Sincerity, truth, faithfulness, and nobility have all historically been associated with the birthstone for September. Sapphire has been used for millennia to embellish kings and priests’ clothing. Ancient Greek and Roman nobility thought that blue sapphires shielded their owners from harm and enmity. Due to their association with Heaven, sapphires were worn by clergy during the Middle Ages. The ancient Persians thought the sky was blue because the world was actually supported by a massive sapphire.
The birthstone for September was also thought to have therapeutic properties. Europeans in the middle ages thought that sapphire could treat eye and plague blisters. It was once believed that the sapphire birthstone could neutralize poison.
The Rockefeller Sapphire, a 62.02 carat (ct) rectangle step cut stone discovered in Myanmar, is one of the most well-known sapphires (Burma). The stone was recut and remounted over the years after being purchased in 1934 by investor and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller, Jr. (18741960) from an Indian maharaja. The sapphire was first set as a brooch and afterwards as a ring with two triangular-shaped diamond side stones with cut corners. The sapphire engagement ring that Kate Middleton, the current Duchess of Cambridge, received from her son after Princess Diana wore it for the first time and it was set with a 12 carat blue sapphire may be the most well-known sapphire in recent years.
In This Article...
Is the sapphire the September birthstone?
The sapphire, the birthstone for September, is the most popular and stands for fidelity, romance, and high society. It’s a popular gemstone for engagement rings, especially in the royal family (we see you, Kate Middleton).
What are September’s two birthstones?
The sapphire, the birthstone for September, is related to the ruby, the birthstone for July. Both are crystalline variations of the mineral corundum, which is composed of aluminum oxide. Ruby is the name for red corundum. And sapphires are the name for all other corundum crystals with gem-quality. On the Mohs scale, all corundum, including sapphire, has a hardness of 9. In terms of toughness, sapphire is now only second to diamond.
Sapphires typically come in blue gems. The exact colour varies depending on how much titanium and iron are contained inside the crystal structure, and they range from a very light blue to a deep indigo. The medium-deep cornflower blue is the blue that is most valuable. Fancy sapphires are sapphires that have additional natural colors and tints, such as colorless, gray, yellow, pale pink, orange, green, and violet. The varied colors of gemstones are caused by distinct types of impurities within the crystal. For instance, ferric iron gives yellow sapphires their color, whereas colorless stones are free of impurities.
In particular, New South Wales and Queensland in Australia are the largest sources of sapphires in the world. Australian sapphires are generally blue gemstones with a dark and inky appearance that are found in alluvial deposits of worn basalt. The Indian region of Kashmir was once well-known for producing the cornflower-blue stones. The Yogo Gulch Mine in Montana is a significant source of coal in the United States. Small stones for industrial usage are the main output.
Sapphire lore
The word sapphire has ancient language origins. It comes from the Latin word sapphirus, which means “blue,” the Greek word sappheiros, which refers to the island of Sappherine in the Arabian Sea, where sapphires were discovered in ancient Greece, and the Arabic word safir. Sapphire was known as the “Celestial Stone” in ancient Persia. It was Apollo’s diamond, the Greek god of prophecy. People who visited his shrine in Delphi to ask for his assistance wore sapphires. Sapphires were employed by the ancient Etruscans as early as the 7th century B.C.
The sapphire was said to stand for the purity of the soul in addition to being the birthstone for September. Priests wore it before and during the Middle Ages to guard against immoral thoughts and physical temptations. The kings of medieval Europe prized these stones for their use in rings and brooches because they thought it would protect them from harm and enmity. Warriors gave sapphire necklaces to their young wives in order to ensure their loyalty. The color of the stone was said to darken if worn by an adulterer, adulteress, or someone who was worthless.
Sapphires were long thought to offer serpent protection. People used to think that putting venomous spiders and reptiles in a jar with the stone would cause the animals to die right away. In the 13th century, the French believed that sapphire could change bad temper into good temper and ignorance into wisdom.
On Queen Victoria’s 1838 Imperial State Crown is one of the most renowned sapphires. It is kept in the Tower of London’s collection of British Crown Jewels. This gem is known as St. Edward’s Sapphire because it previously belonged to Edward the Confessor, who wore it on a ring during his coronation in 1042.
The birthstones for the other months of the year can be found here:
When did sapphire become the birthstone for September?
Birthstones are a group of expensive jewels that are associated with a person’s birth month. Each gem is considered to represent the wearer’s individual traits and have a different meaning in traditional culture. The birthstone for each month has an interesting backstory. Only one birthstone is associated with some months, while two are.
Birthstones are said to have started on Aaron’s breastplate, with each gem standing for one of the twelve signs of the zodiac and the twelve months of the year combined, according to some accounts, including the first-century Roman-Jewish historian Josephus. Some claim that the breastplate’s stones represented one of Israel’s 12 tribes. Religious treatises from the eighth and ninth centuries link specific stones to the apostles. Additionally, more recent tales assert that a gemstone’s medicinal qualities are enhanced when worn during the designated month.
Accepted birthstones have come and gone throughout history, with style and supply occasionally dictating which stones would reign. The list was standardized in 1912 by the National Association of Jewellers in the UK, and it was revised in 1952 by the Jewelry Industry Council of America.
What makes sapphire so unique?
Diamonds are Sapphires’ only rivals in terms of durability. According to the Mohs Scale of Mineral Hardness, diamond is the hardest naturally occurring substance on earth, scoring a 10 out of 10. The Mohs Scale gives sapphires a 9 out of 10 for durability.
Do September babies wear blue sapphire jewelry?
Virgo is the zodiac sign of those who were born between August 24 and September 22. Mercury is the sign’s ruling planet, and the virgin is its symbol. Depending on their ruling planets, each individual experiences both favorable and negative developments. Wearing a birthstone, however, has a significant impact on enriching and enhancing a person’s life. It channels the ruling planet’s entire positive energy and causes it to be sympathetic toward the bearer.
The birthstone for Virgo is blue sapphire; legend has it that the power of this stone lies in the rays it emanates. It greatly affects the user due to its unique hue, crystalline structure, and feature. The stone is blue, which is seen to be a very important and potent hue. When compared to other stones of a similar color, the sapphire’s blue hue is thought to have the most light.
What stands for the sapphire?
Sapphire is a stone that symbolizes regal status. It is thought to draw wealth, favors, and gifts. It has been used to guard against harmful energies, as well as to promote spiritual clarity, clear the mind, and increase intuition.
Is sapphire a type of stone?
) containing minute quantities of substances like iron, titanium, chromium, vanadium, or magnesium. The Latin word “saphirus” and the Greek word “sapheiros,” both of which signify blue, are the origins of the term sapphire. Although it is usually blue, sapphires naturally can also be yellow, purple, orange, or green; “parti sapphires” exhibit two or more colors. Rubies, not sapphires, are the name for red corundum stones, which are also found. Depending on the region, corundum’s pink hue can be classed as either a sapphire or a ruby. Natural sapphires are frequently cut, polished, and set in jewelry as gemstones. Large crystal boules can be made from them synthetically in labs for industrial or decorative uses. In addition to their use in ornamental applications, sapphires are also used in some non-ornamental ones. These include high-durability windows, wristwatch crystals and movement bearings, infrared optical components, and very thin electronic wafers that serve as the insulating substrates for special-purpose solid-state electronics like integrated circuits and GaN-based blue LEDs. September’s birthstone is sapphire, which is also the rock for the 45th wedding anniversary. After 65 years, a sapphire jubilee occurs.
What birthstone has the rarest stone?
Most Precious Birthstones For instance, although expensive, April’s diamond is less rare than rubies, emeralds, and alexandrite. Speaking of alexandrite, it is now the most expensive and rarest gemstone on the list of birthstones. Additionally extremely rare, black opals are.
Why are there three birthstones for June?
Why are there three birthstones for June? Some months have more than one birthstone because different historical stones have become extremely rare, making it less likely that they would be sold on the market and meet consumer demand.