| The sapphire, protector of the innocent, celestial | | | | brilliant, and loses by artificial light. The various |
| guardian of truth, bringer of health and youth, | | | | other colored sapphires, such as yellow or Oriental |
| symbol of the heavens and birthstone for the | | | | topaz, light green or Oriental aquamarine, |
| month of September, is in fact the same stone | | | | greenish-yellow or Oriental chrysolite, and aurora |
| as the ruby, the mineral corundum. | | | | red or Oriental hyacinth, are all valuable as gem |
| The blue corundum, ranging in color from the | | | | stones when they are pure, well cut, and have |
| lightest blue to deep blue and black, is the same | | | | pronounced colors--in fact, the name Oriental is |
| stone as the ruby, the only difference being in the | | | | given to distinguish the corundums from the less |
| color. The choicest color is the soft velvety blue, | | | | valuable minerals of the same colors which they |
| approaching the cornflower in shade and exhibiting | | | | resemble, but which they greatly surpass in |
| that color vividly by artificial as well as by natural | | | | beauty and value because of their brilliancy and |
| light. The deeper-colored stones are known as | | | | superior hardness. |
| male, and the light-colored ones as female | | | | Asterias or star stones are corundums of three |
| sapphires. Although choice sapphires are rare, a | | | | different colors; the star sapphire proper is a |
| much greater quantity of good and large stones | | | | grayish blue, the star ruby red, and the star topaz |
| are to be had than of rubies, and therefore the | | | | yellow. These stones are usually cut cabochon or |
| price of a large sapphire does not advance in the | | | | convex, and display under the rays of the sun, or |
| same proportion as the price of a large ruby. | | | | when exposed to one candle or other artificial |
| The word "sapphire" which means blue is of the | | | | light, a beautiful star with six points. This star is |
| same form in nearly all the early tongues, thus | | | | produced by foreign substances in the corundum, |
| showing that they were in use by the ancients. | | | | and the lapidary brings about the regular effect |
| Sapphires are found in many parts of the world | | | | by cutting a pointed carbuncle so that the center |
| and are usually found in the same locality as the | | | | of the star begins at the apex, and the six bright |
| ruby. The largest number and finest quality of | | | | stripes radiate to the base of the stone. The |
| these stones come from Thailand and India, and | | | | bright lines of the star following the light move |
| are found and recovered in much the same way | | | | over the surface of the stone and produce a |
| as the ruby. | | | | remarkable effect. These stones are amongst the |
| The sapphire is next to the diamond in hardness | | | | most wonderful of mineral productions, and good |
| and it is this quality that makes it impervious to | | | | specimens are very valuable. The corundum |
| wear and insures its sharp edges and corners | | | | cat's-eye, called Oriental girasol or sunstone, has a |
| against years of use. Like the ruby the value of | | | | bluish, reddish, or yellowish reflection of light of a |
| the sapphire is determined by its color. The finest | | | | lighter shade than the stone itself, and which |
| stones are a deep blue and the deeper the color | | | | moves on the convex surface of the stone like |
| the more highly it is prized if its translucency is | | | | the lines of a star stone. |
| not impaired. Although the sapphire with its many | | | | To this day, sapphire is one of the most |
| shades of blue is considered the most desirable | | | | important members of the family of gems and is |
| stone, it is also found in other colors such as red, | | | | certainly one of the most favored by jewelry |
| green, yellow and pink. | | | | artisans worldwide. Consequently, there is more |
| The Oriental emerald or green sapphire does not | | | | "hanky-panky" with treatments, alteration of color |
| approach the beryl or true emerald in depth of | | | | and various other techniques to disguise or |
| color, but because of its superior hardness and | | | | improve flaws etc., than almost any other |
| brilliancy, added to its extreme rarity, it is the | | | | precious stone. Buyer beware of bargains that |
| most valuable of green gems. The Oriental | | | | look "too good to be true". Deal with reputable |
| amethyst or purple sapphire sometimes reflects a | | | | jewelers both online and offline. The sapphire is |
| red color by artificial light, and is valued highly as a | | | | the birthstone for September. |
| gem stone; the common amethyst is softer, less | | | | |