What do you know about sapphire?
Sapphire has been used as jewelry for many centuries. Naturally found sapphires are dug from alluvial deposits. Its blue color and tone make it one of the most commonly used gemstone in jewelry making. Additionally, due to its hardness, it is also used in industrial and scientific equipment.
To kings it represented an emblem of wisdom and priests used it to indicate the purity. Sapphire represents sincerity, loyalty and truthfulness.
Sapphire, especially blue sapphire is one of the most popular (emerald and ruby are the other) and more affordable gemstone in the United States. Blue sapphire is the most common variety. There are other colors, including yellow and green. Sapphire is mined in Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tanzania, Australia, Madagascar and several other countries. There are industrially produced synthetic varieties that are also available in the market.
Sapphire is the birthstone of month of September.
When buying sapphire, remember the three Cs: color, clarity and cut. The intensity of color, especially in blue sapphire, is the most important. Color also plays a role in the price. Clarity depends on visual inclusions in the gem. Look for eye-clean gems. Cut varies from round to oval, round picking up little more value than other cuts.