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Sapphire is a classic gemstone that comes in shades of blue. This gem
makes a fabulous piece of jewellery. Read about its history and
origins and find out how to care for it.
What is a sapphire?
One of four precious gems, this gemstone is scientifically known as corundum,
which is crystallized pure aluminum oxide. Heat and pressure are the
catalysts for creating corundum.
The presence of small chrome or iron particles gives the stone its
color. You probably imagine some shade of blue when you think of this
gemstone, but there is a wide spectrum of shades from a dark navy to
an almost white blue.
Aside from the various shades of blue, there are also pink, white,
yellow and black stones. These non-blue varieties are referred to as
"fancy." Imagine how different you would be with a fancy
pink sapphire necklace.
Where do they come from?
These elegant blue gemstones largely come from various parts of Asia
to include India and Sri
Lanka, Australia, parts of Africa and Brazil. A majority of the
blue variety come out of Australia and Thailand.
However, Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon, is the location of the
world's oldest mines. The most coveted gems come from Kashmir and
Burma, because of their pure rich shades of blue.
The Kashmir
and Burmese gemstones are very valuable and even more so when you can
find a top-quality stone. Transparent, intense and rich color
translates into big bucks for these gemstones. You will be the envy
of the ball in a fabulous sapphire
and diamond necklace.
Lore and legend
This gemstone is mentioned in the bible as well as in Greek
mythology. Mystical beliefs surrounding it include protection from
evil and guidance in life. No matter what, sapphire
earrings and a sapphire necklace look great and if they add a
little luck to your day- even better.
The birthstone for September
While the gemstones in all their shades of blue are popular, they are
adored by people born in September
because it is their official birthstone. One of only four precious
gemstones, this birthstone looks great in a variety of settings.
Silver and platinum look especially nice with any shade of blue.
Platinum diamond and sapphire rings are popular for a change to
traditional diamond engagement
rings.
How to clean your gemstones
This gem is a durable stone. It ranks a 9 on the Mohs scale of
hardness so you can wear them almost every day. They are safe to wear
daily without worrying about chipping, cracking or scratching the stones.
Pair it with a diamond and you have a very durable piece of jewelry.
But, don't test its strength. After all, everything has a breaking point.
Because of its durability, you don't have to be overly delicate in
your cleaning. Drop by the jewelry store and have them blast it with
a steamer or drop it in the ultrasonic cleaner. If you want to clean
it at home, just soak your sapphire
and diamond ring in warm soapy water. Easy, right?
So, whether you were born in September or you just like a beautiful
gemstone, this one is a classic. With jeans or an evening gown, you
will exude elegance and sophistication with a wonderfully designed sapphire
ring or bracelet. |
