Sapphire - September's Birthstone

Sapphire, the birthstone of September

“…Fit only for the hands of kings to wear, with purest azure shines the Sapphire rare, for worth and beauty chief of gems proclaimed…”

-        -   De Lapidibus, 1035-1123

September is here, and with it, the next birthstone of the year, sapphire.

~ Assortment of sapphire gemstones, photo curtesy of Stuller

This sparkling jewel has long been associated with the sky, divinity and heaven. While sapphire is famous as a blue stone, ranging from velvet azure to crystal clear cyan, it is in fact a rainbow stone.

~ Earrings by Lisa Nik featuring rainbow sapphires

Sapphires are a member of the corundum family of minerals, same as ruby, and can come in any color besides red. From yellow and orange to green, purple and pink, there’s a color for all sapphire lovers.

The blue color of sapphires can be twinged with violet or green, providing rich options for perfect for all styles. Sapphires also have varied saturations, allowing for the gem to come in pastels and deep, vivid tones.

Despite the color of our sky, true blue hues are rare in nature, with less than 10% of flowers showcasing the color.

~ Floral inspired sapphire ring by Zeghani

 It’s no wonder so many ancient cultures were drawn to this treasured stone. The color was magical, unseen and celestial. It quickly became a favored gem, and gained widespread admiration.

Even today, the cool and serene blue of sapphire is tied to loyalty, honesty, purity and charity.

Sapphires can also showcase phenomena like asterism (stars) and color-change.

~ Sapphire and diamond pendant in yellow gold by Stanton Color

In Ceylon, sapphires were used as a ward against the evil eye. It was also said that if a sapphire grew cloudy or lost brilliance, it was a bad omen.

Romans and Greeks were some of the first to claim that sapphires were excellent remedies for the eyes. They attributed the stone to having healing properties for any and all vision aliments. This ranged from pressing a slice of sapphire to the eyes to soaking a sapphire in water and using that as a rinse.

~ Sapphire 'slice' necklace

One Hebrew legend states that the original Ten Commandments were inscribed on slabs of sapphire. Due to how hard this gemstone is, it was considered proof that God alone could have written the laws upon the tablets.

Sapphire is the birthstone for September, and is also the chosen gemstone for the Zodiac sign Virgo.

The state of Montana has a few sapphire mines that produce fine stones, including those with mixed colors. These offer another unique option, perfect for self-expression.

~ Ring by Parle, featuring a Montana sapphire in the center

The seasons are changing, but divine sapphire has every color you need to transition into autumn while still honoring summer.

From intense to soft, the hues of this royal gemstone are filled with personality and charm.

 ~ Blog by Isabelle Corvin, Staff Gemologist and Merchandising Manager at Panowicz Jewelers