La piedra del mes: el zafiro

Although the term sapphire generally refers to the blue variety of corundum (ruby is the red variety), this birthstone is offered in a rainbow of other colors.

Sapphires have long been associated with royalty and romance and are said to symbolize fidelity and the soul.
“Sapphire” comes from the Greek word sapofeiros, with blue sapphire being one of the most popular colored stones.

Meaning of sapphire birthstone and its history

September’s birthstone has traditionally symbolized sincerity, truth, fidelity and nobility. For countless centuries, sapphire has adorned royalty and the robes of the clergy.

In addition to being the September birthstone, the sapphire is also the commemorative jewel for the 5th and 45th wedding anniversaries.

The elite of ancient Greece and Rome believed that blue sapphires protected their owners from harm and envy. Clerics in the Middle Ages wore sapphires because they symbolized heaven.
For their part, the ancient Persians believed that the earth actually rested on a giant sapphire, which made the sky blue.
Medieval Europeans believed that sapphire cured plague boils and eye diseases.
The sapphire birthstone was also thought to be an antidote for poison.

One of the most famous sapphires in history was acquired in 1934 by financier and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller, Jr.
(1874-1960) from an Indian maharaja.
It was a 62-carat rectangular blue sapphire set in a diamond ring.
The sapphire was first set as a brooch and later as a ring with two triangular cut corner diamond side stones.

Perhaps the most well-known sapphire in recent years is the 12-carat blue gemstone surrounded by diamonds in the sapphire engagement ring first worn by Princess Diana and then given by her son to Kate Middleton, now Duchess of Cambridge.

Where is the sapphire located?

Kashmir, Myanmar (formerly Burma) and Sri Lanka are three historically important sources for the September birthstone.
Significant quantities of the birthstone have also been found in Australia, Thailand, Cambodia, Madagascar and Montana (USA), among other countries in Asia and Africa.

As the spectacular sapphires began to appear further south, the Maharaja of Kashmir – and his army – took control of the new locality.
From 1882 to 1887, thousands of large, beautiful crystals were recovered.
The faceted stones of these crystals established Kashmir’s reputation as one of the most coveted jewels in the world.

Production has been sporadic since then, but auction houses occasionally sell fine pieces of Kashmir sapphire jewelry.
Jungle-covered hills capped by mountains make for dramatic scenery.
Sapphire is usually found along with ruby deposits, but in much smaller quantities than its red counterpart.

The “Burmese” sapphire, as many still call it, can possess a rich, intense blue hue, which has made it particularly prized.
Myanmar is also a notable source of jadeite jade, spinach, zircon, amethyst, peridot and other fine gem materials.

For over 2,000 years, Sri Lanka has been a source of the September birthstone.
The blue and elegantly colored stones mined from the alluvial gravels of this “jewel box of the Indian Ocean” can display remarkable brilliance and saturation.
In addition, the island’s milky white “geuda” sapphires can be heat-treated to a rich blue color.

Thailand is both a source of sapphire and a major cutting and processing center.
In a dense jungle crisscrossed by dirt roads, miners dig for sapphire in Chanthaburi province.
Sapphires from Myanmar and Cambodia often end up in Chanthaburi for cutting and processing and are also shipped to Bangkok, a major gem center.

Sapphire birthstone care and cleaning

September’s birthstone is relatively hard, ranking 9 on the Mohs scale. It has excellent hardness and no cleavage, which is a tendency to break when struck.
This makes it a great choice for rings and other mountings subject to daily wear and tear.

Heat treatment is common – and the results permanent – so it is well accepted in the trade.
Less common treatments, such as lattice diffusion, fracture filling and staining, may require special care.
In some cases, the color induced by lattice diffusion is so superficial that it could be removed if the stone chipped or had to be trimmed.

Stained and fracture-filled sapphires can be damaged by even mild acids such as lemon juice.

Before buying a sapphire, always ask if it is treated and by what method.
Ultrasonic and steam cleaners are generally safe for untreated, heat-treated and lattice-treated stones.
Fractured or stained material should only be cleaned with a damp cloth.

To clean your sapphire jewelry safely, you can use a soft brush with soap and warm water.

Please contact us so that we can advise you in our stores on the cleaning and conservation of your jewelry.