White sapphire and diamond ring
The white sapphire, although lacking the diamond's fire, is often paired with the diamond in multi-stone settings because it mimics the diamond in color, brilliance and hardness. The white sapphire has a refractive index of 1.766 to 1.774 and a hardness value of 9. These characteristics are only slightly lower than those of the diamond, but the white sapphire costs costs considerably less.
History
Sapphire earrings
The sapphire, known for its deep blue color, is formed from corundum, which is also the mineral that creates rubies. The color is determined by the amount of iron and titanium impurities that are present in the crystal. When there is a high concentration of iron and titanium the sapphire will be a deep blue. Lesser amounts of the impurities can change the stone's color to any of the following: green, purple, yellow, orange and pink. A white or colorless sapphire occurs when the corundum has no impurities. This type of sapphire is uncommon, and larger stones of good quality are even more rare. Therefore, many gemologists will use a heat treatment procedure to cause light-colored sapphires to become clear.
Heat Treatment
Sapphires can be clarified by heat.
Gemstone heating for color enhancement is a centuries-old technique that can be thought of as a continuation of the process that was happening while the stone was underground. Heating the stone to very high temperatures forces the inclusions to reform; this allows the color to change and brings forth the stone's inherent beauty. Heat treatment can be detected by looking for a halo or shadow around each individual crystal within the stone. The high heat causes minute fracturing, and the halo remains after the stone has cooled.
Power of the Stone
The white sapphire can be used as an alternative to the traditional blue sapphire that's designated for September birthdays, and it may also be used in place of the diamond for April birthdays. It can also be used as the gemstone for the astrological signs Aries, Cancer, Libra and Taurus. White sapphire symbolizes faithfulness and pure love. It's associated with all of the positive powers of the planet Venus: love, compassion, divine knowledge and creativity. The white sapphire has been used to ward off evil, bring good luck and unlock personal and artistic talents and creativity. Judy Hall, author of "The Crystal Bible," maintains that white sapphires are associated with the crown chakra, assist with healing of the nervous system and thyroid and help to strengthen the blood vessels.
Types and Values
White sapphires may occur naturally, come from heat treating of light colored stones or be grown in the lab (synthetic, but possessing identical chemical properties to naturally occurring stones). The synthetic gems are the least expensive, while the naturally occurring clear or colorless stones are the most expensive. However, the synthetic may actually be of better quality. Natural, white sapphires can be found in Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, India, Sri Lanka (Ceylon), Tanzania, Afghanistan, Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, Malagasy Republic, Malawi, Pakistan, Zimbabwe (Rhodesia) and the United States (Montana, North Carolina).
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