Sapphire, a gemstone known for fostering a sense of trust and compassion, ranks among the most precious stones found on Earth. It’s a variety of Corundum mineral that’s highly resistant to weather, temperature, and environmental conditions. The dark-colored sapphires are especially rare, making them highly valuable and expensive. The largest sapphire known is the Star of India, weighing 563 carats.
What Are the Characteristics of Sapphire?
Sapphire is a highly valuable, extremely hard gemstone primarily used in jewelry. Its popularity stems from the confidence it emits, making it a favorite for items like rings and bracelets. The characteristics of sapphire include:
- While best known in shades of deep and light blue, it can also appear in green, yellow, pink, grey, brown, and colorless varieties.
- It is composed of oxides and corundum.
- Its specific gravity is 4.
- With a hardness rating of 9, sapphire is the second hardest natural stone after diamond.
- Its colors can be used to correspond with various chakras. Blue Sapphire for the Throat and Third Eye; Black Sapphire for the Root chakra; Yellow Sapphire for the Solar Plexus.
What Are the Benefits of Sapphire?
The benefits of sapphire vary depending on its color. The stone comes in black and grey, yellow, and blue. The benefits of sapphire include:
General Benefits:
- Instills a sense of freedom.
- Strengthens the heart and kidneys.
- Activates the thyroid gland.
- Enhances psychic abilities.
- Boosts the immune system.
- Strengthens the aura.
- Protects against the evil eye.
- Offers protection against magic.
Benefits of Blue Sapphire:
- Alleviates stomach disorders.
- Facilitates easier communication.
- Strengthens the heart.
- Clears the mind from unnecessary fixations and thoughts.
Benefits of Yellow Sapphire:
- Effective against edema, reducing swelling.
- Regulates the digestive system.
- Can be used in the treatment of mental and psychological conditions.
Benefits of Black and Grey Sapphire:
- Maintains the health of sexual organs and aids in their treatment.
- Supports cell and blood production.
- Dispels excess electricity from the body.
What Does Sapphire Mean?
The meaning of sapphire revolves around trust, strength, and compassion. Those who wear sapphire tend to exhibit increased levels of trust and compassion towards others. In some cultures, it symbolizes beauty and femininity, while in older civilizations, it was a symbol of power.
How Can You Tell if a Sapphire is Real?
Due to its value, sapphire is often mimicked by counterfeit versions. With its numerous benefits making it popular throughout history, determining the authenticity of sapphire involves the following:
- If the sapphire has scratches or marks, it’s less likely to be real since sapphire, being the second hardest stone, should not get scratched easily.
- During formation, the inclusion of tiny foreign particles within the stone is inevitable, marking a key distinction between natural and synthetic sapphires.
How to Clean a Sapphire?
Cleaning sapphire is crucial for maintaining its benefits. If not cleansed of the negative energies it has accumulated, the stone’s effect on the wearer could be diminished. To clean a sapphire effectively, consider the following methods:
- Given the stone’s high durability, rinsing it under flowing water for one or two minutes can reset its energy.
- Soaking sapphire in seawater is another effective cleaning method.