Saturn and Its Gemstone Blue Sapphire
Saturn is given the post of an attendant in the solar system. According to Linga Puran, Saturn is born from the exuberant light mass of the lord Rudra and according to Markendaya Purana , Saturn was born to Chhaya-the wife of the sun. Its speed is very slow that is why he is called Shaneshchar which means a slow mover. In Indian astrology, Saturn is considered to be a malefic amongst the malefic but its last effect is happy. Throwing man into misfortunes and calamities, the Saturn ultimately saves the man. He is regarded the strongest of all planets. Saturn rules the owners of the zodiacal signs Capricorn and Aquarius. Blue Sapphire is the gemstone of Saturn. It rules the direction west.

Blue sapphire is a gem of Kurundan family. It is found in blue, sky, blue, pink and brinjal colours.

Blue sapphire is a compound of aluminum and oxygen. Due to slight mixture with cobalt it becomes blue. Blue sapphire found in Ceylon is the best, deep light coloured and transparent. Blue sapphire of deep colour and transparence is found in Thailand and Australia.

Blue sapphire/Neelam shows its effects sooner than any other gem. It is proved fruitful or effective to the wearer, it will destroy his diseases, faults, sorrows, poverty and increases his food grains, prosperity, strength, glory, life-span and off-springs. It also restores the property which the wearer might have lost prior to the wearing of the blue sapphire. If it is proved unfavorable, it may make all the efforts, activities fruitless and may destroy every thing of the wearer.

Blue sapphire is most useful especially to the transporters, property dealers, contractors, mill owners, dealers in machines, laborers, hawkers, policemen, workers of local self-government and financers. It is also said that it can give peace to the heart of the man if it is worn near the heart. According to a Buddhist monk evil thoughts are destroyed and mind as well as behavior remains pacified by wearing blue sapphire. Morality remains firm in ladies who wear blue sapphire. It should be taken off, if its colour is changed or it is cracked because this is a warning to the wearer that he should change his gem.

Identification of Blue Sapphire

Natural sapphires carry within them clear signs of slow crystallization. Some of the external elements sometimes remains preserved in the gem which helps its identification. Like all other precious gems it should have inclusions which should be visible to the naked eye or under magnification. Otherwise, it is a piece of glass or a synthetic substance.

The inclusions are generally like feathers or are like finger print impressions. Liquid inclusions looking like lace are also sometimes visible.

Synthetic sapphires are very common in the market and many traders in order to earn fast money sell them as originals. These are very clear and under magnification show bubble like inclusions. Sometimes feather like inclusions have also seen but they shine abnormally under light.