Sapphire Properties and Use
Sapphire is a precious stone that we all pretty much know at this point. What is much less well-known, outside of collectors, is that sapphire is a variety of another mineral—corundum. Sapphire, even though it can be called other colors, is mostly blue corundum. This is like how amethyst is purple quartz. Or, more closely, ruby as red corundum.
As with many minerals, the color comes from impurities. In this case, it's titanium and iron. Technically, these impurities can result in other colors, and sapphire can appear in other colors, such as yellow, violet, or green. Most suppliers will specify the color if it's not blue; however, saying "blue sapphire" would sound completely redundant to a lot of people. The blanket term for non-blue sapphires is "fancy sapphires."
One famous variety of sapphire is star sapphire, which displays asterism, where light reflects from a stone in a way to create a star shape. This variety of sapphire can be especially stunning and is loved by many of us over here, personally.
For enhanced mystique and noir elegance, there is black star sapphire, which is a black or very dark brown variety of corundum that displays asterism.
Sapphire is in high demand, but a high-quality piece in jewelry comes at a hefty price. Hence, lab-created or synthetic sapphire has become an affordable alternative for some. Whether you want synthetic or natural sapphire is entirely personal preference. The only time synthetic is bad is when sellers are deliberately misleading about their source.
While sapphire is used extensively in jewelry, it appears in various industries. Its use in certain electronics, space, engineering, and aviation has set the bar for demand pretty high. Thankfully, making sapphire in a lab is fairly inexpensive, thanks to the Verneuil method, which resulted in a bourgeoning industry of producing corundum in France. This method has seen little change and is still used to this day.
Raw and tumbled sapphires are completely opaque and may feature a pitted surface, ranging from grey-blue to almost black with brownish inclusions. Jewelry-quality Sapphires which have been polished and faceted look very different from their raw or tumbled form.
Metaphysical Properties of Sapphire
It is of utmost importance to acknowledge and understand that any claims made about supernatural healing or metaphysical properties lack scientific validity and are therefore considered pseudoscience; spiritual healers typically make these claims, but they are not supported by any authoritative body in the fields of health or science; it is imperative to note that such claims should never be used as substitutes for professional medical care or advice, as scientific, medical, financial, or government sources do not back them. It is always recommended to seek advice and care from licensed medical professionals.
Spiritual healers believe that sapphire is a very powerful stone that has been known throughout ancient and modern history as a gemstone for royalty. They also believe that sapphire has a close connection to the Astral Realm, providing it with a very active celestial field. Many of these claims are also historical superstitions regarding the stone and do not necessarily reflect modern beliefs.
They assert that while working with sapphire, one can strengthen one's bond with heavenly energy and become greater in Astral endeavors like astral travel, out-of-body experiences, and astral projection. Sapphire is said to be a highly active stone for protection, shielding against evil eyes, curses, taboos, and other forms of malicious energy. Sapphire is said to be a naturally soothing and supportive stone, helping to resolve internal conflicts and encouraging one to put aside negative thoughts. Sapphire is said to be a stone associated with the Third Eye and Crown Chakras, and as such, it is a strong source of mental clarity, focus, intuitive power, and a conduit for hidden wisdom.
The Wrap Up
Sapphire is a gorgeous stone that many love for its beautiful blue hue! The stone has seen extensive use in jewelry and various industries. There's almost no denying that a solid sapphire crystal is a great addition to any collection, as many collectors will tell you.
Sources
https://www.gia.edu/sapphire-description
Dobrovinskaya, Elena R., Leonid A. Lytvynov, and Valerian Pishchik. Sapphire: material, manufacturing, applications. Springer Science & Business Media, 2009.