September Birthstones: Sapphire
Sapphire is September’s birthstone, and the one most people picture when they think of a blue stone. It runs from pale cornflower through to deep midnight, and no two are the same.
It has long been worn for wisdom and clear judgement, which is not the worst thing to keep on your hand.
Every sapphire here is set in sterling silver, Silvaria or 18K gold bonded over sterling. Nickel free, and no two stones alike.
FAQs
Sapphire. It's also the traditional gift for a fifth and forty-fifth wedding anniversary.
No — sapphire occurs in every colour except red, and a red one is called a ruby instead. Pink, yellow, green, violet and colourless sapphires all exist; blue is simply the one that became the default.
Because for most of history the two words meant the same thing. Ancient writers used sapphirus to describe what we now call lapis lazuli — true sapphire wasn't distinguished from it until much later. That older usage is why lapis still appears alongside sapphire on September lists.
Not a single mineral but a rock — mostly lazurite, which gives the blue, with pyrite for the gold flecks and calcite for the white veining. No two pieces are marked the same way, and it's softer than sapphire at 5 to 6 on the Mohs scale, so it wants keeping away from knocks and household cleaners.
Wisdom and truth. Sapphire was worn by clergy through the Middle Ages as a symbol of heaven, and it's been associated with clear judgement and loyalty ever since.
Colour does most of it — a strong, even, medium-deep blue is worth many times a pale or overly dark stone of the same size. Origin matters too; stones from Kashmir and Sri Lanka carry a premium on reputation alone.