S is for Sapphire
Sapphire name came from a Greek word meaning blue. The name sapphire can apply to any corundum that is NOT red and qualify as a Ruby.
Sapphire comes in array of colors such as violet, green, yellow, orange, pink, purple, and intermediate hues and are classified as fancy colored sapphires. In 1990 discoveries in Africa and Madagascar brought fancy color sapphire to a wide spread recognition. Fancy sapphires are generally less available than blue color, especially in very small and very large stones. Still, fancy sapphire creates a rainbow of options for those who want something out of the ordinary. Fancy Sapphire attracted Jewelry designers who wanted to move away from traditional hues of red and blue. Contemporary designers arrange fancy sapphires in stunning rainbow designs.
There are also parti colored sapphire that show combination of different colors. Some stones exhibit the phenomenon known as color changing, going from blue in day light to purple in incandescent light. Color changing sapphires are known as corundum chameleons. These fascinating stones change color under different lighting. Their presence adds a special dimension to the already amazing sapphire family. Colorless sapphires were once a popular diamond imitation, and staged a comeback as an accent stones in recent years. Sapphire is one of the 4 precious stones in the world. The other 3 are Ruby, Emerald & Aquamarine.
Sapphires have come to be the #2 engagement stone after diamonds. They were used as engagement rings in the 14th and 15th century amongst the Royal and wealthy families. Kings wore them as a symbol of good luck. In modern day sapphire represent old world romance and timeless beauty.
Unlike diamonds, there are no standard ideal cut as each sapphire cut is a stunning as the next. Most cutters tend to shape them into oval or cushion cuts, these cuts tend to preserve most of the original rough of the stone.
Care of your sapphire: the safest way to clean the majority of your jewelry is with a soft tooth brush, warm water and mild soap, free of abrasives. Sapphires has hardness of 9, second to a diamond, but the precious metal that hold your sapphire are soft (such as gold or platinum).
When you own something as precious as sapphire, you need to put effort into properly caring for them, for generations of enjoyments.
