Sapphire

Sapphire (from Hebrew: Sapir) is the non red variety of the mineral corundum, an aluminium oxide (Al2O3). It can be found naturally or manufactured in large crystal boules for varied applications, including infrared optical components, watch faces, high-durability windows, and wafers for the deposition of semiconductors such as GaN nanorods.

The mineral corundum consists of pure aluminium oxide. Trace amounts of other elements such as iron, titanium and chromium give corundum their blue, yellow, pink, purple, orange or greenish color. Sapphire includes any gemstone quality varieties of the mineral corundum except the fully saturated red variety, which is instead known as ruby.

Although blue is considered the normal color for sapphire, it is found in the full range of spectral colors as well as brown, colorless, grey and black. Those other than blue in color are considered fancy color sapphires.

According to Rebbenu Bachya, and many English Bible translations, the word Sapir in the verse Exodus 28:18 means Sapphire and was the stone on the Ephod representing the tribe of Issachar. However, this is extremely disputed as though it is true that the english word sapphire derives from the Hebrew sapir (via Greek sapphiros), Sapphires were actually not really known about before the Roman Empire (and were initially considered to be forms of jacinth, rather than deserving of a word to themselves), and prior to that time sapphiros referred to blue gems in general. It is thought by scholars that the sapphire of the Bible was actually lapis lazuli - which was frequently sent as a gift between middle-eastern nations in Biblical times (Texas Natural Science Center, 2006). There is a wide range of views among traditional sources about the tribe to which the stone refers.

• Blue sapphire is associated with Saturn (Wojtilla, 1973),
• Yellow sapphire with Jupiter in Vedic astrology.
• Sapphire is the birthstone associated with September.
• The 45th wedding anniversary is known as the sapphire anniversary.
• Sapphires are one of the four most valued stones. The other highly valued stones are rubies (sapphires that are red, caused by chromium impurities), emeralds, and diamonds.
  
  Sapphire is a stone of creative expression, intuition, and meditation, and enhances all those things. Sapphire is corundum, and comes in virtually any color of the rainbow including blue, pink, purple, orange (Padparadsha), green, colorless, and red (known as ruby). Sapphire is beneficial for mental clarity and depression. Physically it is good for lowering fevers and inflammation, hearing problems, cancer, and burns. Sapphire is associated with the brow chakra. Various colors of sapphire have properties in addition to the general sapphire properties.