
Birefringence: 0.008
Specific Gravity: 3.95 to 4.03
Mohs Hardness: 9
TreatmentsMost sapphires on the market are heat-treated to enhance their colour and clarity. Some sapphires, particularly blue and orange-pink "padparadscha" sapphires, may be untreated, and untreated stones are typically more valuable. Other treatments include beryllium diffusion to create vibrant colours and lattice diffusion for unique colour effects.
SyntheticsSynthetic sapphire has been produced since the early 20th century, primarily using the Verneuil process. Lab-grown sapphires are commonly used in both jewellery and industrial applications due to their durability and purity.
ImitationsGlass, spinel, and other gemstones can be dyed or heat-treated to resemble sapphire. Doublets and triplets are also sometimes created to mimic sapphire’s colour and hardness, though these lack the durability and density of natural sapphire.
similar materialsBlue Spinel: Often confused with blue sapphire due to its similar hue, though it has a different chemical structure and lower hardness.
Blue Topaz: A less durable stone that is sometimes mistaken for blue sapphire; it is typically lighter in shade and lacks sapphire’s refractive properties.
Tanzanite: While it has a similar blue hue, tanzanite is softer and shows more pleochroism, shifting colours under different lighting.
Why We love Sapphire
Exceptional HardnessIts durability makes it ideal for daily wear, especially in rings.
Variety of ColoursAvailable in nearly every colour, sapphire suits a wide range of personal styles.
royal statusSapphires are associated with royalty, lending a touch of elegance and luxury.
