Sapphire: Precious Birthday Gifts for the Birthstone for September

The birthstone for September is Sapphire

Sapphire is a precious gemstone and is one of two varieties of corundum, the other being ruby. Sapphire and ruby are essentially identical apart from their colour, with other trace elements being what determines the gem’s colour. Sapphire’s brilliant blue shades are the result of trace amounts of iron and titanium.

Although the best known colour for sapphire is blue, they occur in other colours, including gray and black, and also can be colourless. A pinkish orange variety of sapphire is called padparadscha.

Both sapphire and ruby share exceptional hardness and durability, second only to diamond. Because of this sapphires can also be used in non-ornamental items as well as jewellery.

The name sapphire is derived from the Latin “saphirus” and the Greek “sapheiros”, both of which mean blue. The Greeks also seem to have used the word to refer to another blue stone: lapis lazuli.

Another possible origin of the word is the Sanskrit word sanipriya that indicated ‘a dark-colored stone sacred to Saturn’.

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The origin of Sapphire

The history of the sapphire, dates back to the Etruscans in the 7th Century BC. In the 13th Century, Marco Polo’s travels took him to the Island of Serendid (Sri Lanka), where he describes sapphires in great detail in his “Book of Marvels”.

Ancient Hebrews believed that the Ten Commandments were engraved on tablets of sapphire, although historians now believe the blue gemstone referenced in the Bible may have been lapis lazuli.

Sapphire became a favourite gem in rings and brooches for Medieval Kings. They believed that the sapphire would protect them from harm and envy.

By the time of the Renaissance, sapphires were coveted by the wealthy and influential. Sapphires were credited with the ability of preventing poverty, making an irritable man good-tempered and a stupid man wise.

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Classical violet-blue sapphires traditionally came from the Kashmir region of India between the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

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Myths and Legends

For centuries, Sapphire has been associated with many different superstitions and powers.

The ancient Greeks believed Sapphire provided protection and were convinced of its healing powers, using the stone to protect against poisoning and envy. They also wore sapphire for guidance when seeking answers from the oracle and associated it with the god Apollo.

Buddhists also believed that it brought spiritual enlightenment, and Hindus used it during worship. Early Christian kings cherished sapphire’s powers of protection by using it in ecclesiastical rings.

Ancient Persians belived that sapphires were actually chips from a huge pedestal that supported the earth, with the blue sky their reflection.

Something Blue: September Birthday Gifts

An Italian superstition holds that sapphires are amulets against eye problems, and melancholy. Mary, Queen of Scots owned a medicinal sapphire worn as a pendant to rub sore eyes.

Sapphire has been long connected with the planet Venus, it is said to represent Friday, which is the day associated with the planet. It is the birthstone for September and linked to Taurus in the signs of the zodiac.

Sapphire represents 45 years of marriage and a sapphire jubilee is 65 years. A sapphire engagement ring means honesty, sincerity and faithfulness. It is also believed to provide good fortune within marriage and to keep it strong and healthy.

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The Royal Connection

Sapphire’s link to royalty dates back to around the 2nd Century AD when it was said that kings would wear them around their neck to protect them from harm.

Sapphires have long been associated with the British Royal Family. Sapphires feature in the Crown Jewels, and very famously, Princess Diana’s engagement ring that William proposed to Kate with was a Ceylon Sapphire.

The royal designer created the stunning ring with a white gold band and 14 solitaire diamonds, however the ring was featured in the jeweller’s catalogue, meaning anyone could have bought it, assuming they had £47,000.

According to Vogue, this reportedly did not sit well with the royal family, who didn’t want ordinary people having the same access to jewellery fit for royalty. Today, the ring would be worth around £300,000. You can read more about the history of Sapphire here.