Sapphire
Sapphire is the most precious of blue gemstones. It is a most desirable gem due to its colour, hardness, durability, and lustre. The most valuable colour of sapphire is cornflower blue, known as Kashmir sapphire or Cornflower blue sapphire.
Colours – Blue sapphire, yellow sapphire, green sapphire, white sapphire , pink sapphire, orange sapphire, brown sapphire and purple sapphire .
Hardness – 9. After diamond, sapphire is the second hardest mineral known to man.
Varieties
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Australian Sapphire Dark blue to nearly black sapphire
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Kashmir Sapphire Sapphire with a distinct velvety blue colour
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Cornflower blue Sapphire Synonym of Kashmir sapphire
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Star Sapphire Sapphire displaying asterism
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Padparadschah Sapphire Orange pink variety of sapphire
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Colour change Sapphire Sapphire exhibiting a different colour in natural and artificial light
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Bi-colour Sapphire Sapphire with more than one colour
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Cat`s eye Sapphire Sapphire exhibiting cat`s eye effect
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Fancy Sapphire Any sapphire with a colour other than blue
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Verneuil Sapphire Synthetic, laboratory grown sapphire
Inclusions of tiny, slender, parallel Rutile needles cause polished sapphire gems to exhibit asterism. Sapphire gems displaying asterism are known as "star sapphires", and if transparent are especially prized. Star sapphires are usually in six ray stars, but twelve ray stars are also known. Very rarely, sapphire also exhibits cat's eye effect.
Colour zoning, which forms from growth layers that build up during the formation of the stone, is present in certain sapphires. However, uniformity of colour is an important factor in a sapphire's value.
Magic –
- Provides spiritual strength
- Protects from envy and harm
- Attracts favourable spirits and blessings
- Encourages wisdom and prophecy
- Aids victory over all (star sapphires)
Healing –
- Balances the endocrine system and reins in overactive energies
- Calms, regulates and reduces tension in the solar plexus created by fear and anxiety
- Increases powers of personal expression, benefiting the heart and throat chakras
- Stimulates the higher mind
