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Sapphires are cut from an extremely hard mineral called corundum, which is also the source of an even rarer gem, the ruby. Used in everything from necklaces to bracelets to rings, sapphires get their characteristic blue hue from iron and titanium in the mineral. A variant of the sapphire, the padparadscha, ranges in color from pink to orange and occurs only in Sri Lanka. Other sapphires are mined in North America, Russia, Africa, and Australia, but the most prized examples are found in Myanmar, India, and Thailand.
During the late-Georgian period, jewelers used sapphires to try out new gem cuts, the most popular being the rose cut and table cut. Georgian sapphires typically had enclosed backs and were set over foil. In the Victorian Era, sapphires were combined with other gemstones in so-called acrostic rings so that the first letter in the name of each stone spelled out the word "dearest," (i.e., diamond, emerald, amethyst, ruby, emerald, sapphire, and topaz).
By the 20th century, some of the world’s greatest examples of fine jewelry were anchored and accented by sapphires. Cosmetics queen Helena Rubinstein wore a starfish-shaped, Ecalle-designed ornament on the back of her hand, whose center was dominated by a large sapphire cabochon. Opera singer Ganna Walska wore enormous sapphires on her fingers...
Daisy Fellowes, whose grandfather was Isaac Singer (as in the sewing machine) favored sapphire brooches from Cartier. The Duchess of Windsor also shopped at Cartier for sapphires; one of her many necklaces featured no less than nine flower-like clusters of sapphires, each liberally accented with diamonds and attached to a pair of sapphire-bead chains.
The most sought-after sapphires are usually the ones of deepest blue. Kashmir sapphires are the color of cornflowers, often shading to rich purples, while those from Mynamar have a more royal-blue tint. Stones from other regions that are not as naturally blue are often cut to ensure that the meager amount of blue in the gem radiates throughout the final cut-and-polished piece (the secret is to leave the blue at the gem’s base rather than its surface).
Almost all shades of blue are generally acceptable for sapphires, even ones with gray in them, which makes the blue “steely.” Green, however, is not desirable. Unfortunately, the impurities that make most sapphires blue can also produce shades of green when the stone is held at certain angles. That’s just one reason why the skill of the cutter is so important.
Green can also occur when sapphires are heat-treated to make them more blue. In fact, heat is one of numerous treatments used to enrich the color of sapphires. For example, distracting, light-catching fractures are often filled with everything from epoxy to wax, while a process called diffusion combines heat with coloring agents to enhance the surface of the gemstone. And heating corundum alongside chrysoberyl can produce a gem that mimics a padparadscha.
Last but not least is the star sapphire, whose asterism, as it is called, is the result of light playing upon the silk-like fibers within a stone. Most heat treatments diminish a stone’s asterism (the trade off for the jeweler, though, is a richer color). Some star sapphires, particularly those from Thailand and Sri Lanka, have another stone’s base glued to theirs. While this makes the gem appear larger and more imposing than it really is, over time the glue can yellow the stone.
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Islamic Carved 22k 22ct Solid Gold Diamond Sapphire Reversible Enamel Necklace
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2.48ct Diamond Sapphire Ruby Emerald 18k Gold Bracelet 15.8 Grams Nr
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Antique Retro 11.05ct Diamond Sapphire 18k Gold Ring 21.6 Grams Nr
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Mens Ring Antique Vintage Collectible Estate Deco Sapphire 10k Yellow Gold
2.25ct Diamond Sapphire Platinum Wide Eternity Band Ring 10.4 Grams Nr
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Antique Russian ? 14k Gold Pink Sapphire Diamond Flower Ring C1900's No Res
Huge Estate Real 14k Gold+2&1/2carat Natural Blue Sapphire+1/3ct"vs"diamond Ring
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Mens Ring Antique Vintage Collectible Deco Estate Sapphire 10k Yellow Gold
Estate Horseshoe Natural Blue Sapphire & Diamond Ring Solid 14k Gold Size 6.5 Nr
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Mens Ring Antique Vintage Collectible Deco Estate Sapphire 10k Yellow Gold
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Estate 1.35ct Pink Sapphire 18k Gold Stack Band Ring Nr
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Antique Deco Diamond Sapphire Platinum Pendant Necklace Nr
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New W/ Tags! Msrp $1900! .60 Carat Pink Sapphire Filigree Ring In 14 Kt W/g!!
Designer 4.45ct Created Pink Sapphire & Diamond Ring 10k Yellow Gold $3500 J337
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Superb 18ct Gold Sapphire & Diamond Cluster Ring Size O
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Ladies Original 1929 Bulova Bernice Art Deco Sapphire Crown Vintage Swiss Watch
Fine Vintage 1/2 Carat Sapphire And 1/2 Carat Diamond 18ct Gold Cluster Ring, 
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Blue Sapphire Ring Oval Cut Jewelry 8.25 Ct Fine Vintage Estate Jewelry $500
Vintage Retro 2.80ct Ceylon Blue Sapphire Diamond 14k Gold Cluster Cocktail Ring
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Recent News: Sapphire Jewelry
Source: Google News
How State Department was duped in $60M fraud scheme
Federal Times, May 19thState Department contracting specialist Kathleen McGrade has uncovered a treasure trove of luxuries allegedly acquired with the proceeds of a multimillion-dollar contracting scam: a Steinway piano; sculptures; sapphire, emerald and diamond jewelry...Read more
Victoria Church's Treasure Hunt
Huffington Post Canada, May 19thA large sapphire ring found by metal detector enthusiast Michael Greenhorn in a field near Escrick, England is thought to have originated in the 5th or 6th century and may have even belonged to a king. Greenhorn sold the ring to the Yorkshire Museum...Read more
Stephenson's Antiques & Decorative Arts Auction features jewelry, silver ...
Art Daily, May 18thJewelry buyers will have an abundance of choice in this sale. An impressive sapphire and diamond necklace is valued at approximately $1,800; while a “very modern and understated” Italian mesh necklace of white and yellow gold with diamonds is entered...Read more
Christ Church Cathedral Stolen Artifcats Recovered In Victoria - Huffington Post
Huffington Post Canada, May 18thA large sapphire ring found by metal detector enthusiast Michael Greenhorn in a field near Escrick, England is thought to have originated in the 5th or 6th century and may have even belonged to a king. Greenhorn sold the ring to the Yorkshire Museum...Read more
Sapphire Bead Necklace from Bello Jewels in Gurgaon
SBWire (press release), May 8thThe company specializes in offering stunning designs of handmade sapphire beaded necklaces for specific client groups. Depending on individual client requirements, customized orders for sapphire bead necklace are taken. An extra effort is taken to...Read more
Vintage Engagement Rings To Suit Every Indie Bride (PHOTOS) - Huffington Post
Huffington Post, May 6thhref="http://lover.ly/image/241897" target="_blank">Lover.ly</a>. Royal Blue. Kate Middleton may have made sapphire rings a trend, but both the Queen Mum and Princess Anne were given sapphire engagement rings in the 1920s and 1970s respectively...Read more
Buy Certified Blue Sapphire Gemstones at Bello Jewels
SBWire (press release), April 29thThe online gems store comes out with varied kinds of loose blue sapphire gemstones. The Blue Sapphire gemstones offered are lab certified as Sri Lanka gemstones. These gemstones are used for making blue sapphire rings, bracelets and gold diamond...Read more
Get Exclusive Blue Sapphire Gems Stones from Bello Jewels
SBWire (press release), April 24thA wide range of product categories are offered to the customers which includes- precious and semi precious gems stones, natural gems stones necklaces, .925 silver sterling jewelry, Ruby/Emerald/Sapphire gems stones studded necklaces, 14K/18K/22K gold...Read more