The name Sapphire comes from the ancient Greek ‘Sappheiros’ meaning ‘precious blue gem’, and is possibly even rooted in the Sanskrit ‘Sanipriya’ meaning ‘dark colored stone sacred to Saturn’. In the Middle Ages, it was thought to be an antidote against poisons, and to possess a magical power to influence the spirits. In ancient Greece and Rome, kings and queens were convinced that blue Sapphires protected them from envy and harm, and Persians believed that blue Sapphires were actually chips from a huge pedestal that supported the Earth, the reflections of which colored the sky. Sapphire, by tradition, has long been associated with nobility, truth, sincerity and faithfulness, and has been the stone of choice for royalty for generations. In Western civilisations, Sapphire has long been the traditional stone of choice to set alongside Diamonds for a man wanting to express his love and commitment to someone special. In many ancient cultures, this gem has been admired not only for its elegance, but also for the magic and good luck often associated with it. Sapphires are known and revered the world over for their beauty and mystery. But, there’s no denying the gem has left its mark in the history books. We can only guess what must have been going through the mind of the first person to hold one of these precious stones up to the sunlight and witness its vivid blue hue. The exact details of the initial discovery of Sapphire are lost to time, but we can be reasonably sure that the earliest stones would have been discovered in stream beds and the banks around them, having been washed from their original source by rains and erosion, and deposited downstream by nature. They take millions - sometimes even billions - of years to form. Sapphires have been mined and prized since at least 800 BC.

Here, we explore more about the history and science behind this true blue beauty in much more detail.

Its distinguished world-class color and breathtaking clarity have been leaving people speechless for millennia, and the gem has undoubtedly made its mark on history down the ages.Īlong with Emerald, Ruby and Diamond, it is one of only four gemstones classified as truly 'precious' and is an absolute must-have in any jewelry and gemstone collection. When it comes to iconic blue gemstones, Sapphire is simply unbeatable.

Ruby sapphire gem