Al₂O₃
Sapphire
September’s corundum keeps every colour except the red, which the trade reserves for ruby.
- Formula
- Al₂O₃
- Mohs hardness
- 9
- Crystal system
- trigonal
- Colour
- blue, pink, yellow, many-coloured
- Element
- water
- Chakra (tradition)
- throat
- Zodiac
- Virgo, Libra, Sagittarius, Taurus
- Month
- September
- Where the earth keeps it
- Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Madagascar
What it actually is
Sapphire is Al₂O₃ before it is a story. The lattice is trigonal, Mohs 9, and the eye meets blue, pink, yellow, many-coloured.
The better pieces still come out of the ground in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Madagascar. September’s corundum keeps every colour except the red, which the trade reserves for ruby.
What the old tradition whispers
The parlour tradition ties Sapphire to water and to the throat centre. The old site stood it near: Virgo, Libra, Sagittarius, Taurus. Old tables sit it beside September.
How not to turn it to ash
A hard stone survives a daily ring, yet two diamonds in one box will scratch each other. Warm water and a soft cloth are enough.