Sapphire Beads

Sapphires once adorned supplicants who traveled to see the oracles at Delphi. Ancient Greeks believed that Sapphires made pronouncements of oracles easier to understand and take to heart. In the Medieval ages, sapphires were said to protect from poisons and benefit the eyes. Sapphires have graced royalty throughout history. Both Princess Diana and Princess Anne received sapphire engagement rings. The British Crown jewels feature many very large blue sapphires. While sapphires are commonly blue, this gemstone can also be found in shades of pink, orange, yellow, green, purple, and black. The most important sapphire deposits are located in Australia, Myanmar(Burma), Sri Lanka, and Thailand.

Sapphire is the name for all varieties of the mineral corundum that are not red, since red corundum is known as ruby. Traces of titanium and iron give sapphire a blue color, vanadium lends a purple color, and pink sapphires contain traces of chromium. With the exception of diamond and moissanite, no other mineral is harder than sapphire.

Sapphires are considered stones of protection. They are said to encourage faithfulness, loyalty, and prosperity. Sapphires are often gifts for 45th wedding anniversaries and blue sapphires are the birthstone for September.