Physical Properties of Sapphire

Sapphire is one of the most famous and costly precious gemstones in the word, and regarded as the birthstone of September. It is a type of corundum, the same as ruby (rubies are merely red corundums), and although associated with the color blue, may also be found in a multitude of colors such as colorless, black, grey, yellow, green, purple, orange, pink, and even changeable colors.

Blue sapphire in rough, unpolished form.

The sapphires that are not colored blue are often called “fancy” or “parti” sapphires. Color change sapphires are those with certain inclusions in them such as chromium that absorb different light spectrums under different lighting conditions (e.g. – day to night), and are very rare.

For the pink ones, different sources may call them rubies instead, depending on the intensity of the pink. There are also star sapphires, which display a 6 pointed “star” within when viewed at a certain angle in the light. Such “stars” are caused by the presence of the mineral rutile in those sapphire specimens. When cut into a cabochon, such star sapphires can be spectacular indeed. One of the most famous star sapphires in history is the Star of India.

Parti sapphires meanwhile, are sapphires that have two or more colors in them. These are not the same as the color change sapphires, because their colors are fixed; only thing is that they have two or more colors that may change depending on the angle of view. What is unique about them is the fact they cannot be reproduced synthetically, and if you like your sapphires with a twist in their color, then these are for you!

Sapphire is traditionally regarded as a precious gemstone, partly because of its rarity and beauty, and partly because of its hardness/durability, of which it scores a 9 on the Mohs scale. But it is certainly far from being a very rare gemstone; there are many others which are much rarer (tanzanite being one of these). Nonetheless, it has long been grouped along with rubies, emeralds, and diamonds as being one of the precious stones of the world, and that esteem will long continue.

The main deposits of sapphire are in Thailand, Myanmar, Madagascar, East Australia, China, North India, Sri Lanka, and some areas of the USA. The best star sapphires come from Sri Lanka though, while Australia produces the best fancy/parti sapphires. Normally, sapphires are found in igneous and metamorphic rocks, but many crystals occur in sedimentary, alluvial deposits as well.

Metaphysical Properties of Sapphire

Sapphires have long been believed to bring luck and prosperity to their owners. It is known as a stone of beauty, truth, and wisdom, and associated with the noble virtues of devotion, and self-control. It is used to rid the mind of unwanted thoughts, and to shift the state of mind to a nobler plane. It is the stone of prosperity, fulfilling inner dreams and desires and helping them come to manifestation. The deep blue of sapphire strengthens the throat chakra, and encourages communication and cooperation between oneself and others.

For material abundance, the best stone to use would be the yellow sapphire, which is widely regarded as a bringer of wealth, particularly among Asian merchants and businessmen. The yellow sapphire is also believed to protect against snake bite. Meanwhile, star sapphires are believed to help facilitate a connection with other star beings, and help one to reach for the stars. If you have a noble goal, the star sapphire can help you turn that dream into a reality!

Sapphire Healing Properties

While most of the colored sapphire have their own metaphysical properties, sapphire in general (the blue variant) is used to strengthen the veins and to heal blood-related disorders. It works at the cellular level mainly, and can be used for infectious diseases and to assist in overall healing for all parts of the body. The yellow sapphire is a strong healer for any disorders related to the solar plexus chakra, and works well to improve digestion and liver function.