Sapphire Explained

The Sapphire is the other great branch of the Corundum family of gems. It differs from the ruby only in color.

Sapphires vary in tint from the lightest blue to a deep blackish blue, and, similar to rubies, are valued chiefly according to their color. The soft, velvety blue most approaching the blue of the cornflower of England, which is known in our country as the bachelor's button, is the most valued color in sapphires. The best stones should show this color by artificial as well as by natural light.

Although choice sapphires are uncommon, fine large stones are more frequently found than rubies of similar size, and consequently the price does not advance with an increase in size so rapidly as it does with rubies.

Sapphires are found in various places, each locality producing its distinctive shade.

The finest specimens are termed Cashmere sapphires, and occur in the Himalaya Mountains of the State of Kashmir in India. These gems possess a velvety luster, and a vivid color of the true cornflower shade, without the slightest trace of green or black.

Another important locality for sapphires is Burmah. These Burmah or oriental sapphires have a much darker shade of blue. While they bear the name Burmah, most of the stones come from the adjacent country of Siam. The most important mine is the Bo Pie Rim mine, in Battambang.

Ceylon produces sapphires of very light shades, ranging from delicate pale gray blue to purplish blue.

The sapphires found in Australia are generally poor in color, and although fine gems occur they are exceedingly rare.

In our own country fine sapphires have been found in Yogo Gulch, Montana. These stones have a fine electric blue tint, and the larger sizes which are occasionally found are very valuable, approaching in price the oriental.

Most of the Montana sapphires which are found near Helena are small, one carat and less, but are of a very uniform color and are especially suited to be cut into round stones. The Montana sapphires have been known since 1865, but the mines were first systematically worked in 1891. Since that time they have always been by far the most valuable gem mineral resource of the United States.

An exceedingly beautiful and interesting variation in gems is the star sapphire and star ruby. These are very valuable when the star marking is well defined and shows a fine, six pointed star, which is always more clearly defined when seen under an artificial light. Star sapphires and rubies are always cut cabochon, with the center of the star at the apex of the cabochon. What causes the formation of the star is not definitely known, but it is probably due to the presence of a foreign substance in the sapphire or ruby.

In history both these gems are of great interest. Rubies are mentioned in the Bible in the Proverbs and in the Book of Job. The Greeks and Romans ascribe to the ruby the power of emitting light in darkness; the Hindus describe the abodes of their gods as being lighted with rubies.

Sapphires were also known in ancient times, which are attested by the fact that the word sapphire is nearly the same in all languages.

The gem was believed to be a destroyer of poison and a powerful charm, protecting the wearer from fever.

Dr. O.C. Farrington states that "Burton, the African traveler, is said always to have carried a star sapphire about with him as a means of gaining respect from the barbarous people among whom he journeyed. The savages believed that the stone must be a talisman of great power and feared to incur the owner's enmity."