What Does a Sapphire Engagement Ring Symbolise?
Sapphires are prized for their beauty and their durability, and also for their rich history and symbolism. From ancient history until today, sapphires have been believed to provide good luck and boost positivity. Many know the sapphire to be a birthstone and anniversary milestone, although it has had many different meanings attributed to it in the past, which we will delve into below.
History
The history of the sapphire has been a long and symbolic one. The word sapphire comes from "sapphirus", the Latin word for blue. Ancient Persians are said to have believed that the blue sky was a reflection of the giant sapphire holding up the earth.
The ancient Greeks had high regard for the sapphire and felt it to provide good luck and protect from evil, envy, and poisoning. Ancient Egyptians also believed that sapphire had healing properties. Even today, some believe the gem's soothing hue calms the mind and imparts enlightenment.
In the late 19th and early 20th century, these vivid blue sapphires traditionally came from Kashmir, the northernmost region of the Indian subcontinent. The world record for the highest price per carat for a single sapphire is held by a 140 carat Kashmiri stone, which sold at auction in October 2015 for more than $6.74 million.
Madagascar was found to have substantial sapphire deposits during the 1990s and is now the main source of the gemstones. Other sources include Australia, Thailand and Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan stones are often referred to as Ceylon, and are thought to offer the most vivid, high-quality colours.
Royalty
Sapphires have been popular amongst royalty for centuries and were historically considered to represent nobility, faithfulness and sincerity.
One of the most famous and influential sapphire engagement rings in the United Kingdom was given to Princess Diana and is now worn by the current Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton. It features a central 12 carat blue Ceylon sapphire surrounded by 14 round diamonds. For many, this ring symbolises timelessness, class and style.
Not just seen in engagement rings, the royals have an extensive collection of sapphire jewellery, including tiaras, brooches, necklaces, earrings and bracelets.
The Imperial State Crown, made in 1937 and used by Elizabeth II, is set with the Stuart Sapphire, a vivid blue sapphire weighing an impressive 104 carats. It remains one of the world’s most famous sapphires and can be viewed at the Tower of London in the Jewel House.
Symbolism
Known as the birthstone of September and standing for new beginnings, sapphire is a popular choice for anyone born in that month or planning to propose in September.
Sapphire is also the 45th wedding anniversary gift, a modern tradition used to represent milestones. A blue sapphire eternity ring or dress ring is a meaningful gift to mark a Sapphire Anniversary.
The history of the sapphire and its symbolic beliefs are still carried with us today. In modern times, some believe wearing a sapphire engagement ring will boost confidence and bring happiness, positivity and good luck into the wearer’s life.
Colours of Sapphire
Traditionally, most sapphires are thought of as blue, but they can actually be found in a rainbow of colours. Sapphires are part of the corundum family, which also contains ruby, the red variety of corundum. Any other colour variation of corundum is referred to as sapphire, and anything except blue is referred to as a fancy colour.
When seeking a sapphire, it is worth considering that the more intense and uniform the colour is, the more valuable the stone becomes. Desirability and rarity also influence which colours are most valuable.
However, a sapphire engagement ring should be chosen not just based on its value but because the wearer enjoys and connects with the colour. No two sapphires are the same, so every sapphire engagement ring we create is unique.
Blue Sapphires
Blue sapphires are popular, with the most prized having a violet-blue colour in medium to dark tones. They are found in a range of saturations, from the palest blue, sometimes referred to as Ice sapphire, to an inky dark blue.
Pink and Purple Sapphires
Sapphires come in many pink and purple shades, from weak to intense in saturation. For many, these colours represent romance and femininity. They look lovely when accented by bright clear diamonds, for example in our Oval pink sapphire and diamond engagement ring in platinum.
Yellow and Orange Sapphires
Much like pink, a yellow sapphire comes in different colour saturations, from pale yellow to deep golden yellow, right the way into the oranges. The best yellow sapphire is considered to be vivid yellow without any brown tones.
Orange sapphires also range in tone. The best orange sapphire is pure orange with a medium tone and vivid saturation.
Green Sapphires
Any highly saturated green sapphire is very rare, and many collectors seek it. Green sapphire engagement rings have a range of saturations and hues, from yellowish-green to bluish-green.
Teal Sapphires
Teal sapphires have become popular in recent times. Usually, the primary colour is blue, with secondary colours of grey or green. This rare gemstone looks beautiful as the centre stone of an engagement ring, for example in our oval teal sapphire ring with diamonds.
Colour-change Sapphires
One of the rarer varieties of natural sapphire is colour-change. This natural optical effect causes the body colour of the sapphire to change depending on the light source. For example, some colour-change sapphires can appear blue in daylight and purple in incandescent light.
Padparadscha Sapphire
The padparadscha sapphire is a rare and collectable gemstone with a colour that is a mixture of pink and orange. These are priced much higher than other fancy sapphires. The word padparadscha comes from the Sinhalese word padmaragaya, meaning lotus-colour. The ideal Padparadscha sapphire is said to be a light to medium orange-pink colour.
Durability
Corundum, which includes sapphire and ruby, is rated 9 out of 10 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. The scale is based on a gemstone's relative resistance to scratching. It is worth noting that the difference in durability between each gemstone's rating is not equal, even though the numbers appear to be evenly spaced on the scale.
For example, diamond and corundum appear one number away from each other on the Mohs scale but the difference in hardness is great. While sapphire is not as hard as diamond, it is still a very durable gemstone and makes an ideal choice for an engagement ring.
With care, a sapphire can be enjoyed for a lifetime and become your treasured family heirloom.
Styles of Sapphire Engagement Rings
Sapphires look wonderful in a variety of settings and engagement ring styles, including Art Deco-style engagement rings with baguette diamonds, Edwardian-style sapphire cluster rings, and Victorian-style carved half-hoop rings.
Our ring designs here at the London Victorian Ring Co. are based on our original vintage jewellery patterns, which we have been crafting since 1890. Our range continues to expand in the 21st century with unique and bespoke sapphire rings made exclusively in Hatton Garden, London.
View our collections to discover our elegant sapphire engagement ring styles, which include three stone sapphire trilogy rings, unique floral sapphire rings, hand-engraved sapphire engagement rings, sapphire eternity rings and more.
