General sapphire identity sheet
Etymology
From the Latin “ sapphirus ”, itself derived from the Greek “ sappheiros ” which means “ blue ”.
The other hypothesis defended comes from the Hebrew “ sappir ” which means “ the most beautiful thing ”.
Mineral species family
Corundums
Color
Blue
Sapphires that are not blue are called fancy sapphires. If they have several colors, they are called particulate sapphires. They are never red.
Places of discovery
Afghanistan, Australia, Cambodia, Cameroon, China, United States, Ethiopia, Kenya, Laos, Madagascar, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, and Vietnam
Physical benefits of sapphire stones
Regeneration of skin, nails and hair, toning of the lungs, relief of stomach aches, reduction of vision problems
Psychic and spiritual benefits
Improvement of concentration and creativity, promotion of relaxation, restoration of internal balance, promotion of sleep, improvement of relationships with others
Association
Wisdom, purity, truth and faithfulness
History and origin of sapphire stones
Even if the discovery of sapphire dates back to the beginnings of Antiquity (3500 BC), it was only during the fall of the Roman Empire and the end of Antiquity (476 BC) that the The use and then trade of sapphire became widespread.
It was first the Greek nobility who had an unrivaled craze for sapphire before the passion crossed the other side of the Mediterranean, to Egypt.
Even today, this stone adorns the jewels of many crowned heads. The Talisman of Charlemagne thus passed into the hands of Napoleon I and Napoleon III, the empresses Joséphine and Eugénie as well as the mother of Napoleon III, Hortense de Beauharnais.
In the 13th century, the Catholic Church appropriated the precious stone which embodied for the faithful the purity of God's light on Earth. Pope Innocent III then decided that cardinals should wear a ring adorned with a sapphire on the right hand, the one that gives the blessing. This is why the gem is called “ The Stone of the Popes ” .
Known sapphires
- Around 1450 BC, it was on sapphire that the seal of Solomon as well as the tables of law, otherwise called the Ten Commandments, were said to have been engraved by Moses;
- In 1165, Charlemagne's Talisman was discovered during the opening of his tomb. The 190-carat sapphire, in the center of the pendant, represents the largest known sapphire;
- In 1214, the “Stuart sapphire” was placed in the crown of King Alexander II of Scotland during his coronation. Then claimed by Edward I of England in 1296, it was placed in the hands of Edward III of England, his brother-in-law King David II of Scotland and his sister Marjorie Bruce who herself named it thus. in honor of his son Robert II, first monarch of the House of Stuart. Since 1838, Queen Victoria has had the sapphire placed at the back of the crown;
- In 1979, silent film star Mary Pickford donated "The Star of Bombay", a 182-carat sapphire, to the Smithsonian Institution after it had been given to her by her husband Douglas Fairbanks;
- In 1981, Prince Charles (now Charles III) gave an 18-carat sapphire ring to Lady Diana.