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The ancient Persian rulers believed
that the earth rested on a giant sapphire and its reflection colored the
heavens blue. Indeed, the very name in Latin, "Sapphiru," means blue.
But like the endless colors that appear in the sky, sapphire is also found
in many, many other shades besides blue, from the gold of a sunrise, to
the fiery reddish-orange of sunset, to the delicate violet of twilight.
These diverse colors are referred to as "fancy" color sapphires. A gift
of a sapphire symbolizes a pledge of trust and loyalty. It is from this
tradition that sapphire has long been a popular choice for engagement
rings. One of Nature's most durable gemstones, sapphire shares this quality
with its sister, the ruby. Sapphire is found in many parts of the world,
but the most prized sapphires are from Myanmar (Burma), Kashmir and Sri
Lanka.
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