The sapphire gem, which has been prized for thousands of years, is the birthstone for September. The term sapphire typically refers to the blue variation of corundum, whereas ruby is the red version, but this birthstone is available in a wide range of different hues. “Sapphire derives from the Greek word sappheiros, and blue sapphire is one of the most popular colored stones. Sapphires have long been connected with monarchy and romance. They are also thought to represent fidelity and the soul. Continue reading to find out more about the September birthstone, including its origins and locations.
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What are September’s two birthstones?
The current birthstone for September is sapphire. Sapphire is without a doubt the most expensive and well-liked birthstone for September out of the three gemstones on our list.
Sapphire and ruby are both members of the corundum gem family. Its rich, glossy blue is what makes the valuable stone so popular. In addition to blue, sapphire can also be found in many other colors, including purple, yellow, black, and orange, to mention a few. Red sapphires have their own name, which is ruby; there is no such thing as a red sapphire.
The color blue has long been linked to sapphire. The name “sapphire” actually derives from the Greek word “sapphirus,” which means “blue.” Sapphires were also thought to be connected to Apollo, the Greek god of light and the sun.
Ancient Persians, who lived in a distant region of the globe, held the view that the earth is supported by a massive sapphire. The fact that the sky’s blue color is a reflection of the blue gemstone was one of the arguments in favor of this theory. Even while that might not be the case, it is true that the earth appears to be a stunning blue diamond from orbit. According to legend, Christian clerics wore sapphire because of the stone’s heavenly link throughout the Middle Ages.
Knowledge, wisdom, intelligence, and fidelity are all represented by the sapphire. Some refer to it as the wisdom stone. Because of the sapphire’s intrinsic affinity for knowledge and wisdom, the blue gem’s power can be applied to a wide range of endeavors, including study, research, self-improvement, judgment, and critical thinking.
As a representation of enduring devotion, sapphire makes a wonderful solitaire or accent stone for a diamond engagement ring.
The ideal birthstone for September is which stone?
Sapphire, the September birthstone, is most coveted in its pure, deep blue shade, though it also comes in pink, yellow, and green. The gem symbolizes loyalty and trust in addition to shielding those close to you from harm during the Middle Ages.
September’s Birthstone: The Sapphire
We all imagine the birthstone for September to be a vivid blue. It’s true that sapphire IS blue. However, it can also appear in a rainbow of hues, from the golden hue of a dawn to the blazing reddish-orange of a sunset to the delicate violet of dusk. In reality, the Graduate Gemologists from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) here at Jewelers Mutual informed me that sapphire comes in all colors except red since a “Ruby, Sapphire’s gem brother, is a red sapphire.
We also found that the hue of corundum, the crystalline form of aluminum oxide, is what distinguishes sapphires from rubies. The term “pure aluminum oxide” refers to a colorless material that contains trace amounts of all known colors “Elegant Sapphire.
Here’s where Sapphire colors come from:
- Iron + titanium = blue
- Iron is a green and a yellow color.
- orange: chromium + iron
The corundum crystal is known as a Ruby when it contains enough chromium to turn it red.
What to Look For in a Sapphire
The most expensive shade of sapphire is an intense pure blue that is frequently referred to as velvety blue or cornflower blue. The most expensive bracelet in history was a stunning bracelet made of Kashmir Sapphire and Diamond that was auctioned off for $6.9 million on June 1 as part of Christie’s Jewels: The Hong Kong Sale.
A beautiful pinkish-orange shade called “Padparadscha” after the Sinhalese term for the lotus flower is another priceless hue. With so many shades of sapphire available, there is probably a sapphire to suit every preference and price range. Find advice on purchasing your favorite gemstones on the website of the American Gem Trade Association.
The Gemstone for Romance
Sapphire has always been connected to both romance and aristocracy. Sapphire is a perfect gemstone for an engagement ring since it represents a promise of fidelity, devotion, and trust. Therefore, it was not a coincidence that Prince William asked Kate to marry him using Princess Diana’s sapphire engagement ring. This look-alike from Brilliant Earth will let you get as near to the genuine thing as you can. Sapphire is the stone used to commemorate 45 years of marriage.
How to Care for Sapphires
Sapphires are a strong and long-lasting gemstone. Sapphires are the hardest stones as a result. With a fresh toothbrush, warm water, and mild dish soap, you can safely clean them. Consult GIA for additional information on gemstones.
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What is the crystal for a Virgo?
The stone symbolizing power, passion, and creativity is red jasper. It improves emotions of safety, security, and stability as a sacral and root chakra stone that encourages anchoring by regulating mood and fostering responsibility. Its earthy energy promotes balance and centering while inspiring confidence and tenacity in achieving your objectives. Virgos are naturally their own toughest critics since they have a tendency to be highly critical and hold themselves to a high standard. Red jasper inspires faith, resilience, and tenacity in Virgo and restores their self-assurance in their skills.
How: Always keep red jasper on hand if you’re feeling unmotivated or lethargic. Maintain it towards your lower chakras.
Disclaimer: Crystals and crystal healing should only be used to enhance other treatments and promote general health. Crystals should not be used in place of or as a substitute for qualified medical care. Please seek the guidance of a qualified health care provider if you need medical advice.
The Crystal Van, with headquarters in Hong Kong, was founded by Vanessa Hui, a Certified Crystal Healing Practitioner.
Alexandrite’s meaning?
Alexandrite is a gemstone with variable colors that shifts from a deep aqua green to a magenta to a lavender eggplant purple. The gemstone of good fortune, wealth, and intelligence is alexandrite. It can help you find the balance of who you are by representing the harmony between the physical and the spiritual.
The gemstone alexandrite is quite recent. In the 1830s, it was discovered in Russia. Due to the stone’s rich green color and the fact that the miners were actively looking for emeralds at the time, they initially believed it to be one. They didn’t realize they had found a brand-new gemstone until the light shifted and the stone became purple. Because its red and green hues mirrored those of Imperial Russia, it was given the name “Alexandrite” in honor of Alexander the II, the Tzar of Russia.
Today, however, the majority of alexandrites are from Brazil, East Africa, and Sri Lanka. In a laboratory, alexandrites can also be grown.
Is sapphire a pricey stone?
It was previously unimaginable for the main stone of an engagement ring to be anything other than a diamond. It’s one of the biggest trends right now. (And evidence that everything old is new again: Prior to the middle of the 20th century, the majority of engagement rings weren’t made of diamonds.) Whether this development is related to Instagram or is merely cyclical, engagement rings are increasingly being adorned with a stunning variety of diamonds. You should definitely think about it if your loved one has a flair for the unusual.
The sapphire is a superb option for gemstone engagement rings, so start there. Sapphires are the second-hardest jewel after diamonds, making them perfect for daily wear. Next, consider the two most well-known brides-to-be from recent years: Sapphires can be found in both Lady Gaga and Meghan Markle’s engagement rings. But does that imply that you’ll have to spend like a star? Most likely, you want to know how much sapphires cost.
First, be aware that some sapphires command the highest prices. The Kashmir sapphire, often known as cornflower blue, is the most expensive variety. The precious orange-pink Padparadschah sapphire and the color-changing sapphire, which changes colours based on the light, are two examples of valuable rare and exotic hues.
The most costly sapphire ever auctioned sold for $135,000 per carat, with prices for other varieties ranging from $25 to more than $11,000 per carat. A large, low-quality sapphire will be substantially less expensive than a little, really high-quality sapphire since the price of a sapphire is dependant on its quality.
What birthstone has the rarest stone?
While some birthstones are more accessible than others, precious gemstones in particular are thought to be relatively scarce. However, given that some really expensive stones are not all that rare and vice versa, price tags can be deceiving when it comes to rarity. 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.
Birthstones provide an intriguing way to select jewelry. They enable people to investigate jewels that they might otherwise avoid. However, birthstones are not always what people think they are, so make sure you are buying birthstone jewelry for the right reasons while making your selection.
Lapis Lazuli: a sapphire stone?
Since the Neolithic period, along the historic trade route between Afghanistan and the Indus Valley, dating to the seventh millennium BC, lapis lazuli has been mined in Afghanistan and shipped to the Mediterranean region and South Asia. These beads have also been discovered in significant numbers at towns dating back to the 4th millennium BC in Northern Mesopotamia and at the Bronze Age site of Shahr-e Sukhteh in southeast Iran (3rd millennium BC). Inlays of eyebrows and beards, amulets, pearls, and a dagger with a lapis handle were discovered in the royal tombs of the Sumerian city-state of Ur from the third millennium BC. Lazika Stone is another name for Stone.
The Akkadians, Assyrians, and Babylonians employed lapis in ancient Mesopotamia for jewelry and seals. One of the earliest known works of literature, the Mesopotamian poetry The Epic of Gilgamesh (17th18th Century BC), makes multiple references to it. Lapis lazuli inlays are used on the irises of the eyes of the Statue of Ebih-Il, a statue from the third millennium BC that was discovered in the ancient city-state of Mari in modern-day Syria and is currently housed in the Louvre.
Lapis lazuli was a preferred material in ancient Egypt for scarabs and amulets. During predynastic Egyptian site Naqada excavations, lapis jewelry has been discovered (33003100 BC). The relief carvings of Thutmose III (14791429 BC) at Karnak depict lapis lazuli fragments and barrel-shaped pieces being given to him as a gift. Cleopatra used powdered lapis as eyeshadow.
Lapis lazuli jewelry has also been discovered in Mycenae, indicating that the Myceneans interacted with Egypt’s and the East’s advanced civilizations.
Lapis lazuli is described as being “opaque and flecked with gold” by Pliny the Elder.
The stone was a representation of achievement in ancient Jewish tradition because it combines the blue of the heavens with the golden sparkle of the sun. The lapis lazuli stone was revered as the stone of the Virgin Mary in early Christian history.
Lapis lazuli was frequently referred to as sapphire in late classical and early medieval periods (sapphirus in Latin, sappir in Hebrew), despite having little in common with the stone now known as the blue corundum form of sapphire.
Theophrastus, a Greek scientist, characterized lapis lazuli as “the sapphirus, which is sprinkled with gold” in his book on stones.
There are numerous references to “sapphire” in the Old Testament, but most academics concur that they most likely relate to lapis lazuli rather than sapphire because sapphire was unknown before the Roman Empire. Exodus 24:10, for example, states, “And they beheld the God of Israel, and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone.” (KJV). In this quotation, the Latin Vulgate Bible uses the terms “quasi opus lapidis sapphirini,” which are synonyms for lapis lazuli. Most of the time, lapis lazuli is used instead of sapphire in contemporary versions of the Bible, such as the New Living Translation Second Edition.
