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FACT, MYTH & LEGEND

Sapphire	Natural or synthetic variety of corundum (aluminium oxide, Al²O³)
Ruby	Red varieties of corundum are called ruby.
Quality	Transparent to translucent. Generally faceted in the brilliant style. Considerable brilliance and/or colour.
Impurities	Iron and titanium.
Colour	From clear through most colours except red. Fancy sapphires: Colourless, grey, yellow, pale pink, orange, green, violet, and brown Alexandrite sapphire: Blue in daylight and reddish or violet in artificial illumination. Star sapphire: Mineral inclusions and cavities produce asterism. Dichroic: Shows two different colours when the angle of the light source is changed.
Most valued	Medium-deep cornflower blue.
Notes	Unevenly coloured. Affected by: Heating, radiation.
From	Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Australia, India, Madagascar, Russia, South Africa, Montana & North Carolina, US.
Most famous	St. Edward's Sapphire. Worn, in a ring, by Edward the Confessor at his coronation, and later set into the Imperial State Crown, ref: Queen Victoria.
Birthstone	September.
Early History	Used by the ancient Etruscans c 7th century B.C.
Historical Beliefs	The sapphire was said to represent the purity of the soul. It was the gem of Apollo and was worn by priests in his temples. The Celestial Gemstone: Ancient Persians believed that the Earth rested on a sapphire and its reflection coloured the sky. The Holy Gemstone: It is believed that the Ten Commandments were given to Moses on tablets of sapphire. Middle Ages: Worn by priests as protection from impure thought and temptation. It was considered to protect one from harm by the medieval kings of Europe. If worn by an adulteress, it was believed that the stone's colour would darken and was therefore given to wives by men going off to war. (Well at least it sounds more humane than the Chastity Belt). Used as a protection against snakes. France: In the 13th century it was believed to improve intelligence and disposition.

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