"A maiden born when autumn leaves
Are rustling in September's breeze,
A sapphire on her brow should bind;
To bring her joy and peace of mind. ."
Sapphire is the birthstone for September and the gemstone given for anniversaries of the 5th and 45th years of marriage. .
The September birthstone of the Sapphire is considered to be the birthstone for Virgo (The sign of the Virgin) and relate to those born between August 23 - September 22. The Zodiac sign of Virgo also responds to Carnelian, Zircon, Sardonyx, peridot and Agate.
The name "Sapphire" (Saphir French or German, Zafir Spanish, Zaffiro Italian) is originally derived from Greek (sappheiros), the Sanskrit word sanipruja ("dear to Saturn"), and the Hebrew word sappir, meaning gem. .
The historical source of sapphire is Sri Lanka. In ancient times, people used to dig the ground hunting for Sapphires and even today Sri Lanka remains to be a popular source of fine sapphires. The particular pinkish orange sapphire, padparadscha, is found only in Sri Lanka. Another major source fine sapphire is Australia. The Australian gemstones are deep velvety blue and dark inky in appearance. The most beautiful and the most valuable blue sapphires were found in Kashmir in India. In 1880, there was a land slide which uncovered this treasure. The Kashmir sapphire has a pure, intense blue color with a very subtle violet undertone, refined by a fine, velvety shine. According to some specialists, the rich color of this sapphire does not change its hue in artificial light. But due to the tough terrain of the region, this source is not being explored further. The Burmese sapphire has a color close to the Kashmir sapphire, beautiful deep blue. Other sources of sapphire include countries like Madagascar, Burma, America, Thailand and Cambodia. .
Sapphire is said to preserve the wearer from envy and to attract divine favor which gave them the power to influence spirits. It is believed that "fraud was banished from its presence" and the stone enabled the ancient sages to hear and understand the most obscure of oracles. As the centuries went by quite detailed descriptions were given of how sapphires could cure illness. They could be ground into paste to cure ulcers and stomach cramps or rubbed on wounds to aid healing. The Hindus thought the blue sapphires conferred happiness, wealth and the favour of Princes. The Buddhists had less materialistic views, believing that sapphires encouraged prayer, gave peace of mind, tranquillity and spiritual enlightenment. .
Sapphires are among the hardest gemstones used for jewelry, but they are still subject to splitting and chipping. It's important to take care when handling and wearing sapphires to avoid damaging the stone with a hard knock. Sapphires should be cleaned regularly to keep their fire bright, since the quality of the sparkle is determined by the refraction of light through the transparent gem's facets. Sapphires can be cleaned at home with a soft cloth and warm water with dish detergent. .
Enjoy your shopping experience with Beautiful and unique sapphire jewellery. with Free UK Delivery from Diamonds UK .
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