Sapphire Bead Chips Natural 16" - by the strand (32893)

Sapphire derived from the Greek word "sappheiros" which means "precious stone". It is a very desirable gemstone due to its excellent color, hardness, durability, and luster. In the gem trade, Sapphire without any color prefix refers to the blue variety of the mineral Corundum. However, the term Sapphire encompasses all other gem varieties and colors of Corundum as well, excluding Ruby, the red variety of Corundum, which has had its own name since antiquity.

The most valuable color of Sapphire is a cornflower blue color, known as Kashmir Sapphire or Cornflower Blue Sapphire. These blue gems derive their colour from the presence of the mineral Titanium in the stone.

Another extremely valuable Sapphire form is the very rare, orange-pink Padparadscha sapphires – named after the colour of a lotus blossom. True Padparadscha sapphires are mined in Sri Lanka. Top quality stones easily fetch thousands of dollars per carat.

In the 1990s, discoveries in East Africa and Madagascar brought widespread recognition to fancy coloured sapphires. The new deposits supplemented production from traditional sources like Sri Lanka and Myanmar and increased the commercial availability of yellows, oranges, pinks, and purples.

Sometimes Sapphire contains minor inclusions of Rutile needles. These inclusions, also called silk, decrease the transparency of a stone. When they are found in dense, parallel groupings, these inclusions can actually enhance the stone, because it causes polished Sapphires to exhibit asterism. When they display asterism, these stones are known as "Star Sapphire", and these can be highly prized. Star Sapphire exists in six ray stars, though twelve ray stars are also known.

Sapphire is the birthstone for those born in September.

Sapphire is said to be an exceptional stone for calming and mental clarity. It believed to encourage opening the mind to beauty and intuition, bringing lightness and joy as it restores balance within the body.

Sapphire rates at 9 on the Mohs scale of hardness.

This is a natural stone product. Please expect flaws and imperfections. You will receive an item that looks similar to the example pictured.