We welcome September—and her regal gemstone, the Sapphire.
Mankind has long been fascinated by sapphires. From the Middle Ages, sapphires have symbolized loyalty and trust. People would wear sapphires as a talisman to protect against danger or other harm. Italian superstition tells us that sapphires will protect the wearer from eye disease and melancholy.
Sapphires are amongst the hardest of gemstones—and the most expensive. They are one of the four "cardinal" gemstones, alongside rubies, emeralds and diamonds. Sapphires belong to the corundum family which includes rubies. In fact, sapphires and rubies are often found in the same areas, though one of the stones usually will predominate. Sapphires are mined in Africa, Russia, Australia, and parts of Asia (most notably, India). In the United States, sapphires are found in Montana.
The classic sapphire is a deep, mid-range, saturated blue, caused by aluminum oxide in the stone. Sapphires, however, can be found in many colors: purples, violets, greens, yellows, grays, oranges, and reds (in which case they are called “rubies”). Secondary “highlight” colors are sometimes present, like purple (which can make the stone more valuable) or green (which can decrease its value). Some sapphires are bi-colored and some change their colors as they are moved from one light source to another.
Perhaps the most mysterious of the sapphires is the so-called “Star Sapphire” which displays a six- (or sometimes twelve-) rayed “star” floating within the body of the stone. These stones show such a star due to a certain peculiarity of the mineral structure and they are cut en cabochon (that is, with a rounded, not faceted surface) to allow the star to display itself unimpeded by faceting.
The vase above, blown of sapphire blue glass, has a "diamond optic" pattern within the ribbing. Emerald green, freeform handles were applied in a later step. The vase was made by Hank Adams for Blenko in 1999. Click on the photo above to learn more about this handsome piece.
Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com).
To arrange a visit our Pittsburgh showroom (by private appointment only), please call 917-446-4248.