A form of the mineral corundum, sapphire is a beautiful gemstone, and one of the best known stones around the world. Although sapphires may also occur in pink, blue, green, violet, grey, yellow, plus other colours, the usual colour associated with sapphires is blue, from light blue to very dark blue. Sapphires that are not blue are called fancy sapphires. Sapphires are one of the hardest gemstones, with a hardness of 9 on the Moh's scale. Only diamonds are harder. Sapphires are mentioned several times in the Old Testament, which shows that these unique stones have been prized for thousands of years. In Christianity, sapphires were favored by bishops and cardinals as a symbol of divine wisdom. The Buddhists believed that sapphire could help one achieve spiritual enlightenment. It has been called the philosopher's stone by some. Some believe sapphires may tap into your creative potential, and that the stone may inspire people to express themselves creatively. Associated with the Third Eye Chakra, sapphire may also help you to achieve mental clarity and wisdom. Whatever your beliefs, may you enjoy your sapphire.
