Sapphire Daze

One of the most coveted gems throughout history - along with diamonds, pearls and rubies - sapphires are also very special to us at EBJ, and we love using them in all the jewelry! They are only one step down in hardness from diamonds and so they can be made into an engagement ring you'll wear all day, every day for many, many years.

You are probably picturing a deep blue stone when you hear the word "sapphire," and you may have even heard that sapphires and rubies are chemically the same stone - but did you know that sapphires come in all colors across the spectrum? Here's the scoop on sapphire colors and how they happen:

"Sapphire" is the name given to stones made of corundum, a mineral composed entirely of aluminum and oxygen. Corundum is a rather rare type of gemstone because it grows in a silicon-free environment, and silicon is found most everywhere. The presence of trace materials give corundum color; colorless sapphires have no other materials inside and are sometimes used to imitate diamonds. The vibrant deep blues are caused by the presence of iron and titanium - the more iron present, the deeper the blue. Chromium causes corundum to become shades of red (and therefore classified as ruby) and orange and pink. Sapphires can also be sea-foam green, pale lavender, and even yellow, smoky gray and brown.

Lore and History:

Traditionally, sapphire symbolizes nobility, truth, sincerity, and faithfulness. It has decorated the robes of royalty and clergy members for centuries. Its extraordinary color is the standard against which other blue gems—from topaz to tanzanite—are measured. For centuries, sapphire has been associated with royalty and romance. The association was reinforced in 1981, when Britain’s Prince Charles gave a blue sapphire engagement ring to Lady Diana Spencer.
In ancient Greece and Rome, kings and queens were convinced that blue sapphires protected their owners from envy and harm. During the Middle Ages, the clergy wore blue sapphires to symbolize Heaven, and ordinary folks thought the gem attracted heavenly blessings. In other times and places, people instilled sapphires with the power to guard chastity, make peace between enemies, influence spirits, and reveal the secrets of oracles.        
-GIA.edu  

Sapphires at EBJ: 
We always have a pretty broad range of the types of sapphire in stock - from rough stones in cute earrings to large 2.5-carat stones set in a fabulous cocktail ring. Here's a selection of some of our favorite pieces featuring this versatile gemstone: