Those born in September are lucky enough to call the sapphire their birthstone. Sapphire is also the gemstone for the 5th and 45th anniversaries. Read on to learn more fun facts about the September birthstone!
About The September Birthstone
The sapphire comes from the corundum family, which includes rubies. Blue sapphires have adorned crowns and regal robes for centuries. Its stunning blue hue is iconic — it’s the standard against which other blue gems are measured. According to GIA, the name “sapphire” can also apply to any corundum that’s not ruby red — those are categorized as rubies. We call any sapphire that’s not blue or red a “fancy” sapphire, which comes in various colors. Both blue and fancy sapphires come from Madagascar, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Australia.
Beyond (Sapphire) Blue
While we typically think of sapphires as blue, fancy sapphires range in every color except ruby red. This includes pink, green, orange, and other hues. How do they get to be each color? First, trace elements of iron and titanium turn corundum blue. While chromium can cause the red shade of ruby or pink of pink sapphire. Colorless corundum also makes an excellent replacement for diamonds; however, it is a rare phenomenon and difficult to find. As if you didn’t already have enough options for sapphires, they also come in color-changing varieties. The stones change color under different lighting!
History of The Sapphire
The lore of sapphires has fascinated humans for centuries and has been associated with royalty and mystique. According to GIA, kings and queens believed blue sapphires protected their owners from envy and harm in ancient Greece and Rome. I doubt it protected their owners from envy — I’d undoubtedly be envious of a gorgeous sapphire piece!
The royal history of the sapphire includes some more modern history. Princess Diana’s engagement ring, now Kate Middleton’s, is well-known as one of the most famous engagement rings ever.
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