Diamonds may be a girl’s best friend, but sapphires are second to none. Some of the world’s most coveted stones over the years have been sapphires, and for good reason. Sapphires belong to the exclusive group of precious gemstones, alongside diamonds, rubies, and emeralds—while all other gemstones are classified as semi-precious. But this is just one reason they’re so desirable to women around the world.
Royal Appeal and Historical Prestige:
Sapphires have long been associated with royalty and high society. It is said that Napoleon’s queen, Josephine, cherished a sapphire set passed down from Marie Antoinette, which contained 29 sapphires, many larger than 20 carats. British royalty has also shown a special affinity for sapphires over the centuries. Among the Crown Jewels is the 104-carat Stuart Sapphire, an extremely rare and valuable gemstone. Queen Elizabeth II had an extensive collection of sapphire jewelry, and Princess Diana favored sapphires as well.
Sapphires have also been gifted as symbols of love, making them aspirational for women to own. The Prince Albert Brooch, featuring a large sapphire, was gifted to Queen Victoria on her wedding day by her husband. Catherine, Princess of Wales, also wears an heirloom sapphire engagement ring, which was given to her by Prince William. Hollywood stars have also indulged in sapphires—Douglas Fairbanks Jr. gave Mary Pickford a 182-carat sapphire on their wedding day in 1920, and Liz Taylor’s second husband, Michael Wilding, bestowed her with a large cabochon sapphire engagement ring. Recently, celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow and Penelope Cruz have been spotted wearing sapphire engagement rings.
The Classic Sapphire Ring with Diamond Halo
Symbolism of the Blue Color:
The rich blue color of sapphires is associated with celestial wisdom. Since it is the color of the skies and heavens, it was considered a divine gemstone in the Middle Ages. Even the ancient Greeks loved sapphires, believing they symbolized health and vitality. Legend has it that Helen of Troy owned a large sapphire, which she attributed to her desirability. For those born in September, sapphires offer an added layer of symbolism as a birthstone.
Sapphires are also associated with traits such as emotional calm, tranquility, and depth. It is believed that sapphires can protect the wearer against negative traits like anger, envy, and infidelity. In ancient times, the sapphire was considered a ‘third eye,’ symbolic of wisdom. These added benefits have driven women to seek the perfect blue sapphire, a beautiful and meaningful gemstone. When Marco Polo visited Sri Lanka, he called it the ‘gem island’ because of its rich deposits of sapphires. Even today, Sri Lanka is known for sourcing some of the finest sapphires in the world, which are used in fine jewelry.
14K White Gold Diamond Halo and Oval Sapphire Classic Stud Earrings
Versatility Across Styles and Occasions:
Sapphires suit every style of jewelry and every category because of their effortless versatility. They look stunning in a pendant, as part of an open cuff, or in a ring. You can wear a pair of sapphire earrings just as easily to the workplace as you can a sapphire necklace to a cocktail party. They can be used as center stones or as accent stones in any piece of jewelry, adding to their sparkle.
Although blue is the most popular sapphire color, the gemstone comes in a range of other spectacular hues, such as pink, yellow, and even orange. The colors result from trace elements within the primary mineral, corundum, making sapphires irresistible to women who want a precious stone with the option of choosing a warmer hue. Additionally, sapphires weighing more than 3 carats are extremely hard to find and are rarer and more coveted than diamonds of the same size.
Durability and Longevity:
Only one gemstone is harder than sapphire—the diamond, which scores a 10 on the Mohs scale. Sapphires, with a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale, are nearly as strong and scratch-resistant over time. This is because corundum, the mineral that makes up sapphires, is one of the strongest found on Earth. Sapphires can withstand the test of time, making them a sound investment for any woman who wants beauty combined with practicality. Additionally, sapphires do not possess gemstone cleavage properties, meaning they are less likely to break along weak planes of the stone. Sapphires are likely to offer all of this at a more pocket-friendly price than diamonds, making them a great alternative.
Written By: Gabriel Editorial Team
