5 Weird Things You Didnt Know About the Sapphire

September 25, 2017

They say "diamonds are a girl's best friend." We say that was before a girl met a sapphire!

While most people know sapphires for their strength and color, there's so much more to learn about the gem.

1. Sapphires Come in Many Colors

Think sapphires are just blue? Think again.

While blue sapphires are the most well-known of their kind, the gemstone actually comes in many colors, including pink, yellow, orange, black, colorless and green.

There's even a color-changing sapphire (yes, that's its actual name), which does exactly what you would expect.

The "padparadscha" is the rarest kind of sapphire. Its name means "lotus flower" in Sanskrit. The hue of the padparadscha has long been a source of debate, but most argue that its salmon tone falls somewhere between pink and yellow. 

Their variety can make them great alternatives to pricier colored diamonds.

2. Blue Sapphires Can Help Your Brain

The next time you oversleep and miss that morning yoga class, maybe your jewelry can help.

Many believe that wearing the blue sapphire, known as the "wisdom stone," can provide mental clarity and tranquility and improve the wellness of the mind.

Its healing abilities come from its blue ray and trace amounts of the corundum mineral.

Astrologists consider the blue sapphire one of the most potent gemstones. Vedic astrologists revere it for its stress relief powers and its ability to help bring order to thoughts. They also believe it to be the best stone for the nervous system and the healing of vision and hearing problems.

According to the ancient healing science of color therapy, the sapphire's magical "powers" are manifold. It has been used to alleviate headaches, hiccups and even symptoms of cancer. 

3. A Ruby and a Sapphire Are Equal

That's right, ladies and gentlemen. I bet your 5th-grade science teacher probably didn't tell you this one.

Structurally, the ruby and the sapphire are exactly the same stone. Same chemical composition. Same mineral structure. 

So what makes them different? Their impurities! 

The ruby's exquisite color has earned it its own name. We would say it's well-deserved. Wouldn't you agree?

 4. The "4 Cs" of Diamonds Apply to Sapphires Too

We are sure you've heard the terms cut, color, clarity and carat tossed around in the discussion of diamonds. If you're buying a sapphire though, go ahead and toss them around all you want now, too.

Though most consider the sapphire's color the most important of the Cs, its cut is a close second.

Why?

Because the cut of a sapphire directly affects its color!

The center of the sapphire must reflect light in order for its color to shine. If it doesn't, it's considered a "window." Windows aren't necessarily a jewelers friend, and they demand much lower prices in the jewelry market.

5. Sapphires Are Useful in Technology

There's more to our friend the sapphire than its good looks. 

Sapphires rank at 9 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness. That's just one behind the diamond, whose name as the "hardest stone to man" gave it its fame to claim.

Apple used lab-created sapphires on the screen of its new watches. So, if you drop your watch and the screen stays intact, you have the sapphire to thank (still, maybe not something you want to test at home).

Have These Strange Facts Sparked Your Interest?

Clearly, a sapphire can be a conversation piece.

If you are looking for that perfect statement, Florida's Johnston Jewelers is at your service! You can even create a custom design, perfect for an alternative engagement ring. 

With so many varieties of sapphires, we are sure it will be hard to pick. If you need help choosing the piece, we at Johnston Jewelers would love to help. Reach out to us to learn more.

 

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