What is a Sapphire Stone?
Sapphire is the name given to a grey-blue variety of Corundum, which is itself a mineral form of Aluminum oxide and a member of the Hematite group. Corundum can be found in many shades, including brown, red, pink, blue, yellow, grey, and colorless. We're often asked, "What color is Sapphire?" for this very reason. Sapphire stones are typically blue-grey to deep indigo, with their color coming from small amounts of Iron and Titanium, although rough and opaque specimens often include brown or deep grey tones since they are not jewelry-grade. Kashmir Sapphires, widely regarded as some of the finest in the world, are blue Sapphires with a vivid color and a velvety shine. There are also Star Sapphires whose beautiful asterism can be seen as a star pattern when viewing the stone along the c-axis. The largest Star Sapphire in the world is the Star of India, currently in the American Museum of Natural History in New York.
Other shades of Corundum are often given the Sapphire name as well, resulting in the use of trade names like Yellow Sapphire, Canary Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, and White Sapphire. Most pink and red varieties of Corundum, deriving their color from minor amounts of trivalent Chromium, are called Ruby rather than Sapphire, although the apricot toned Padparadscha Sapphire is an exception.
Blue Sapphire Meaning and Metaphysical Properties
Sapphire is a stone that has long been associated with nobility, integrity, wisdom, and protection, since it is a gem with connections to the Astral realm. For this reason, Sapphire is used in Astral work such as Astral projection, Astral travel, and other forms of out of body experience. Sapphire's strong resonance with the Third Eye Chakra and Crown Chakra make it a fantastic focal stone for resolving conflicts, soothing negative thoughts, and spiritual growth. It is also a traditional protection stone, known for shielding against evil eyes, curses, taboos, and other forms of malicious energy. This is part of why Sapphire is often carried in a small pouch or worn as a piece of gemstone jewelry, with Sapphire rings being the most popular.
Sapphire stones vary in opacity, with transparent stones being highly prized as jewelry-quality gems. These transparent or translucent Sapphires are typically faceted for setting into pieces of fine jewelry. Since Sapphire is the birthstone for the month of September, it is a favorite for birthstone jewelry. Opaque Sapphires are also used in crystal jewelry, although they are typically made into gemstone cabochons or beads. Sapphires exhibiting asterism, also known as Star Sapphires, are highly prized for use in crystal pendants.
How to Cleanse Sapphire Stones
Sapphires are a 9 on the Mohs hardness scale, and shouldn't take damage from being submerged in water. However, it's important to remember not to expose your Sapphire to acids, even mild ones, since this can result in unpleasantness for the stone. It should also be remembered that gemstone jewelry should not be worn in the bath, pool, or ocean as this may cause damage to the setting, depending on the piece. We always advise cleansing and charging crystals using a Selenite tile or exposure to Full Moonlight, since these methods won't cause any damage to your gemstones. Smoke Cleansing with Incense, Palo Santo, Sage, or dried herbs is another safe way to spiritually cleanse your Sapphire stone.