Sapphire 

Sapphire is the most precious of blue gemstones. It is a most desirable gem due to its colour, hardness, durability, and lustre. The most valuable colour of sapphire is cornflower blue, known as Kashmir sapphire or Cornflower blue sapphire.

  Colours – Blue sapphire, yellow sapphire, green sapphire, white sapphire ,  pink sapphire,  orange sapphire, brown sapphire  and purple sapphire .

Hardness – 9. After diamond, sapphire is the second hardest mineral known to man.

Varieties

• Australian Sapphire   Dark blue to nearly black sapphire
• Kashmir Sapphire     Sapphire with a distinct velvety blue colour
• Cornflower blue Sapphire    Synonym of Kashmir sapphire
• Star Sapphire   Sapphire displaying asterism
• Padparadschah Sapphire   Orange pink variety of sapphire
• Colour change Sapphire   Sapphire exhibiting a different colour in natural and artificial light
• Bi-colour Sapphire    Sapphire with more than one colour
• Cat`s eye Sapphire   Sapphire exhibiting cat`s eye effect
• Fancy Sapphire   Any sapphire with a colour other than blue
• Verneuil Sapphire   Synthetic, laboratory grown sapphire

Inclusions of tiny, slender, parallel Rutile needles cause polished sapphire gems to exhibit asterism. Sapphire gems displaying asterism are known as "star sapphires", and if transparent are especially prized. Star sapphires are usually in six ray stars, but twelve ray stars are also known. Very rarely, sapphire also exhibits cat's eye effect.
Colour zoning, which forms from growth layers that build up during the formation of the stone, is present in certain sapphires. However, uniformity of colour is an important factor in a sapphire's value. 

 Magic –      

•       Provides spiritual strength                  
•       Protects from envy and harm                  
•       Attracts favourable spirits and blessings                  
•       Encourages wisdom and prophecy                        
•       Aids victory over all (star sapphires) 

Healing –    

•        Balances the endocrine system and reins in overactive energies                  
•        Calms, regulates and reduces tension in the solar plexus created by fear and anxiety                  
•        Increases powers of personal expression, benefiting the heart and throat chakras                  
•        Stimulates the higher mind