The History of Sapphire [Sapphire Introduction Course 4]

According to the earliest Sanskrit documents, sapphires (and rubies) were first discovered in Sri Lanka two thousand years ago. Sapphire mining records in the Mogok Valley of Myanmar began in about 1597, and sapphires were also found in Chanthaburi, Thailand in the 15th century, and sapphires in India (Kashmir) were discovered in 1880.

Although sapphire was often mentioned by the ancient Egyptian Greeks and the ancient Romans, many scholars believe that they may refer to lapis lazuli. The sapphire was most likely produced in Sri Lanka (Ceylon) and was later described as used for Etruscan jewelry (Etruscan, 600-275 BC), and since 480 BC, the Greeks and Romans also began to use sapphire. During the Roman period, blue gems were also long associated with Venus (the ancient Greeks believed that Venus represented Muse Aphrodite).

A Roman sapphire relief, almost certainly made in Sri Lanka, depicts Aphrodite feeding eagles, about the first century A.D. Photo: Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge

The ancient Greeks also associated Sapphire with Apollo, the god of music, poetry, art, oracles, archery, plague, medicine, sun, light, and knowledge. Therefore, Sapphire was considered to have the virtue of wisdom and was highly respected, while the Hebrews believed that the "Ten Commandments", this wisdom from God, was written on the sapphire stone plate.

In ancient Rome, sapphires were used in large quantities, as shown by the excavation of Pompeii, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

A Roman sapphire concave found during an archaeological excavation around Pompeii in 1986. Pompeii was destroyed after a massive volcanic eruption at Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. Photo: SSEF

According to ancient Indian writings on gemstones, gemstones were divided into Maharatna and Uparatna (precious and semi-precious gemstones). Sapphire (called indranila) was Maharatna, a precious gemstone.

In medieval Europe, gemstones, including sapphires, were not only popular because of their beauty, but also because they were mentioned in the Bible and had certain Christian symbolic significance (for example, it is said that King Solomon's ring was inlaid with a sapphire-sapir).

Sapphire engraving (probably from Sri Lanka), set in enamel gold, c.1580. Photo: V & A Museum

The sapphire and diamond crown of Queen Victoria (1819-1901), now hidden at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Photo: Victoria and Albert Museum, London. The painting on the left is an 1874 work by Henry Richard Graves. Photo: Royal Collection Trust.

Sapphire remains a complex for the modern royal family. In 2010, Prince William proposed to Kate Middleton with the engagement ring of his mother, Princess Diana, received from Prince Charles. Photo: Harper's Bazaar