"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."
Regal, beautiful
and powerful, few stones are as sought after or as sacred as the sapphire. They
come in many colours, blue remains the most sought after hue. Even the colours
of a blue sapphire can vary from a very dark inky almost black to a stunning
clear cornflour blue. It is the cornflour blue sapphires which now demand the
highest prices.
Sapphires have
been favoured by notable figures throughout history. Helen of Troy was said to
have owed her famous allure to a star sapphire ring. Ivan the Terrible
Catherine the Great were also said to be fans. Because of its potency,
sapphires were used as a cure-all in ancient times, although it was believed to
be most effective against conditions of the eye and mental illness.
In popular
culture, perhaps the most famous sapphire is the one Prince Charles chose for
Princess Diana’s engagement ring, which now graces the finger of Catherine, Duchess
of Cambridge.
Sapphires are
second only to Diamonds on the Moh’s scale of hardness. This makes them a great
stone to wear in gem-set jewellery. No longer the preserve of matronly ladies,
sapphire earrings with white shirt and jeans make a get accessory for coffee
with friend but can also work while out to dinner in the evening making a
sapphire set piece of jewellery an ideal gift for any lady.
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