What is the Birthstone for September?
September Birthstone Sapphire
The birthstone for September is sapphire. Just the thought of the sapphire brings pictures of the stunning Royal Blue gemstones to mind.
How are Sapphires Formed?
September birthstone sapphire is a form of corundum.
Corundum is found in igneous rocks which are formed from cooled and solidified molten rock.
As the igneous rocks cool crystals form. The slower the rocks coool the larger and purer the crystals are.
Corundum contains different minerals that give the corundum its colour.
Traces of chronium will give turn the corundum red. These are rubies. All other colours are known as sapphires.
The prescence of titanium gives us blue sapphires, the most prized colour.
Where are Sapphires Found?
The main producers of sapphires are Kashmir, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka.
Sapphires are also mined in Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, and India.
Large deposits of sapphires have been found in Afghanistan, Austalia, Cambodia, China, India, Keyna, Laos, Madagascar, Malawi, Nepal, and Nigeria.
Are Sapphires Heat-Treated?
Most sapphires are heat-treated to improve the colour.
What Colour is a Sapphire?
Sapphires come in a range of colours; blue, pink, green, yellow, orange, purple, colourless and black. There are no red sapphires, red corundum is a ruby.
Sapphires in colours of pale blue, yellow, orange, purple and green are known as Fancy Sapphires.
Blue is the true colour of sapphire.
Pink sapphires are between sapphire and ruby. The US has strict colour saturation rules to determine whether a pink sapphire can be called a ruby.
High-quality Royal Blue sapphires are very rare despite being mined in so many countries.
Pink-orange sapphires, known as Padparadscha, a Sinhalese name for aquatic lotus blossom, are the rarest sapphire.
Their colours range from a pink-salmon colour to orange.
They are so rare they are seldom seen by the public.
Do Sapphires Scratch Easily?
On the Mohs Hardness Scale, the September birthstone sapphire scores 9.0. The only gemstone harder than sapphire is a diamond. the sapphire is a strong gemstone and ideal for all types of jewellery.
How do I Clean my Sapphire Jewellery?
Clean your sapphire jewellery in mild soapy water with a soft toothbrush.
Rinse well and dry with a soft cloth.
How much is a Sapphire Worth per Carat?
The colour and the hue are most important when placing a value on a sapphire.
The closer to pure blue increases the value of the gemstone.
The three main factors are the main colour and its hue, the saturation which is the vividness of the colour and last but not least, the tone which is how light or dark the gem is.
The cut, quality, and size of a sapphire are also important factors when pricing the gemstones.
The origin of the sapphire also affects the value of the gemstones as well as the cut, clarity, and carat size.
Can a Sapphire be used in an Engagement Ring?
The September birthstone sapphire is a great choice for an engagement ring.
Always choose symmetrical cuts which enhance the sparkle of your sapphire engagement ring.
Fun Facts, Myths and Legends
The name Sapphire comes from the Latin Sapphirus and Greek Sappherios meaning blue stone. Some believe it originates from the Ancient Sanskrit Sanipriya meaning dear to Saturn.
Sapphires are very hard and are only topped by the diamond.
The September birthstone sapphire is not only popular in the production of jewellery but also in the production of scientific instruments, windows, watches, and electronics industries.
In 1902 French chemist Auguste Verneuil developed a process to make synthetic sapphires.
Sapphires have been popular since the Middle Ages where the blue colour symbolized heaven.
The Greeks wore sapphires for guidance when seeking advice and answers from the Oracle.
Buddhists believed it bought spiritual enlightenment and Hindus used the gemstone in worship.
Ancient Hebrews believed the Ten Commandments were engraved on sapphire tablets, although it is now believed the stone was actually Lapis Lazuli.
The sapphire is believed to help the wearer focus and encourages self-discipline.
In Medieval Times it was believed sapphires could cure the Plague and boils, diseases of the eyes and an antidote to poisons.
Sapphires are believed to be therapeutical if set in silver or white gold and worn on the third finger.
In the 15th Century, sapphires were said to kill spiders when held near to the insect.
In the 18th Century it was believed wearing a sapphire would give the power to allow you to see into the future.
The chemical formula for sapphire is Al₂O₃
There have been famous sapphires over the years; The largest is the 1404.49-carat star of Adam.
One of the most remembered sapphires in recent years is the 12 carats blue sapphire ring given to Lady Diana Spencer by HRH The Prince of Wales on their engagement in 1981.
Wikipedia has some very good information about Princess Diana’s jewellery here.
Catherine, HRH the Duchess of Cambridge now wears the ring after it was given to her by Prince William, the eldest son of Diana, on their engagement in 2010.
The sapphire symbolizes the 45th wedding anniversary
The Birth Colours for September are Brown and Deep Blue
The September Birth Flowers are Aster and Morning Glory
Birthdays, anniversaries, engagements, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and every other occasion is always the right occasion for a September birthstone sapphire jewellery gift.
Find a list of all birthstones and months of birth here.
