Sapphire Beads

What Is Sapphire? 

Sapphire is an exquisite and rare gemstone that is known for its versatility and durability. The stone is a solid 9 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, making it the sturdiest gemstone. The name “Sapphire” comes from the Latin word “ saphirus,” which means blue. However, the gemstone as well as sapphire beads are available in many other colors apart from blue. It is a great choice of stone for both daily wear and special jewelry. Moreover, the use of sapphire beads for jewelry making is also popular. 

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What Is So Special About Sapphire?

The sapphire gemstone or sapphire beads are considered special because of their royal bloodline. That's exactly why it's a unique and interesting choice for engagement rings. If you want to express high regard for your partner, then this is the right stone for you! For a more casual look, jewelry crafted with genuine sapphire beads is a great option. Since sapphire is available in so many colors – blue, yellow, pink, black, even colorless – you get a sea of choices!  

Why Are Sapphires So Popular?

Throughout history, sapphire beads and stones have been a part of the lives of many famous and affluent personalities. In 1796, the great Napoleon gave his bride a sapphire engagement ring. In 1952, British-American actor and style icon Elizabeth Taylor was seen flaunting a sizable sapphire engagement ring. This lavish lineage, combined with its durability and rarity, is what makes sapphires so popular even today! And for DIY crafts or spiritual purposes, you can explore sapphire beads for sale online.       

 Different Types Of Sapphires And Their Colors  

As we said earlier, sapphires come in all colors of the rainbow except red (that is its cousin, Ruby). Let us take a look at some popular colors:

• Blue sapphires are the most popular choice and come in different shades of blue, such as cornflower, ceylon, teal, ice blue, and more. 
  
  
• The stone also has a white or colorless variant. These are extremely rare to find (mostly heat-treated or lab-created), and symbolize purity and joy. 
  
  
• Pink sapphires – sometimes described as red but not as deep in color – come in beautiful hues like hot and pastel pinks. 
  
  
• The padparadscha sapphire is as exquisite as its name! The most expensive variant flaunts a pinkish-orange tone, and no two pieces of this unique sapphire are the same.
  
  
• Another one-of-its-kind color in sapphire beads and stones is black. It is actually a deep violet that appears almost black, hence the name. One of the most valued black sapphires ever is The Midnight Star, which is preserved in the American Museum of Natural History.   

Other than these, you can also find yellow, green, orange, purple, brown, and color-change sapphires in the market.       

 Understanding Sapphires In Spiritual Practices

Be it natural sapphire beads or in gemstone form, sapphire has an important part to play in many ancient traditions and religions that are practiced even today. For centuries, sapphire has been used in healing rituals, alchemy, astrology, and even magic. Early priests and scholars believed that the “virtues” of gemstones like sapphire could be harnessed to benefit humans.  

Legend says that Helen of Toy (12 century BC) possessed a huge star sapphire, which held the key to her desirability. In the Hellenistic Period (400–100 BC), Arabian kings wore sapphires beads, and stones to guard themselves against envy and physical harm. Likewise, sailors would believe that wearing sapphire will keep them from drowning at sea.      

In many spiritual practices, sapphires are used to relieve mental stress, depression, and blocks. It is believed that they have a calming energy, which can relax the mind and aid meditation. Further, different traits are attributed to specific colors of sapphires. For instance, yellow sapphire brings prosperity and promotes intellect, while blue is considered to be effective in chakra healing. Pink ones are believed to remove mental blocks, while black sapphire is said to strengthen the power of intuition. 

There are many ways to harness these healing powers of sapphires. Some believers turn them into elixirs or tinctures. However, most experts say that the best way is to wear sapphires (as stones or sapphire beads) so that they are in direct contact with the skin at all times. So if you are looking to benefit from these powerful healing properties, you must explore real sapphire beads and gemstones for your spiritual journey.      

Sapphires - Frequently Asked Questions

How can you tell if a sapphire bead is real?

Whether you have sapphire beads or gemstones, checking for authenticity is important to get the right value for the piece. And to do that, there are a few tests you can run. 

But before we discuss how to tell if sapphire beads are real, remember that almost all sapphires are artificially or heat-treated to get the desired color. Heat-treating is not necessarily a negative as it is a norm in the industry; however, it does mean that the stone is not 100% ‘real’.

Here are some tests you can run:

• Scratch Test

Second to a diamond, sapphires have a Mohs hardness rating of 9. So real sapphire beads or stones will not show any marks when scratched with a harder substance.

• Breath Test 

This is probably the simplest way to tell if your sapphire beads are real or fake. If you breathe directly onto the sapphire and it is real, it will only take about 2 seconds to defog. A fake one, on the other hand, will take longer. 

• Light Test 

If you shine a flashlight directly on sapphire beads or a gemstone in a dark room, the real one will only reflect its own color. If you see other colors, too, these are not real sapphire beads.  

• Line Test

Examine your sapphire under the microscope. If you can see lines intersecting inside the stone, it’s not completely real. However, this does not imply that it is fake; it is just of poor quality. 

• Blemish Test

If you look at your sapphire under the microscope or loupe, the real thing will have inclusions and flaws. Since natural sapphire, beads, or gemstones, is buried under the earth for thousands of years, the process leaves it with blemishes and marks. These marks are not found in lab-made sapphires, which appear flawless under the microscope.

Do real sapphires sparkle?

Yes! While sapphires do sparkle, it is not the same sparkle as you see in a diamond. 

Generally, well-cut sapphires of light or medium tone will sparkle. However, if your stone is dark, poorly cut, and too included, the sparkle might not be that intense as dark stones do not allow for much light to reflect.    

What is the most valuable color of sapphire?

When it comes to the most valuable color of sapphire gemstone or sapphire beads, one general rule applies: The more vivid and uniform the color is, the more valuable the stone will be. 

Some of the most sought-after high-value colors include intense blues, padparadscha colors, pinks and purples, unique yellow-orange tones, uniform greens, and color-change variants. 

Are sapphire beads worth any money?

Yes – sapphire beads are worth good money as they are made from sapphires, which is  

Are sapphire beads as expensive as diamonds?

No – compared to diamonds, sapphire beads are more affordable. Whether you go for faceted sapphire beads or regular ones, diamonds will always cost higher. A sapphire stone can cost anywhere from $50 to $10,000 per carat, while a 1-carat diamond can start from about $2,500. 

Are dark sapphires more valuable?

No – more than the ‘darkness’ of the color, its intensity or vividness governs the value or price. Also, sapphire beads or a gemstone beads that is medium or light in color will have more sparkle and thus higher value.  

Do sapphires fade over time?

While not all sapphires fade over time, yellow and padparadscha sapphires are known to lose color and also revive it. For instance, in padparadscha sapphires, varying degrees of yellow-color-causing agents are used with a chromium-produced pink. This is what gives the stone its special coral color. So the color fading and reviving characteristic is actually a unique feature of the stone. 

Do sapphire beads glow in the dark?

Yes – natural yellow sapphire may sometimes glow in the dark or under short ultraviolet light. However, a synthetic yellow sapphire will not glow the same way.

Is a light or dark sapphire better?

When it comes to choosing a color for sapphire, you can not decide only based on the lightness or darkness of the color. You must consider these factors:

• The Hue

This refers to the overall color of a sapphire, including its primary color and overtones. For instance, the best blue sapphire would be uniform blue. 

• The Tone

This refers to the depth of the color of the sapphire. For instance, two sapphire gemstones can have the same color, but their tone can either be light to medium or medium to dark.    

• The Saturation

This refers to the vividness of the color. A good piece of blue sapphire will have a rich color without any gray or brown overtones.

 What color are natural sapphires?

Most people assume that sapphires are supposed to be only blue in color. But this is a misbelief as there is a whole spectrum of colors that occur in sapphires naturally. This includes white, yellow, green, blue, pink, purple, padparadscha, and black, and even color-change variants are available.   

Do sapphires sparkle like diamonds?

No – sapphires have a different kind of sparkle to them which is not like a diamond’s. If you compare the two, diamonds have a more intense sparkle or brilliance, while white sapphire has the most sparkle among all the sapphire color variants. 

Can I shower with sapphire beads?

Yes – sapphires are very durable in nature. So, it shouldn’t be an issue if you take a shower wearing sapphire beads or other jewelry. 

Do sapphires change color over time?

If you have a color change sapphire gemstone, then yes, it will change color but not due to the passage of time. Color change sapphires are known to show slight changes in hue under different lightings, such as morning versus afternoon light or incandescent light.

Other types of sapphires generally do not change color over time.  

Are sapphires a good investment?

Yes – sapphires, or any other colored gemstone for that matter, make for a good investment because they can be worn while they are in your possession and later sold off if needed. However, once you buy sapphire, its price does go down, but it does not go severely low.  

Where can I find the best sapphire beads for sale online? 

You will find the best sapphire beads for sale online on the BeadsofCambay website. Offering high-quality and authentic products, you can pick from faceted sapphire beads, fancy sapphire pear beads, and so many more options.  

Can I buy sapphire beads wholesale from BeadsofCambay? 

Yes – if you are looking for sapphire beads, wholesale or bulk buying options, BeadsofCambay is the best place to buy sapphire beads in large quantities. The website offers an impressive variety of sapphire beads at competitive prices and amazing deals.