Since ancient time, people all over the world believe that gemstones have influence on the life of a person who wears or keeps them. Ruby is also one of them.

The world’s finest rubies, “the Burmese rubies,” are found in Mogok, Myanmar (Burma). What mystical properties does the ruby has, as believed by the people who live in the land where the world’s finest rubies are discovered?

Image courtesy of www.embassyconsulates.com

In Burmese tradition, ruby is worn or kept as a talisman for people born on Sunday. Burmese people put more importance on the day of a week a person is born than the month in which he or she is born. The astrology as practiced in Myanmar (Burma), the prediction of a person’s future is based on the year—according the Burmese calendar—and the day of the week on which that he or she was born.

If the ruby is worn set in a ring, the ring should be worn on the right ring finger to make it more effective as a talisman.

J3592 Ruby Ring

Star Ruby Ring J1249

“The Nightmare” by Henry Fuseli, 1781, oil on canvas.

In Myanmar—formerly Burma—the birthplace of world-famous Burmese ruby, it is believed that keeping a ruby under the pillow wards off nightmares.

A ruby with fractures, chips, and other faults should be avoided as it can bring bad luck on the family—especially children—and business. Similarly, it could be assumed that a ruby should not be altered by treatments, such as heat treatment. A ruby should be natural and untreated if worn or kept for the positive effect of its mystical properties.

The finest of Padparadscha sapphires historically have come from Sri Lanka, and many purists believe that Sri Lanka is the only source of true Padparadscha sapphires. Though the historical source of Padparadschas is in Sri Lanka; sapphires that fit the description of orangey pink and pinkish orange have been discovered in both Madagascar and the Umba River Valley of Tanzania.

The stones from Madagascar tend to have a stronger pink component, and the stones from Tanzania tend to have a stronger orange component, often with brownish overtones. This has led to much debate within the industry as to what qualifies as a Padparadscha sapphire as the name is given to sapphires by gemologists and gemological laboratories based on the sapphire’s color alone, regardless of their known or unknown origins.

Just as the name Padparadscha is given to sapphires based on the opinion of a trained gemologist; beauty is in the eye of the beholder. For someone desiring a Padparadscha sapphire, they have many choices from pinkish orange to orangey pink, and in various levels of tone and saturation. Padparadscha sapphires from Sri Lanka will always command a premium, especially when they are unheated.

Here at the Natural Sapphire Company, we have both unheated and heated Padparadschas from Sri Lanka, Madagascar, and Tanzania. The Padparadschas from Tanzania are often darker in tone than Padparadschas from other sources, and for this reason, other than not being from Sri Lanka; their prices tend to be lower than Padparadchas from Sri Lanka and Madagascar.

Whichever of the colors you prefer, know that your preference is the right answer for you. Just as every lotus flower and every sunset is different, so is every Padparadscha sapphire. As said before, Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and here at The Natural Sapphire Company the possibilities of true beauty are endless.

Without a doubt, the most rare, legendary, and prized sapphires in the world; the Kashmir sapphire’s velvety cornflower blue color is as well-known and regarded as Burmese “Pigeon Blood” Rubies. With the height of production lasting less than 10 years, and the Kashmir mines having been considered depleted; the Jammu and Kashmir government is now looking for mining companies with the financial and physical ability to explore the treacherous terrain and continue the production of sapphires in and around the Kashmir region.  J & K Minerals Ltd, a state government enterprise that holds a mine lease covering over 1643 acres at a height of 12.981 feet, has extracted several thousand grams of rough sapphire, however the time that they are able to work at those heights and in good conditions only lasts about two months and production has been up and down, off and on since the 1960’s.

Now the Jammu and Kashmir government has invited parties with expertise in mining to undertake exploration of sapphires through a joint venture with J & K Minerals Ltd. The global tenders for sapphire mining in the region is not a new concept, as over the years the Indian government has often tried to get companies to come to the Kashmir region. However, this time the Jammu and Kashmir Industries Department is planning a satellite survey to find other sapphire deposits in the Paddar Valley, as other sources have been believed to be there since the sapphires initial discovery in the late 1800’s. Until now, two decades of militancy has hindered the exploration of the area, so the fresh tenders now being offered may mean there will be a greater supply of Kashmir sapphires in the future. Chances are, given the conditions of mining in the Paddar Valley, Kashmir sapphires will always be extremely rare.

Figure 1 Christie’s Images Ltd. 2012

Words like “rare” and “precious” are thrown around quite a bit, but when it comes to Kashmir sapphires those two words are undeniable facts. In 2007, a 22.66ct Kashmir sapphire sold at a Christie’s auction for a record breaking $135,000 per carat. Then in 2011, in Hong Kong, a pair of cushion cut Kashmir sapphires sold for $145,339 per carat. Fast forward to 2013, at the April 16^th Christie’s auction; an 8.91ct cushion cut Kashmir sapphire broke a new world record when it sold for $154,000 per carat. In this case it was not the Tiffany setting that raised the price or any sort of provenance, but simply that it was a beautiful untreated Kashmir sapphire of the true velvety blue that Kashmir sapphires are known for.  Kashmir sapphires are a rare treasure that evidently will continue to increase in value.

First discovered around 1880 when a landslide 4500 meters high in the Himalayas, in the Padar region, revealed large sapphire crystals. The sapphires were first traded amongst locals, but quickly gained the interest of the Maharaja of Kashmir who confiscated the crystals and posted guards at the new found deposit.  The Kashmir mine was operated from 1882 to 1887, and only for about 2 months out of each year, as the snow and ice throughout the rest of the year that high in the Himalayas made productive mining impossible. By 1887 the Kashmir mine was discovered to be exhausted by British geologist, T.D. La Touche, and over the course of the next century until the present the flow of sapphires from the region has been like the slow drip of a leaky faucet.

Blue Kashmir Sapphire B2670

Most Kashmir sapphires that come on the market today are found in estate and antique jewelry. Some of the finest are found occasionally at auction, as was recently the case with the Christie’s Auction house. It is rare to find them available as loose stones. Our own 3.03ct untreated Kashmir sapphire here at The Natural Sapphire Company is one of our most loved sapphires, not only for its astounding rarity, but for its vivid untreated cornflower blue hue, stunning clarity, and sparkling facet arrangement. With reports from both the Gübelin Gem Lab and the Gemological Institute of America both stating the sapphire’s untreated Kashmir origins; our Kashmir sapphire is the real McCoy.

This era is known as Art Deco in the jewelry industry.

This name is derived from the Exposition International des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes, which was held in Paris in 1925.

The style of this time was highly influenced by art of the time, which was the beginning of the Cubist and Fauve movements. So that would be mean geometric patterns and colors were all the rage.

This gorgeous blue sapphire and diamond bracelet showcases the geometric pattern and design surrounding the breathtaking blue sapphires.

Artists shared ideas from other world culture’s and designs. The garland style and geometric influence from the Far East is beautifully depicted in these gorgeous blue sapphire earrings.

After World War I the economy was transformed in Europe and here in the United States, so fashions and women’s designs were becoming more inventive with the rise of Coco Chanel’s elegant silhouettes.

The unique and innovative design of this ring is Parisian chic at its best!

Many jewelry techniques were developed during this era including the invisible setting.

The gorgeous ruby ring is comprised of rubies that have been cut and calibrated so they are set seamlessly to achieve this look.

You can see all of our gorgeous Estate Style inspired jewelry items and take a step back in time to timeless elegance.

Image courtesy of BBC news: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-21183406

The great mystery though, the story we do not know and may never know, is when and where this ring was made, what did it symbolize, and most importantly who’s finger did it rest on?

In March, a workshop of 30 experts met at the Yorkshire Museum (the current owners of the ring) to do analysis and formulate opinions. By the end of their discussions and presentations they had developed theories which will now be expanded on as research continues.  Some thoughts to expand on are their belief that based on the wear of the ring that it was worn for at least 50 years before being lost. They also believe the sapphire cabochon to have been cut much earlier during the Roman period, and that the ring was made in Europe, possibly having belonged to a King, leader, or consort.  Natalie McCaul, curator of archaeology at the Yorkshire Museum was really puzzled by the ring, remarking that “Nothing like it has been found in this country from the 5th or 6th century.”

Though the exact story of this ring is still a mystery, there are a couple aspects of the ring that can be noted and help derive conclusions, or at least possible conclusions. To begin, the ring is fashioned from high karat gold, and features an outer design of gold granules, from an ancient jewelry technique called granulation. Granulation was practiced extensively by the Sumerians, Etruscans, and the Greeks, and involves the precise formation and placement of tiny spheres of gold.  Though The Escrick Ring is believed to have been made much later than those civilizations, in Europe, it can be assumed that those civilizations inspired the creation of this ring. Jewelry designers continue to be inspired by the granulation technique, and more and more people are finding the classic designs to be the most unique.

The design motif of The Escrick Ring features at the ring’s center a blue sapphire cabochon. The design appears to be a 4-pointed star or sun design on top of a cross which is (and was) composed of prestige enamel glass. The design closely resembles the ancient symbol of the Mesopotamian sun-god Shamash. This brings the curious question of whether this ring was designed simply as an aesthetic appreciation for the Sumerian culture, or was there some connection between its wearer and ancient religions?

Star of Shamash - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Star_of_Shamash.png

If The Escrick Ring is from the 5^th or 6^th centuries, it is understandable why it has been difficult to compare this ring to anything from that time.  The ring would have been worn just after the end of Roman rule, and just before the Anglo-Saxon period in a time known as Sub-Roman. Also notable are the 4 round points around the sapphire, which if indeed this ring belonged to a King, those 4 points may be representative of a fortress or castle, or even the four corners of their kingdom. If the ring’s owner was originally from York, the 4-points next to the sapphire could symbolize the four corners of the Roman fortress built in York, as the corners of the Roman fortress were positioned on the points of the compass, north, south, east, and west.

Everything is speculation at this point, but research is planned to continue with the University of Durham. X-Ray technology will be used to research how the ring was made and gemological testing will be done on the sapphire. Given the age of the ring, it is likely that the sapphire cabochon came from Sri Lanka, the oldest source of sapphires, not to mention the source of most of The Natural Sapphire Company’s untreated sapphires. Until more definite answers are determined The Escrick Ring will remain a mystery. If only sapphire rings could talk; without a doubt, The Escrick Ring would have a story to tell.

Cabochon Blue Sapphire C2031

Figure 1 PATRICK KOVARIK/AFP/GETTY IMAGES www.nydailynews.com

The story of the ring begins in the year 1796, when a 26 year old soldier fell in love with a widow, six years his elder. He was not a wealthy man at the time, and paid what he could for a meaningful engagement ring for his beloved. Stepping into a jewelry store, the young soldier searched for a ring to represent the delicate beauty of his desire and symbolize the union of their souls in marriage. When he saw it, he knew that it was the One.  The ring was in the “toi et moi” style, which translates to “You and Me,” and was set with a sapphire and a diamond side by side, each pear shaped and just under a carat, pointing in different directions. “Josephine will adore it!” he must have thought.

Photo Credit: www.swide.com

The young soldier was Napoleon Bonaparte and he was ready to propose to the love of his life, Josephine de Beauharnais. Their wedding day fell on March 9^th of 1796 and it was not a moment too soon as 36 hours later Napoleon would leave with the French army to invade Italy. While away with the army, Napoleon wrote often to his bride using passionate words to describe his hopeless love and adoration for Josephine, and how he longed for her to visit him at the front.

Photo Credit: www.extravaganzi.com

A visit from Josephine would never come. And though the marriage of Napoleon and Josephine didn’t last due to certain infidelities and Josephine being unable to provide Napoleon with an heir, their Love was forever strong and lasting. It’s been written that upon his deathbed, Napoleon’s last words were, “France, the Army, Head of the Army, Josephine.”  And as for Josephine’s feelings, it cannot be fully known, but even after their divorce, she cherished the sapphire and diamond ring that Napoleon had given her, and passed it down through the generations as a family heirloom.

Seeing sapphire jewelry like this come up for auction is exciting for The Natural Sapphire Company for similar reasons as everyone else’s piqued interest in the story. It is incredible to see something as simple and miniscule as a sapphire ring that actually holds so much greater meaning and symbolism. It is the intimate reality of the ring having held such importance to a man who had such an effect on the world of his time, and to the woman who originally received it and held it closer to her heart than any of the prizes of war that Napoleon sent home to her. For the winning bidder who now owns this ring, they own a piece of a great historical story. The rings design, however, can live on to symbolize the union of souls in future engagements.

It was out of the combination of interest in this sapphire ring’s story and with the simple elegance of the “toi et moi” ring design that led The Natural Sapphire Company to design a historical reproduction of the sapphire and diamond engagement ring Napoleon gave to Josephine. Fortunately, our ring won’t set you back $1.17 million as it doesn’t include the historical significance; however it is of course historically inspired. Call it the ring to begin your own Empire with – a family heirloom that might sell at auction in another 200 years.

http://www.TheNaturalSapphireCompany.com/Press/Napoleon.jpg

]]> http://www.thenaturalsapphirecompany.com/Blog/napoleon-and-josephine%e2%80%99s-sapphire-diamond-engagement-ring-sells-at-auction/feed 0 http://www.thenaturalsapphirecompany.com/Blog/we-love-the-new-onewed-ipad-app http://www.thenaturalsapphirecompany.com/Blog/we-love-the-new-onewed-ipad-app#comments Tue, 12 Mar 2013 16:21:04 +0000 Caitlyn http://www.thenaturalsapphirecompany.com/Blog/?p=5393 Are you a bride-to-be looking for a tool to help you plan your special day?  Look no further than Onewed’s new iPad app!  Browse photos in every wedding category you can think of, from wedding gowns to linens to hair glam.  Shop, create idea boards, or even contact vendors all using this simple and convenient app.  Perfect for the bride-to-be on the go!  Download it here for free: – http://bit.ly/W2z7ql

Need ideas for a custom wedding set?  Contact us today about creating your own unique his and her wedding bands or browse our selection of custom made sapphire bands!

Custom Made Diamond and Sapphire Band

Custom Blue Sapphire and Diamond Wedding Set

With the popularity of 14K Rose Gold settings, champagne and peach sapphires are the perfect choice and combination. As a result, these lovely sapphires have been in the spotlight!

Here is a stunning peach sapphire U2786 shown in our lovely and delicate  rose gold setting JS43R14.

This is the perfect balance of refined beauty and femininity.

Peach Sapphire U2786

U2786 in JS43R14

Champagne and Peach sapphires looks beautiful with any metal type in fact.

The cool hue of white gold or platinum is beautiful next to this stunning vivid peach sapphire!

Champagne and Peach sapphires flatter every skin tone.

You are welcome to send us an inquiry and we will be happy to send you a 3D image of the sapphire you have selected in the setting of your dreams!

3D Rendering Peach Sapphire Ring

http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/daily-ticker/secrets-jewelry-industry-jeweler-won-t-tell-135609102.html

With the growing demand for colored stones, new treatments and synthetics have entered the marketplace.  The article points to one of the latest treatments to rock the industry (no pun intended), the lead-glass filled or composite rubies.  Essentially, low-quality corundum not suitable for gemstone fashioning is bonded by lead-glass to the extent that it becomes mostly glass instead of the mineral itself.  These materials are sold as rubies though in reality are compositionally polar opposites of rubies and different species altogether.  This treatment has been around for years, but with consumers now becoming more informed, the cat’s out of the bag in many situations.  And if it’s not, it should be.  Some treated gemstones need extra care in cleaning and polishing and unless their treatment is disclosed, general maintenance can severely damage the stone.  For example, fracture filling in emeralds can seep out during cleaning and composite rubies can break apart.

Treatments themselves aren’t necessarily a bad thing.  Basic heat treatment is permanent and stable, simply enhancing the color and clarity without compromising the durability of the stone.  Different levels of treatments and synthetics occupy niches in the marketplace that provide consumers with beautiful gemstones historically unavailable to anyone but the elite.  However, it is unacceptable when these treatments aren’t disclosed and consumers purchase a gemstone believing it to be something it’s not.  The article points out several questions to ask when buying rubies all aimed at exposing the potential treatment that your jeweler is neglecting to tell you.  The aim is to make you aware of these realities so that you don’t buy a composite ruby with an untreated Burmese ruby price tag.  But where do you draw the line?  Yes, 95% of the sapphires and rubies in the marketplace are enhanced by heat and the treatment is routine.  Is that reason enough to not tell the consumer about it?  It’s an ongoing debate in the industry and in my opinion, any method by which your gemstone was changed from its original state should be disclosed, routine or not.

At The Natural Sapphire Company, we specialize in untreated rubies and sapphires, the types of stones the article above deems to be “among the rarest of all gems” and “often priced in the 7-figures.”   With the majority of rubies and sapphires in the marketplace enhanced by heat treatment, the stones with unaltered beauty carry a higher price tag (all other factors equal, of course).  We also offer a selection of heated gemstones, like heated padparadscha sapphires and heated pink sapphires since these stones are exceptionally rare, heated or not.  We believe in full disclosure of enhancements and what’s more, we provide an education section where our customers can learn more about common gemstone treatments

http://www.thenaturalsapphirecompany.com/Education2/common-sapphire-treatments/overview/

Our goal is to provide our customers with something they will value and cherish forever by being completely honest from the start.  Our customers don’t need to worry about information we’re not sharing because it’s written in plain sight.  And if there’s anything else you’re questioning and curious about, all you need to do is ask!  We are more than happy to share our expertise to ensure that you are getting exactly what you paid for.\

Secretary Kyaw Htay of Myanmar Gems and Jewelry Entrepreneurs Association says gems produced in Myanmar need internationally recognized certificates to be accepted all over the world. According to Mr. Kyaw Htay, the equipment needed for the establishment of the gem lab is to be purchased soon. The guidance and assistance of the chairman of Myanmar Gems Entrepreneurs Association Tay Za is essential for the emergence of the new gem lab, he added.  Despite several attempts to resign from his position since the US placed him on the sanctions list in 2007, Tay Za is being encouraged to remain in his position until the end of the year.  Myanmar is currently known for producing some of the finest rubies, sapphires, and other gemstones in the marketplace, however the Association wishes to usher Myanmar into the finished jewelry realm by developing their own jewelry production industry.  The Association views Tay Za’s dedication to his work as vital for this effort to be realized.

Arrangements are made to open the new gem lab in 2013, at Kaba Aye Gem Hall, in Mayangone Township of Yangon, near the famous Kaba Aye Pagoda “World Peace Pagoda.”

Another source reports that the staff for the new gem lab will be trained in Hong Kong.

The famous Kaba Aye Pagoda, in Mayangone township of Yangon. Kaba Aye means world peace in Burmese. The new gem lab is to be near the pagoda.