Sapphire

• The birthstone of September and the stone for Taurus in the Zodiac.
• The traditional and modern gift for the 45th Anniversary
• The word sapphire comes from the Latin word “saphirus” meaning blue.
• The sapphire is the second hardest natural mineral. Diamond is the hardest.
• The sapphire is part of the corundum variety. The red corundum is the Ruby.
• While blue is the most popular color, Sapphires can be almost any color including purple, yellow, white, green, brown, colorless, pink, and orange.
• Fancy Sapphire is the term used when referring to the sapphires that are not blue or red.

Discovered over 300 years ago the largest star sapphire is the Star of India. This sapphire is 563.35 carats and is now in the American Museum of Natural History in New York. This sapphire is unusual not just because of its size but that it also has stars on both sides.

The 104 carat Stuart Sapphire is the oldest known sapphire dating back to 1214. This sapphire is on display at the British Crown Jewels collection at the Tower of London where it is on the back of the British Imperial State Crown.

Queen Marie of Romania's Sapphire is 478 carats and is the largest known cut sapphire. This stone is featured at the Diamond Fund Exhibition in the Kremlin Armoury Museum in Moscow.

Sapphire Folklore, Myths and Legends
The Sapphire is said to have healing properties for mental illness and to protect one from mental illnesses. Some reference that these healing powers are only for a Taurus who wears the sapphire. The sapphire symbolizes sincerity and being faithful in a relationship and to give spiritual enlightenment and inner peace.

The color is one of the most important factors when determining the value of a sapphire. The intensity of the color can also influence how the sapphire is cut. A stone with very dark color will be cut more shallow to allow light to reflect on the stone, a stone with lighter color will be cut deeper to intensify the color.

Blue Sapphire - The most popular of the sapphire family, the blue can range from a light pastels to midnight blues. The most expensive of the blues are in the middle range. The cornflower blues give unbeatable color.

Yellow Sapphires - Often the most unappreciated of the sapphire family, yellow sapphires are often found in large crystals with colors ranging from buttery cream to canary yellow. These sapphires provide beauty and value all in one stone.

Green Sapphires - The best bargain of the sapphire family and the least demanded.

Pink Sapphires - One of the higher valued sapphires, the pink can range from pastel to a hot pink. The stones that flirt with red side of the pink spectrum, called hot pink, come at a premium price. The pink is also often paired with the blue sapphires, instead of diamonds to give a comparable contrast.

Purple Sapphires - One of the most beautiful colors, royal colors that range from a rich deep purple to soft lavenders and violets. Some purple sapphires can change colors. In the candlelight the sapphires are purple or violet and in sunlight they can change to a blue hue.

Padparadsha Sapphires (pronounced "pod-pa-rod-shas") - The most valued and rarest of all the sapphires, this sapphire combines 3 colors, pink, purple and orange. The name comes from the Ceylonese word for lotus blossom whose color is a pinkish hue.