Sapphire was first recognized as a stone of magicians and healers by the ancient Tamils in Southeast Asia. By the way, translated this name means “blue stone”. Moreover, in our time, sapphire is quite famous not only in the jewelry world, but also in many other fields of activity. By the way, people consider it a “royal” stone, since it is not only beautiful, but also expensive.
Physical and chemical properties
Blue sapphire is an aluminum oxide containing titanium and iron as impurities, giving the gem a luxurious blue color. The mineral is classified as corundum. The stone is hard, second only to diamond in this indicator, does not glow under the influence of ultraviolet radiation or glows to an insignificant extent, changes color when heated strongly and under X-rays, and is a dielectric.
| Formula | Al2O3 |
| Color | Cornflower blue, dark or light blue, blue in different shades. |
| Shine | Strong glass |
| Hardness | 9 |
| Transparency | Mostly transparent, less often translucent or opaque |
| Strength | non-fragile |
| Kink | Conchoidal, uneven |
| Cleavage | Absent |
| Density | 3.93-4.00 g/cm³ |
| Melting temperature | 2040 degrees |
| singonia | Trigonal |
| Refractive index | 1,762-1,778 |
Mineral deposits
Raw blue sapphire
Blue sapphires are mined in several places around the globe:
- India, Kashmir. There, the highest quality and perfectly blue specimens, which are called “Kashmir”, are mined and supplied to the jewelry market.
- Burma - blue and blue sapphires, slightly less valuable, but very beautiful.
- Sri Lanka supplies expensive “Ceylon” sapphires, rich blue in color.
- Russia, the Kola Peninsula, the Urals - there are few gems, they are mostly dark blue or have a grayish tint, which is why they lose a lot in value.
- USA - turquoise samples that give a metallic sheen.
- Thailand - dark blue specimens, beautiful, but cheaper.
Origin story
The birth of sapphires occurs in molten granite magma, saturated with volatile vapors. Some researchers note that crystallization occurs when granite and limestone come into contact, transformed under high pressure into marble. Thus, crystal formation is the result of post-magmatic mineralization.
More often, stones are found in zones of ancient gneisses, which were intruded by young pegmatite veins.
All sapphires are initially transparent. They are given color by impurities:
- titanium;
- chromium;
- vanadium;
- cobalt;
- iron, etc.
The degree of color saturation depends on the number of molecules of these substances trapped in the crystalline structure of the stone under pressure. People found deep blue sapphires long before the advent of geological science. It is believed that the ancient Tamils, who lived in Southeast Asia, were the first to discover this mineral and appreciate its richness and hardness. In those days they began to call it corundum.
The special properties of sapphire were noted in ancient times by the inhabitants of Southeast Asia.
However, in a later period, the word sappheiros, which translates as “precious stone,” began to be used. Until the 18th century All gems with a similar chemical composition were called sapphires. However, later the naturalist J. Vallerius proposed using this term only for blue specimens.
The magical properties of blue sapphire
Blue sapphire is a symbol of longevity, wisdom, self-sufficiency and prosperity. In some cultures, it symbolizes insight, insight, uncovering lies, secrets and finding the truth, including answers to long-standing questions.
The gem strengthens the inner core of its owner, making him strong and invulnerable to evil fate and envious people. It helps you discover yourself, understand your own purpose, and see the direction for development.
Blue sapphire is a symbol of wealth, which attracts to its owner.
The stone helps you make the right choice in order to get out of almost hopeless situations with the least losses. It makes its owner more collected, organized, observant and neat. It helps you control the situation, manage your emotions and not give in to panic.
Blue sapphire helps to reveal a lie, and also to identify a threat in its very bud so that you have time to deflect the blow. The stone helps to predict events and calculate options.
The gem protects feelings, strengthens relationships and stimulates the formation of new ones - friendly, business, romantic. Blue sapphire is a symbol of fidelity in marriage and the strength of the family; it is not for nothing that after 45 years of marriage a sapphire wedding is celebrated.
Who suits the name
Sapphire is an excellent assistant to women in love affairs with names such as:
- Lyudmila. Adds compassion, wisdom, flexibility, and the ability to be compassionate.
- Rose – modesty, restraint, chastity, hope and love.
Male names:
- Egor, to give the favor of fate, wisdom.
- Gregory to attract friends, protect against temptation, get rid of internal contradictions.
- Kirill as a symbol of justice, modesty, fidelity.
- Stepan, for whom the mineral will become self-knowledge, the search for goals in life, overcoming laziness and deception.
Medicinal properties
The healing power of blue sapphire inspires respect. First of all, it is aimed at creating resistance to diseases in the body, increasing the effectiveness of standard medicine and increasing the desire to be cured in the person himself.
The stone also helps cure ailments:
- Genitourinary system.
- Of cardio-vascular system.
- Musculoskeletal system.
- Nervous system.
- Respiratory tract.
To normalize the functioning of the heart, you need to wear a ring with a blue sapphire on your right hand; after a stroke or heart attack, for a speedy recovery, you need to wear the jewelry on your chest or neck. If you pass the gem over medications several times, and also wear jewelry with the stone while taking them, the effectiveness of the medications will increase significantly.
And also the stone:
- Eliminates pain, for which it needs to be applied to sore spots.
- Relieves pain in the lower back, for which a light massage is done with the gem, pressing it into the skin and scrolling. The same actions can cure kidney inflammation.
- Helps with otitis media.
- Cleanses the skin, defeats eczema.
- Facilitates breathing in case of asthma, coughing in case of bronchitis.
- Reduces blood sugar in patients with diabetes.
- Relieves insomnia and nervous tics.
- Relieves tension in the optic nerve, improves vision. For these purposes, you should wash your face with water infused with sapphire.
- It cures infertility, but you will have to wear the stone without removing it.
Compatibility
When choosing a sapphire, three factors are taken into account. If you need a magical attribute, look at the zodiac compatibility. If you want to make a stone as a talisman, you should check which names it is suitable for. If you plan to purchase jewelry with several stones, then you need to find out what minerals sapphire is combined with.
With zodiac signs
Sapphire is a stone that, due to its magical properties, suits almost all people according to their zodiac sign. Only Capricorns should not wear it.
The table shows the compatibility and effects of sapphire on each zodiac sign.
Change
| Zodiac sign | compatibility (“+++” – high, “++” – normal, “+” – acceptable to wear, “–” – unacceptable to wear) | impact of sapphire |
| Capricorn | — | the stone does not fit with the nature of the January sign and is useless as a talisman |
| Aquarius | ++ | balances mental state, energizes, makes character confident, purposeful, decisive |
| Fish | + | eliminates depression, normalizes emotional state, strengthens memory |
| Aries | ++ | makes the character calm, restrained, tolerant, friendly, suppresses the irritability characteristic of the sign, pickiness towards other people |
| Taurus | + | strengthens mental strength, promotes the development of creative abilities, eliminates the sign of stubbornness characteristic of representatives |
| Twins | + | restrains internal contradictions, stabilizes the emotional state, helps to obtain the necessary knowledge, and make useful contacts |
| Cancer | + | relieves blues and stiffness, increases self-esteem |
| a lion | ++ | Sapphire pacifies the pride and pride characteristic of the fire sign of the Zodiac, and helps in finding the right solutions |
| Virgo | + | strengthens willpower, promotes spiritual development and meeting useful people |
| Scales | + | gives representatives of the sign calmness and confidence, reveals creative abilities |
| Scorpion | + | extinguishes passions, pacifies emotions, protects against negative individuals |
| Sagittarius | +++ | makes life stable and harmonious, helps in setting and achieving goals, in gaining knowledge |
Talismans and amulets
Blue sapphire is the most powerful talisman stone of its family. There is one very beautiful ancient legend associated with it.
Once upon a time, people asked the gods to grant them a long life, complaining that they did not have time to taste all its fruits within the allotted time. The gods, hearing their pleas, took pity on the people and shed magical rain on them, which is half the elixir of immortality. In those places where raindrops hit the ground, beautiful gems appeared. Where there was more of the elixir of eternal life, the pebbles were bright blue, where there was less - pale blue.
Blue sapphire pendant
And today, many peoples believe that a cornflower blue sapphire given as an amulet helps to prolong life, and the one who finds the perfect stone will gain immortality.
Shamans personified the stone as an instrument of communication with spiritual forces. They believed that through it they could talk to the dead. Modern magicians agree with them, including blue sapphires in their paraphernalia.
Blue sapphire is considered the guardian of true feelings. If lovers, newlyweds and married couples give each other such a gift, then the power of their love will only grow with each passing day and not a single separation or evil person can extinguish the flame.
The most magically effective is a sapphire that is given as a gift, inherited, or found with one’s own hand. Purchased copies take a long time to get used to the new owner.
People of any profession can acquire a talisman with a blue sapphire, especially those that require a clear mind, accuracy, emotionlessness and cold calculation. The stone is vital for all those who:
- I was catastrophically tired of problems and had already given up. Blue sapphire will make a person stronger, invigorate him and help him overcome difficulties.
- Cannot cope with emotions, takes everything to heart, flares up with or without cause, destroying the fragile balance in relationships with loved ones and simply suffering from an excess of feelings. Blue sapphire will extinguish emotions, make a person less vulnerable, more resistant to stress and irritants, and give him patience and endurance.
- Wants to achieve certain heights in life, but does not know how to do it. The gem will advise, guide and help.
Let's not forget about metals
- Gold . Festive, ceremonial, sunny. Aries women can wear it anytime. This metal is more demanding for men.
- Working with iron is highly recommended for Aries.
- Bronze items can be worn, but not daily. And in the room where you are always, do not keep bronze candlesticks, do not put bronze handles on the doors.
Food for thought
- Bright blue celestine is very beautiful - and dangerous. It often contains radioactive elements. So sigh with regret and give the dangerous pebble to the seller. Don't forget to tell us why you don't take it.
- Aries babies drive their parents into hysterics with their “I am myself.” It is clear that you have a lot to do. But take the time and let this flame show itself. This is vital for him.
- Aries are unscrupulous, and they can throw all their strength into every task. Then fatigue, apathy and other troubles. Try not to rush through life like a tank, otherwise your batteries will quickly run out.
- Aries have little faith in other people's experience and prefer to learn from their own mistakes. And this can be dangerous...
How much does a blue sapphire cost?
The price of blue sapphire varies greatly depending on its shade, quality and the presence of processing. For example:
- Raw small dark blue crystals can be purchased for $20.
- A set of small pale blue sapphires weighing about 10 carats will cost the buyer $45-50.
- A beautiful blue sapphire of perfect cornflower blue color weighing 3.75 carats will cost approximately $3,000.
- The same blue beauty, cut like a diamond, weighing about 3 carats will cost twice as much, that is, 6000-7000 dollars.
- Pale blue stones weighing 1 carat can be purchased for $50-200.
Products and decorations
The widest use of blue sapphires is in the manufacture of stunningly beautiful jewelry. The stone looks great in any setting - silver, gold or platinum, which is chosen based on the quality of the gem. Cheaper samples are mounted with silver - lighter or darker than the classic cornflower blue color, blue, violet, but most often blue synthetic analogues.
This is interesting!
In jewelry stores:
- Gold rings can be purchased for $75-1200, earrings - 100-1800, bracelets with several inserts - $650-2050.
- Silver rings, earrings and pendants with synthetic sapphires - for 15-30 dollars.
This shows that synthetic sapphires are much cheaper, although in appearance they often look even more beautiful than natural ones, but they have neither magical nor healing properties.
How to distinguish an original from a fake
You can distinguish an original sapphire from an imitation or synthetic one by the following characteristics:
- A synthetically grown specimen will be ideal in all respects - in color, equally elongated bubbles in the structure. If you look at it through a magnifying glass, you can see growth stripes, which in synthetics look like eyelashes, but in natural samples they are even.
- Natural stone is always cold and takes a long time to heat up; synthetic analogues and especially colored glass heat up much faster.
- The natural mineral is second only to diamonds in hardness; it can easily scratch other gems, and especially glass.
- Synthetics will begin to glow green when exposed to ultraviolet light, while natural stone will retain its blue color.
The easiest way to check the authenticity of a blue sapphire is to ask the seller for a certificate for the product, which indicates, among other things, the origin of the insert.
How to care for stone
Blue sapphires are very hard minerals, so it is almost impossible to damage them with anything. Only a diamond or the same sapphire can leave a scratch on a stone.
It is recommended to store blue sapphires in an individual case or bag to avoid scratching softer gems.
If jewelry with stones is worn frequently, over time they will fade slightly due to dirt accumulating on them. Cleaning blue sapphires is very simple, you need:
- Prepare a soap solution, first making sure that the soap does not contain abrasives or moisturizers that could settle on the surface of the stone.
- Place the stone in the solution, shake and leave to soak for 15-20 minutes.
- Wash the stone with a sponge or soft toothbrush.
- Rinse off the soap with clean, cool water.
- Dry the jewelry with a soft cloth.
When using a special jewelry cleaner, you need to make sure that the product is suitable not only for sapphires, but also for the stones that accompany them and the metal of the setting.
What about the days of the week?
Each of the gems is protected by a planet (as astrologers believe). On these days, the power of the stone has more influence on the owner than on other days.
| Day of the week; ruling planet | Stones |
| Monday; Moon | Adularia, quartz hairy |
| Tuesday; Mars | Rubies, garnets, tourmalines |
| Wednesday; Mercury | Variegated jaspers and tourmalines, onyx |
| Thursday, Jupiter | Sapphire, lapis lazuli, charoite, amethyst |
| Friday; Venus | Amazonite, aquamarine |
| Saturday; Saturn | Sherl, rauchtopaz, obsidian |
| Sunday; Sun | Carnelian, amber |
