Cornflower-colored sapphires are considered the most valuable. Blue sapphires without flaws, with evenly distributed color, that are well-cut and brilliant, are the best. Astrologically, blue sapphires and rubies have the same effect, but the value of a blue sapphire is about one fourth the value of an equal quality ruby. Blue sapphires transmit the color violet. In Sanskrit, blue sapphire is known as sauriratna, "sacred to Saturn."Blue sapphires are less valuable if they are tinted green, light sky blue, dark blue, or purple. Sapphires that are very dark, very light or colorless, have inclusions, external blemishes, internal feathers, or black spots are not good.

Astrological Effects of a Blue Sapphire

Blue sapphires are the gemstones for Saturn. An ill-placed Saturn in a birth chart can cause poverty and suffering. Wearing blue sapphires can be advantageous for those for whom Saturn is the lord of an auspicious house. If Saturn, as lord of an auspicious house, is afflicted or ill disposed, blue sapphire may help to neutralize its effect.

Blue sapphires bring good effects if the right person wears them; if the wrong person wears them, his or her life can be ruined. Blue sapphires are touchy gems; even when they are worn by the proper people, they can bring negative effects on occasion. This is because some gemstones are unlucky. Therefore, blue sapphire should always be worn for a trial period to ascertain whether the particular stone you have purchased will do harm.

It is believed that blue sapphires will change color to warn against an enemy's attack.A good sapphire is brilliant, radiant, and transparent. Its rays should spread out from within, and it should not reflect any color other than its own. A good sapphire is solid. Such a stone will bring the wearer wealth, fame, a good name, health, happiness, prosperity, a long life, mental peace, and good children. Wearing a blue sapphire protects against danger, travel problems, terror, thieves, accidents and problems from storms, fire, or natural disasters. It can cause financial fortunes to change for the better, help with a person's career, and make the wearer rich. It can free one of mental anxiety. It helps make one detached, and protects against envy. It can be worn for good luck and for protection against evil spirits. Since Saturn rules the nervous system, blue sapphires help problems of the nerves-tension and neuroses-diseases caused by an afflicted Saturn. Because Saturn is the slowest moving planet, it tends to cause chronic disease.

Wearing a blue sapphire may help cure bad blood, mental problems, headache, vomiting, deafness, fainting, and may make the bones stronger. It can be worn to protect against heart problems, or by a person suffering from alcoholism.

But beware of flawed sapphires. A cracked gem may attract accidents. A stone with a depression may cause ulcers or boils. A milky stone may cause poverty. If a stone is two-colored, there may be trouble from an enemy. If it is dull or opaque, it may cause family problems. If it is marked with white lines, it may cause eye troubles. If it has red dots, it can cause poverty.

Those who choose to wear blue sapphires should choose stones that are at least two carats-and ideally at least five carats. Such stones should be set in rings made of steel (iron), and if necessary, ashta dhatu, an alloy of eight metals, which are gold, silver, copper, tin, zinc, mercury, lead and iron. They can also be set in rings of gold and silver.

The proper rituals should be performed to install the gem. The ring should be worn on the middle of the right hand on a Saturday, two hours to two hours and forty minutes before sunset. A ring should be made when Saturn is in its exalted, well-placed sign-Libra-or in a friendly constellation. The gem should not be worn if Saturn is debilitated in the birth chart. Blue sapphires can be worn during an eclipse.

The mantra to be chanted for blue sapphire: Om sham shanaischaraya namaha (chanted 108 times). It is also good to chant Om shanti shanti shanti . The stotra of invocation: Om nilanjana samabhasam, ravi putra yama agrajam, chaya martanda sambhratam, tam namami sanaiscaram .

The substitutes for blue sapphire are: blue zircon, blue tourmaline, amethyst, indicolite, blue spinel and lapis lazuli. If lapis lazuli or amethyst are used, the stones should be at least five to ten carats-as they are weaker than blue sapphire.

Because Saturn is not compatible with the Sun, Moon, and Mars, blue sapphire and its substitutes should not be worn with ruby, pearl, or red coral. Some also say a blue sapphire should not be worn with a yellow sapphire. The exception is when the setting includes the Navaratna (Nine Gems).

The cosmic number relating to blue sapphire is eight. Sapphire deals with air, touch, skin, and the nervous system. It is related to the fourth chakra, Anahata (lower chest). Black cloth, a black thread, a black pearl, and the number eight can also sometimes help ease an afflicted Saturn.