September Birthstone: Sapphire
September is right around the corner, which means sapphires get to take the center stage as the official birthstone. It’s also the gemstone used to celebrate either a 4th or a 45th wedding anniversary.
When we hear the word “sapphire” we normally think of the deep blue variety of corundum, which is the scientific name for the mineral we know as sapphire. After all the word sapphire, in Greek, means blue. What you may not know is that corundum in its natural state is colorless. Trace elements, like iron and titanium for example, give it that beautiful blue color we’ve come to love. Other trace elements yield different colors.
Sapphires come in every color except one: red. That’s because the red variety of corundum is known as ruby. They’re also among the hardest of all gemstones. In fact, the only natural item that can scratch a sapphire is a diamond. This durability makes sapphires a great choice for jewelry items intended for everyday wear as well as for less traditional engagement rings.
One very famous sapphire engagement ring was given to Lady Diana by Prince Charles in 1981. It was later given to Kate Middleton, now the Duchess of Cambridge, by Prince William in 2010. That ring consists of a 12-carat oval cut blue sapphire center stone surrounded by 14 solitaire diamonds.
Revered by kings and clergy, sapphires have been known to symbolize royalty and romance. In the Middle Ages, sapphires were believed to encourage wise judgment. In medieval times, sapphires were believed to cure plague boils as well as act as an antidote to poison. Today we wear them to stimulate concentration and enhance creativity.
Click here to browse our collection of sapphire jewelry.
