This month’s blog is a celebration of beautiful blue sapphires.
Considered one of the most royal gemstones, September’s birthstone is
rich in history and lore.
Sapphires have appeared in some of the
most ornate and beautiful jewelry pieces ever created. Here’s a glimpse
at some of the world’s most famous and highly valued sapphire jewelry
pieces.
Princess Diana’s engagement ring
Following
Prince Charles’ proposal, Lady Diana Spencer chose a diamond and blue
sapphire engagement ring from a Garrard catalog, instead of having a
diamond ring custom made for her, which was the royal custom. The
decision was controversial, but also launched her reputation as “The
People’s Princess.” Since then, affordable replicas of her ring became
so popular, that it became known as “the commoner’s ring.”
The
ring has a large oval sapphire—estimated to be between 9 and 12 carats—
surrounded by 14 round diamonds set in 18K white gold. The ring cost
around $60,000 when it was purchased in 1981, and today has been
estimated value between $500,000 and $4 million. Prince William
inherited the ring following Princess Diana’s untimely death, and
famously presented it to Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, when he
proposed to her in November 2010.
Maria Alexandrovna’s sapphire brooch
Originally
from Sri Lanka, The Maria Alexandrovna sapphire was purchased by
Alexander II at the London Great Exhibition of 1862, and presented to
his wife, Maria Alexandrovna. That is where it gets its name.
This
sapphire is a 260.37-carat oval with an evenly distributed medium-dark
saturated blue color. The sapphire was later set in a brooch consisting
of 56.60 carats of smaller diamonds.
The Star of India
Discovered
in Sri Lanka about 300 years ago and currently on display at the
American Museum of Natural History in New York City, the Star of India
is about 2 billion years old and weighs 563 carats—about the size of a
golf ball—making it the largest gem-quality blue star sapphire in the
world.
The presence of the mineral rutile gives the gemstone’s
appearance a slightly milky quality, as well as the distinctive star
effect, known as asterism. Tiny fibers of rutile in a three-fold pattern
reflect incoming light in the star pattern. In addition to its great
size, the Star of India is unique because it has asterisms on both sides
of the gemstone.
On October 29, 1964, the world-famous sapphire
was stolen from the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.
Several months later, the uninsured Star of India was recovered in a
locker in a Miami bus station.
The Stuart Sapphire
If
you love jewels and ever visit London, be sure to see the Stuart
Sapphire, which often goes unnoticed because it is located at the back
of the Imperial State Crown.
The 104-carat Stuart Sapphire is a
fine blue—though flawed—gem. It is oval in shape, about 1½ inches by 1
inch in width, and is set in a gold brooch. The gem is drilled at one
end, probably so that it could be worn as a pendant.
Dating back
to 1214, the Stuart Sapphire was owned by members of the Royal House of
Stuart, for whom it was named. Robert II, the first monarch of the
Stuart dynasty, was the first to own it, and it was later inherited by
James II, who took it with him to France when he was deposed in the
Glorious Revolution of 1688-89.
James II gave the sapphire to his
son James Edward, who passed it on to his son, Charles Edward. Today, it
is on display as part of the British Crown Jewels collection at the
Tower of London, and is located on the back side of the British Imperial
State Crown.
If you’re looking for sapphire jewelry, we’ve got an exquisite collection of fine sapphire necklaces, earrings, rings, pendants and more. Make sure you visit Adina by Empire Jeweler’s extensive online store. You’ll find antique and vintage estate sapphire jewelry at true wholesale prices.