The Sapphire, a Stone of a Thousand and One Nuances Anchored in History
The sapphire is a stone of paradoxes. Classic? It certainly is, if one considers one of the most emblematic and most photographed jewels in the world, the engagement ring of Lady Diana now worn by Princess Kate Middleton: a daisy set with a twelve-carat oval Ceylon sapphire, surrounded by diamonds...
Mysterious? The sapphire is also, as it captivates as much with its pure brilliance as with its geological secrets and the stories it carries. The second-hardest gemstone after the diamond, this colored corundum has spanned the centuries. A stone of kings, clergy, sages, and dreamers, the sapphire has fascinated since antiquity with the depth of its blue and the nobility of its shine. It is said to embody the sky, protect its wearer, and reveal the truth. In European medieval courts, it symbolized loyalty and justice; sovereigns wore it as a talisman of power, Anne of Brittany received sapphires as a dowry, the tsars adorned their crowns with them... There is no doubt that the sapphire is a royal stone. /public-objects/e99ed7c8-f115-4fb6-9c35-a79bbd4270f6-c0100d8d-684f-4c63-956c-c8150b8871a7-BULGARI_190125_POLYCHROMA_P_LANGER_2601_V4a-cmyk.webp Image sélectionnée Whether from Sri Lanka or Kashmir, Burma or Madagascar, this gem is born in the heart of the Earth following a slow geological process that can last tens of millions of years. Royal blue, midnight blue, lavender blue... while we initially envision the sapphire in shades of blue, we must not forget that it comes in an infinite variety of hues due to the presence of titanium, iron, or chromium in its structure. Thus, it appears as sun yellow, powdered pink, or even adorned with pink-orange reflections in the mysterious padparadscha, this precious and rare gem originating from Sri Lanka.