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Are you surprised that the picture of sapphires shows colors other than blue? The reason for this is because the sapphire is a member of the corundum family, along with the ruby. However, all colors of corundum other than red are classified as sapphire. All any colors of sapphire other than blue are considered "fancy sapphires." Cornflower blue is the most popular color for sapphires.

The sapphire is mined in many areas of the world, most notably Australia, Ceylon and Thailand. East Africa and Montana in the US are secondary sources of the gem. After mining, sapphires are heat-treated to remove cloudiness which is caused by very fine crystal inclusions, and to improve the color. This treatment is permanent.

The word sapphire comes from the Greek word "sappheiros" which means precious stone. It is highly prized as gemstones. Sapphires have long been worn by priests, who associate the stone with purity, and also kings who thought that they symbolized wisdom. They have been used in Vintage and Antique jewelry for centuries. Folklore associated with the sapphire dates back to the 12th century when the Bishop of Rennes heaped praise on this gemstone with his poem:

The azure light of Sapphire's stone Resembles that celestial throne,

A symbol of each simple heart That grasps in hope the better part,

Whose life each holy deed combines, And in the light of virtue shines.

The world's largest sapphire is the Millennium Sapphire, a huge sapphire discovered in 1995 in Madagascar. It is designated a national treasure and is valued between US$90 and US$500 million. This massive gem broke the previous record and is an astounding 61,500 carats. It has been exhibited in museums world wide since its discovery.

As with other gemstones, the sapphire has mystical qualities associated with it. The sapphire is thought to enable the wearer with clairvoyance and insight. The healing properties associated with the gem are that it is effective for health problems relating to hearing problems, cancer and burns. It also is supposed to lower fevers and aid in inflammation.

The use of sapphires in jewelry dates back to the Middle ages when precious stones first started being used in the manufacture of jewelry. The gemstone really came into play during the Georgian and Victorian eras and extended into the early part of the 20th century. Lang Antiques has a fabulous range of vintage sapphire jewelry including this fabulous Art Deco platinum ring with a stunning 30.92 carat oval cabochon violet blue sapphire which is highlighted with round, triangle and baguette cut diamonds.

To care for sapphires is relatively easy. They are very hard stones, but can still be subject to chips or splits, so some care must be taken when wearing to avoid hard knocks. They should be cleaned regularly to keep their bright color. They can be cleaned with a soft cloth and gentle detergent. They may also be soaked if needed in warm water and detergent. Always dry carefully before storing. They are safe to use in ultrasonic cleaners if there are no other stones than diamonds in the setting.