Intense red natural Songea Sapphire (.29ct, VS, Songea Africa) hand set in 925 sterling silver. All the sparkle and fire of a red Diamond, without the hefty price tag. This will make a beautiful engagement ring. September's birthstone has come a long way since the days when any and every blue stone was called a sapphire. Though its fame is shared with its Big Three counterparts ruby and emerald, sapphire has enjoyed a long run as one of the world's most beloved gemstones, earning itself a place of honor in crown jewels, royal accessories, museums, and even in modern royal engagement rings. Lest sapphire get too haughty, it has common uses as well. The rough polishing material on emery boards is made up of lower-quality corundum grains, strengthened with hematite, magnetite and quartz.Sapphire has a long and storied history that has no clear beginning. Highlights include mentions of it in the Bible as well as in ancient scholarly texts like Pliny's Natural History. Sapphire has been prized for thousands of years not only for its beauty but also for its supposed powers, usually related to eyes or vision, thanks to sapphire's calming blue hues. To wit: An oval blue sapphire set in a gold ring was among the possessions of France's King Charles V during the 14th century, apparently used to touch and soothe the eyes, and clergymen in the Middle Ages wore rings set with blue sapphires prized for their "heavenly" blue color. Sapphire began writing itself a more factual history when 18th-century gemologists began using the term "corundum" to describe blue stones of a particular hardness. While still not exact, it was a step in the right direction and a big improvement over the days when every blue stone was called sapphire. Since then, sapphire's history has been closely tied to the Kashmir region of Pakistan and India, the source of the world's finest, most prized sapphires, both then and nowThe Songea mine in Africa produced gems of amazing quality, but has been mined out for several years. Much coveted for this quality.This item can be precious metal wrapped charges apply.Please ask questions.