#18 L165-010 Blue Sapphire 8.5 x 6.5 Pearshape "N" 2.03cts MNA

Blue Sapphire is the violet to very strongly greenish blue variety of the gemstone and mineral corundum. Identical in composition to ruby, save for their included trace elements, sapphire is made of alumium oxide (Al2O3). Titanium and iron cause its signature cool color, with the lack or abundance of iron dictating the darkness of tone. Being a pleochroic gem, sapphire shows both violetish blue and greenish blue from different angles and must be cut expertly to highlight the most desired shift in hue. Color zoned material is a common characteristic in blue sapphire crystals and further complicates the ability to produce top, unobstructed shades.

Sapphire gleans its name from the Persian word “safir”, which gives ode to the ancient Greek interpretation of blue, “sappheiros”. The rulers of ancient Persia believed that the world rested upon the top of an enormous sapphire and that the sky's color was merely a reflection of the cobalt wonder beyond the horizon. In Medieval times, it was believed that a sapphire's color would fade with infidelity, making a crusader's return home all the more sweet when he found his wife's stone retained its saturation. There are notable examples of blue sapphire in most every royal and private collection, perpetuating the demand for the oceanic pebble. Countries such as Myanmar (Burma), Sri Lanka, Thailand, Cambodia, Australia, and the United States are significant players in sapphire supply. Famed sapphires originating from Kashmir (Pakistan) remain exhausted, but are highly prized in the market.