Oh, the summer night

Has a smile of light,

And she sits on a sapphire throne.

-Bryan Procter

Since the Middle Ages, sapphires have been admired and revered. In the 16th century Mary, Queen of Scots, was believed to have worn a sapphire pendant that doubled as a medicinal amulet she thought would heal her sore eyes. A symbol of sincerity and faithfulness, the sapphire is the traditional gift for a 45th wedding anniversary. It comes as no surprise that King Charles III of Great Britain proposed to Lady Diana Spencer with a gorgeous 12 carat sapphire ring in 1981; his son Prince William offered the same ring to his bride-to-be Kate Middleton in 2010. One could say the royal family certainly popularized giving sapphire engagement rings as an alternative to diamonds.

Sapphires are extremely durable. The gemstone is the third hardest after diamond and moissanite, registering 9 on the Mohs scale. They are sourced from all over the world. Some of the most sought-after sapphires come from the Kashmir region of India. Many exquisite star sapphires originate from Sri Lanka. Madagascar now leads the world in mining sapphires since deposits were discovered there in the 1990s. Other countries known for producing sapphires include Tanzania, Myanmar/Burma, and the United States.

The color spectrum of sapphires is quite varied, from deep blues to bright pastels. The blue hues of velvet, royal, cornflower, and violet tend to be featured in the most preferred and valuable sapphires. One may also discover sapphires in lovely shades of pink, yellow, and orange. The more vivid the color, the more coveted the gemstone!