Blue sapphire is one of the most admired and recognizable precious gemstones in the world. People love blue sapphire for its vibrant blue color and incredible long-lasting durability. There is hardly any other gemstone like it.
Over the centuries, blue sapphire has been a symbol of several different things across various cultures, such as wisdom, loyalty, and truth. It can serve many different purposes in people’s lives, whether it be a family heirloom or engagement ring.
Some gemstones rise and fall in popularity, but not blue sapphire. It has continued to maintain its reputation throughout history, starting from ancient civilizations all the way to present times. To understand the meaning behind its popularity, you have to learn more about the gemstone itself.
What is Blue Sapphire?
Blue sapphire is a rich blue precious gemstone comprised of a specific mineral called corundum. It gets its attractive and distinct blue color from the trace amounts of iron and titanium elements found within the gemstone’s crystal structure. This unique combination can offer a variety of shades and hues, ranging from a smooth sky blue to a deep royal blue.
Another interesting fact about blue sapphire is that it scores a 9 out of 10 on the Mohs Hardness Scale, indicating it is an exceptionally durable gemstone. A diamond is the only other gemstone that is more durable than blue sapphire, scoring a 10 out of 10 on the Mohs Hardness Scale.
As a result, the blue sapphire gemstone is highly resistant to scratches and everyday wear as jewelry. So, if you want to wear or give someone a blue sapphire ring, necklace, or bracelet, you can rest assured that it would last for many years with general care. Its strength is certainly one of the reasons why the gemstone has been in high demand for centuries.
Where is it Found?
Blue sapphire exists throughout the world. The most common locations to find blue sapphire include Sri Lanka, India, and Madagascar. They naturally form blue sapphire deep inside the earth due to its unique geological conditions and characteristics. In fact, Sri Lanka is best known for supplying blue sapphire for more than 2,000 years and continues to remain the most popular location to mine for it.
Every country with blue sapphire produces gemstones with varying shades of blue, including the United States, Tanzania, Australia, and Myanmar. However, the blue sapphire from Kashmir in Northern India remains the rarest and most valuable variation in existence due to its distinct blue velvet color tone.
Blue Sapphire Meaning & Symbolism
Throughout human history, people have adored blue sapphire for much more than just its physical beauty. Different civilizations, generations, and religions have symbolized blue sapphire to represent the qualities that they wish to possess for themselves, such as wisdom, loyalty, truth, strength, and trust. Some believe that wearing or possessing a blue sapphire will help them acquire these qualities.
Wisdom
Perhaps the strongest symbolism of blue sapphire is wisdom. Ancient leaders, scholars, and spiritual leaders sought out wisdom because they wanted to be wise and have good judgment when making decisions. That is why kings, rulers, and others holding responsible positions have worn blue sapphires throughout history. Even today, many people choose blue sapphire jewelry to represent the intellectual growth they wish to gain over the course of their lives.
Loyalty
Blue sapphire has been associated with loyalty and long-lasting commitment for a long time. This particular symbolism explains why sapphire engagement rings have become increasingly popular in modern times, as they represent trustworthiness, devotion, and forever love. It is what every engaged couple hopes to establish when entering into a lifelong marriage.
Truth
Blue sapphire was linked to truth and honesty in many cultures and eras. During medieval times, members of the clergy and royalty wore blue sapphire because they believed it caused people to tell the truth and prevent lying in their presence. Some cultures even believed that blue sapphire could help identify lies when they were told.
Strength
Blue sapphire symbolizes toughness and inner strength due to its high durability. It is a reflection of how someone can remain tough during life’s challenges and successfully overcome them. If you know someone facing a new challenge in their life, giving them a blue sapphire as a gift could give them the confidence and determination to persevere.
Trust
The trust symbolism is closely linked with honesty and loyalty. When someone gives a blue sapphire as a gift or passes it down as a family heirloom, it means the person trusts and respects the recipient wholeheartedly. It is also why blue sapphire engagement rings are so popular, as it allows one partner to express their trust in the other.
Why These Meanings Remain Popular Today
There has never been a time when people didn’t want to have more wisdom, loyalty, truth, strength, and trust. Blue sapphire is not a magic gemstone, but it does hold great meaning, importance, and symbolism to a lot of people for different reasons. So, if you keep a blue sapphire close to you, it can hopefully inspire you to embrace these traits and seek them out to make yourself better.
Blue Sapphire Throughout History
Historical evidence indicates that blue sapphire has been relevant and meaningful for thousands of years in many civilizations throughout the globe, dating all the way back to the Ancient Persians of the 6th century B.C. They believed that the entire planet rested on a blue sapphire, which was why the sky was the color blue. Even though it is a mythical story, it shows how the blue sapphire was held in such high regard way back then.
The Ancient Greeks and Romans also loved blue sapphire. They believed it could give them guidance and personal protection. Many travelers and priests carried blue sapphire on them as a lucky talisman when they would go on important journeys or hold important ceremonies.
During the Middle Ages in medieval Europe, blue sapphire became closely associated with wisdom, justice, and religion. Bishops would famously wear blue sapphire rings because they believed it symbolized purity, heaven, righteousness, and spiritual truth.
The kings, queens, and princesses of royal families had a deep affection for blue sapphire as well. They believed it symbolized honor, integrity, dignity, and authority. A more modern example of this is the engagement ring given to Princess Diana in 1981 by Prince Charles, and then later given to Catherine, Princess of Wales, by Prince William in 2010.
Why Blue Sapphire Remains Popular Today
Blue sapphire continues to appeal to modern jewelry lovers. Some of them continue to appreciate the symbolism of the gemstone, while others love it for its vibrant blue color and amazing durability for everyday wear.
Many modern jewelry designers love integrating blue sapphire with a range of precious metals, including rose gold, yellow gold, platinum, and white gold. You can wear blue sapphire jewelry as rings, necklaces, and earrings. These are the three most popular blue sapphire jewelry options.
Blue sapphire engagement rings are beloved for their incredible hardness and symbolism of loyalty and trust. Necklaces with blue sapphire are worn more casually because the blue color has an elegant way of complementing almost any outfit in a wardrobe. As for blue sapphire earrings, they provide maximum versatility for both casual and formal wear.
How to Care for Blue Sapphire Jewelry
One of the biggest natural advantages of owning blue sapphire jewelry is its durability. With that being said, you are still expected to take proper care of the gemstone to ensure it lasts for as long as possible. That means taking off the blue sapphire jewelry when you are working with your hands, whether it be manual labor at work or lifting weights in the gym. You should also keep it away from harsh household chemicals, hairspray, lotions, and cosmetics.
Next, incorporate a routine cleaning ritual to remove the everyday residues from the blue sapphire jewelry, such as dirt, grime, lotions, and oils. All you need to use is a soft brush with warm water and mild liquid dish soap to clean the gemstone safely.
When you finish cleaning your blue sapphire jewelry, you should store it away in a soft fabric pouch or lined jewelry box for safekeeping. Even though it is supposed to be a scratch-resistant gemstone, it can still scratch other gemstones that are softer than it. That is why it is essential to keep it separated in an individual compartment from other gemstones.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Does Blue Sapphire Symbolize?
Blue sapphire has symbolized wisdom, strength, truth, loyalty, and trust in many different cultures throughout the world for thousands of years.
Is Blue Sapphire a Birthstone?
Yes. Blue sapphire is the official birthstone of September. It is associated with wisdom, protection, and good fortune.
Can Blue Sapphire be Worn Every Day?
Yes. You can wear blue sapphire every day due to its durability, which ranks a 9 out of 10 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. It is one of the most durable blue-colored gemstones you can wear.
Who Should Wear Blue Sapphire?
Anyone who appreciates the beauty and symbolism of blue sapphire should wear it. That could be anybody, such as a person celebrating an engagement or a priest giving a speech at a Sunday church service.
Is Blue Sapphire Right for You?
Now you can see why blue sapphire continues to be a beloved gemstone. Its combination of durability, beauty, and historic symbolism makes it a powerful and intriguing gemstone to keep in your possession. You might want to wear blue sapphire jewelry to encourage more wisdom and protection, or be someone who values its history, elegance, and versatility.
