Did you know that, according to surveys, more than 50% of individuals world-wide, men and women alike, have as their favorite hue the color blue? If you are among these ardent fans of the color of the sky and sea, could you take a few seconds to think about the very reasons for which you are so fond of it or what does this hue suggest to you? Until you find out this, I am going to tell you right here and right now with what the rest of people out there associate the blue color - they have repeatedly stated that this is the hue of harmony and balance, of happiness and wellbeing, of peacefulness and tranquility, which could be compared to some extent to the global symbol of what yin and yang represents - absolute equilibrium above all!

History. One of the four precious stones in the world, along with the ruby, emerald and diamond, the blue sapphire is loved for its deep shade of color and for its simply amazing brilliance and clarity. It has been praised all throughout history, ever since its discovery. And to illustrate all the fame this stone has gloated in through centuries and the fascination and passion individuals developed for it, all we have to say is that in early times people thought that the Earth is 'set' in an enormous blue sapphire firmament. What else could be more of a compliment than this old belief? Nowadays, with the advance of science and technology, we may not indulge in such beautiful dreams of living on a planet that is embedded in a huge, yet delicately-carved boulder of blue sapphire, but we still appreciate the beautiful hue of the gem and admit that it is the very color of the sky and the sea veiled in it.

Variety. If the ruby is the red variety of the corundum mineral, then sapphire accounts for the rest of the colors gems made from corundum have. The most precious and valuable of all is, definitely, the deep blue sapphire also known as the cornflower sapphire, but other shades of the same hue are also very appreciated. Furthermore, what makes sapphire so fascinating and sought after, besides its scarceness, is the fact that it does not come only in one color - like the ruby, its famous sibling in the precious gem family. On the contrary, it comes in a wide range of colors, from translucent white to deep red, brown and even black, these ones being known as fancy sapphires.

If the blue sapphires are considered the most beautiful of all, the purple ones are known to be the cheapest due to their abundance in vanadium. However, in that which concerns the blue sapphires there must necessarily be noted one thing: there are two types of precious sapphires in this hue - the cornflower, deep blue, translucent sapphire and the star sapphire, which presents the rare light-display effect and star-light phenomenon known as asterism, which is also present in the ruby stone.

In that which concerns the regions from which this sky-blue gem is obtained, Sri-Lanka is the place that offers us the most refined and splendid specimens, also being the location where two of the most famous sapphires world-wide - the Logan sapphire and the Star of Bombay - come from. Other deposits where sapphire is extensively mined are in Mdagascar, Myanmar, Thailand, Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Kenya, Tanzania, New South Wales, Australia and the US.

Uses. Given its astonishing beauty and seductively sparkling deep blue, the sapphire is used to create elegant and sleek pieces of jewelry. However, this gem can at any time be used as a therapeutic stone, as it is able to chase away all the negative energy surrounding someone and also to exude positive energy so as to bring harmony and equilibrium into that person's life. It is all about regulating imbalances and this is why it is famous for its beneficial effects against emotional disorders. If you are going through times of chaos and confusion in your life, then you should definitely get yourself a blue sapphire, no matter the size, as it is going to clear up your mind and put your heart in the right place.

Sapphire is also the lucky gemstone for the following signs: Libra (in the European horoscope) and Tiger (in the Chinese horoscope).