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Gemstone Engagement and Promise Rings
What is the world without color? Without flowers, without the
rainbow, or without beautiful gemstones, the world would be a very different place.
Gemstone or birthstone engagement rings are becoming an increasingly popular alternative to diamond engagement rings.
Gemstone engagement rings add a brilliant splash of color and allow
more individual expression then ever before. MyJewelrySource offers a beautiful selection of truly unique precious and semi-precious gemstone engagement rings and birthstone promise rings,
most of which are exclusively
sold here.
Sapphire: Although
sapphire means
blue in Latin, sapphires can be found in a
rainbow of colors. Kings
once believed these stones offered protection form harm and envy. Sapphires are calm and relaxing. Until the discovery of extraordinary stones in
Kashmir in 1880, Sri Lanka (formerly known as
Ceylon) was the standard bearer of sapphire. The Kashmir supply was essentially exhausted by
1930, leaving Sri Lanka as
the location of the world's most beautiful sapphires. Sapphires are also mined in Madagascar, Australia and Thailand. Sapphires come other colors such as
red, orange,
yellow, green,
blue, purple
and pink. Colors other than
blue are referred to as "fancy
sapphires". Sapphire is the traditional gift for the fifth and forty-fifth wedding anniversaries and the
birthstone for September.
Enhancements: Although cutting is the most basic enhancement method necessary to display the beauty of a
gemstone, there are many
fascinating methods by which man has demonstrated his ability to draw maximum color, luster, clarity and brilliance from nature's earthbound treasures. A
basic understanding of these enhancement techniques will add to your appreciation of the beauty, durability and value of the
gemstone jewelry you already
own, or plan to purchase in the future. Sapphires are commonly treated with heat to enhance the color and clarity and the treatment is considered acceptable
and permanent. Approximately, 99% of sapphires used in jewelry are heated, leaving 1% which are unheated and considered very rare.
You
should assume that the sapphires sold at MyJewelrySource are heated unless stated otherwise.
Buying a Sapphire: All in all,
sapphire can be considered the ideal colored gemstone. Besides excelling in color selection,
sapphire excels in durability
with a rating of 9 on the Mohs scale of hardness.
Sapphires in sizes of 1 carat and over are considered to be important. Some inclusions are
accepted although certainly not as many as with
ruby or
emerald. Nearly all of the sapphires at MyJewelrySource.com are eye clean and most important,
all are pleasing to the eye. We offer a wide range of colors from a traditional
Ceylon blue, to rich lustrous royal blue, to many styles with
pink, orange, and
yellow sapphires.
Care of Sapphires: Since sapphires are tough and durable, they can withstand most cleaning methods. Steaming or ultrasonic cleaners are
acceptable. Your sapphire
jewelry may be cleaned with a soft-bristled brush or a cloth with plain or soapy water. Sapphires must not be put in boiling hot water.
Avoid exposure to hairspray, perfume and chlorine, which can dull gemstones.
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