![[Black Sapphire pic.png]] **Black sapphire** was a rare variety of [sapphire](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Sapphire "Sapphire") found mainly in [south Faerûn](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/South_Faer%C3%BBn "South Faerûn"), particularly around the [Great Rift](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Great_Rift "Great Rift") where the [dwarves](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Dwarves "Dwarves") of the [Deep Realm](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Deep_Realm "Deep Realm") prized them greatly ## Description These stones were an inky, lustrous black that reflected white or yellow highlights and were facet-cut in the same way as their blue cousins. Base Value of 5000gp ## Powers When cut and polished, a jewel-quality black sapphire prevented time-related [spells](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Spells "Spells") from operating within a range of 30 feet (9.1 meters). Spells such as _[temporal stasis](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Temporal_stasis "Temporal stasis")_, _[time stop](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Time_stop "Time stop")_, and spells from the arcane [chronomancy](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Chronomancy "Chronomancy") school or divine [time sphere](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Time_sphere "Time sphere") all ceased functioning, either temporarily or permanently, depending on the nature of the spell. These gems could also be used in the creation of exceptionally powerful [wands](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Wand "Wand") that stored spells like _[darkness](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Darkness "Darkness")_ and related magics. The darkness effects produced were either more difficult for the target to resist or the strength of the spell increased, again, depending on the nature of the spell. The [shadow magic](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Shadow_magic "Shadow magic") item _[helm of darkness](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Helm_of_darkness "Helm of darkness")_ used a large black sapphire and thirty-six [black opals](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Black_opal "Black opal") in its construction # Volo's Guide Black sapphires are a rare variety of sap¬ phire that is a deep, rich black with yellow or white highlights. These jewels come mostly from the South, in particular the Great Rift, as they are most plentiful in the Deep Realm of the dwarves and are brought up through the Great Rift to the surface world for trading. Dwarves prize them highly, as do a growing number of wizards who have learned that once a black sapphire has been cut and polished, it prevents [[Temporal Stasis]] , [[Time Stop]], and all chronomancy wizard or priest spells and time sphere spells ([[Time (Cleric) (Druid)]]) from functioning within 30 feet of it. Such magics cease to function if a black sapphire is brought within 30 feet of their areas of effect. (Some resume operation after the gem is no longer present, and others are ended, according to their natures.)