Sapphire Facts and Tips

• Sapphire is the birthstone of September, and while it is most commonly blue, it can also come in purple, yellow, orange, pink, or green. Sapphires that are any color other than blue are known as "fancy gemstones".



• Sapphire represents the 5th, 23rd, and 45th wedding anniversaries.
  
• Sapphires are just below diamonds on the mohs hardness scale, rated at a hardness of 9.
  
• Sapphires also do not cleave which makes them perfect for faceted gemstones.
  
• Most sapphires are mined in Myanmar, Kashmir, and Sri Lanka.
  
• Sapphire is known to symbolize truth, sincerity, and faithfulness.
  
• The British Crown Jewels are full of large blue sapphires; even Princess Diana's engagement ring was adorned with blue sapphires.


• Sapphires were once thought to have strong medical powers. At one time, they were thought to have the ability to remove all impurities and foreign matter from the eye.
  
• Heat treatment is commonly used to deepen the color of sapphires and improve the clarity.
  
• It is safe to clean sapphire jewelry in an ultrasonic machine at you local jewelry store, or you can do a quick at home cleaning using warm water, dish detergent, and a soft cloth.