Sapphire

This birthstone of September, Sapphire with its extraordinary color and brilliance has mesmerized men for ages. Its stunning beauty combined with its illustrious past and rarity adds to the inimitable aura of the gem.

These gems derive their name from the Greek word ‘sappheiros’ which means blue. Sapphires are the non-red variety of the Corundum family of stones and occur in many other hues; such as pink, green, black, yellow, orange, etc. however, blue remained the most celebrated color of these gems throughout history. Persians regarded sapphires as divine and believed that earth rested on a huge rock of sapphire, and it was their reflection that colored the sky blue.

According to an ancient legend, the table on which the Ten Commandments were written was made up of sapphires. These royal gemstones have graced the crowns of many kings and queens and were extensively used in their jewelry. The gemstone sapphire was believed to protect its wearer from any kind of envy or damage.

This gem also appears in the Promethean legend. Promethean was chained by Zeus to a rock for stealing fire from the Gods. Hercules later freed him from the chain but a link of the chain remained on his finger. It is said that the link later transformed into a sapphire ring as a symbol of truth and honesty.

Sapphires, since ages have been considered as the gems of fidelity and sincerity and thus even in ancient times a gift of sapphire was regarded as a promise of loyalty, purity, and honesty.

These gems are known to exist from 800 B.C. and were greatly celebrated for their mesmerizing hue and brilliance. The mines of Sri Lanka are the one of the oldest sapphire mines known. Famous historian and Venetian traveler, Marco Polo described these gems in his book about his visit to the Island of Serendib (Sri Lanka), that was written in thirteenth century. The famous Orient traveler, Sir Richard Francis Burton had a large star sapphire that he wore as a talisman for he believed that it always got him good horses.

Sapphires gained much popularity in the Middle ages. The noblemen loved this gem for its heavenly hue. Magicians and sorcerers thought that the stone helped them to command spirits. Sapphires were also believed to ward off evil and diseases.

Sapphire has been mined at various places, but the specimens from Kashmir, Sri Lanka and Burma are considered the finest. The mines of Kashmir were renowned to produce vivid ‘cauliflower’ sapphires that had a velvety undertone. Sri Lanka mines are famous for producing fine sapphire that display excellent brilliance. Burmese sapphires are also celebrated but they produce dark colored and hence are valued less than Sri Lankan ones.

For a gem such as sapphire that has ruled for over million years, there are countless myths, legends, lore associated with it, each speaking about the magnificent gemstone and its virtues and mystical charm.