4 Things You Never Knew About Sapphire Engagement Rings

The sapphire can only be found in a few locations, with Sri Lanka being the main mining supply of the blue type. These beautiful stones are a very popular alternative to diamond engagement rings due to the following reasons.

Colours

Sapphires are primarily known for their beautiful depth of blue, the colour that has proved to be by far the most popular type. However, many people are unaware that the stone comes in an array of other colours, ranging from bright yellow to ruby red to black. There are also colour-changing sapphires, known as a phenomenon stone, which change colour depending on the light they are in. Sapphire engagement rings have many different colour options, making the gem very popular.

Hardness

The stone belongs to the mineral family "corundum", and is the second hardest stone after the diamond. It registers as a nine on Mohs’ scale, a chart of hardness for various different minerals. This is another factor that makes sapphire engagement rings popular, as white sapphires (which contain no colouration and are as tough as diamonds) can make an inexpensive alternative. Their hardness makes them extremely durable and therefore more likely to become antique/vintage family heirlooms, which is an attractive feature to many people.

Health Benefits

It is believed by some that those who wear sapphires find their moods lifted and a reduction in health problems, such as mental illness and arthritis. This legend originates from the discovery of the star sapphire, which is also known as a phenomenon stone. Star sapphires were the result of the stones undergoing a cabochon cut (a stone with a flat base but domed, highly polished top) as the light reflects from one point, creating a six pointed star reflection. At first, nobody realised this was the cause of the unusual reflection, so they attracted some mysticism and were believed to reduce stress and promote happiness in the wearer. Although the mystery has now been solved, many wearers still claim to feel health benefits from their sapphire engagement rings.

Popularity Among the Stars

The recent comeback of celebrities wearing gemstone engagement rings has encouraged many women to ask for something apart from the traditional diamond. Kate Middleton, sporting one of the world's most famous sapphire engagement rings (Princess Diana's), caused a large increase in sales of that stone over other gemstones. In fact, the Royal Family has been waving the flag for sapphires for generations, going back as far as the Queen Mother. Other celebrities who have chosen the beautiful stone include Elizabeth Hurley, Penelope Cruz and Victoria Beckham.

Frederick Holm is staff writer for the F&L Designer Guides, compiled and written to help consumers choose a unique engagement ring design. From the best sapphire engagement rings to precious metals, coloured stones and vintage styles, we have ideas and opinions covering all the options. Offering advice, tips and suggestions on how to choose that perfect ring, F&L will accompany you on every stage of your search to find the right designer.