Clarity Blog
Did you know…
Sapphire is a variety of the mineral corundum. It is a precious gemstone. Sapphire is a 5th and a 45th Anniversary gemstone. It represents the birthstone for the month of September!
Healing properties
Known as the "wisdom stone", each color of Sapphire brings its own particular wisdom. It releases mental tension, depression, unwanted thoughts and spiritual confusion. Sapphire restores balance within the body, aligning the physical, mental and spiritual planes, bringing serenity and peace of mind. It stimulates concentration, brings lightness, and joy. Sapphire is also known as a "stone of prosperity", attracting gifts of all kinds and fulfilling dreams and desires.
Geological Properties
Sapphires and rubies are closely related, having corundum as their base mineral. The iron pigment in the corundum makes sapphire blue, while the chromium element in rubies makes them red. Corundum gemstones are the second hardest of the most precious of gemstones (diamond, sapphire, ruby, and emerald). Sapphire actually has a range of colors, from blue to yellow to green to pink. Colorless sapphires are occasionally used as a substitute for diamonds in jewelry.
Sapphire is mined from deposits in flowing water & springs rarely from primary rock. It is mined primarily in the United States, Australia, China, Thailand, India, Kenya and Nigeria, with Sri Lanka being one of the richest sources dating back to antiquity. The gemstones are separated from clay, sand and gravel by washing and then selected by hand.
Care of Sapphire
With its excellent toughness, sapphire stands up well to a variety of cleaning methods. Clean sapphire stones with warm soapy water and a soft brush. Rinse the stone well after washing it. Ultrasonic treatment and steam cleaning may be used; however, like many gemstones, sapphire should not be boiled.
With a Mohs hardness of 9, sapphires, if they are not stored carefully, can scratch other gemstones and metals and can be scratched by diamonds.
Normal sapphire gemstones can be safely fired in a kiln with the exception of star sapphires which, because of their nature, would crumble to dust from the extreme heat.
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Sources: thecharmsoflife.com, firemountaingems.com