September Birthstone: 10 Fun Facts (Sapphire)

Here are 10 fun facts about Sapphires that will hopefully make you love this spectacular gem even more!

  1. Exquisite Colour Variety: Sapphires, September's birthstone, dazzle in a stunning array of colours, ranging from delicate pastels to deep velvety shades. While blue is the most iconic, sapphires can also surprise with pink, yellow, and even the rare padparadscha sapphire, blending pink and orange hues.

  2. Hardness on the Mohs Scale: Sapphires showcase their durability with a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale, second only to diamonds. This resilience makes them ideal for enduring jewellery pieces.

  3. Celebrating September: Sapphires hold the honour of being September's birthstone, making them a meaningful and treasured choice for those born in this month. Wearing your birthstone connects you to the positive energies and symbolism it represents.

  4. Distinctive Star Phenomenon: Some sapphires display asterism—a star-like pattern—when exposed to a point-source light, created by intersecting needle-like inclusions.

  5. Refraction and Brilliance: Sapphires exhibit a high refractive index, contributing to their exceptional brilliance and sparkling play of light.

  6. Scientific Origins: Sapphires stem from the mineral corundum, the same mineral family as rubies. Their vibrant blue colour emerges from specific mineral interactions.

  7. Wedding Anniversary Tradition: Sapphires are not just for September birthdays; they're also gifted on 5th and 45th wedding anniversaries, symbolizing enduring love and commitment.

  8. Celebrity Connection: Kate Middleton's sapphire engagement ring, formerly worn by Princess Diana, brought sapphires into the modern spotlight, making them a symbol of timeless elegance.

  9. Global Origins: Sapphires hail from a range of countries, including Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Australia, and Montana, USA, each contributing unique characteristics to the gem.

  10. The "Millennium Sapphire": The largest Sapphire in the world is owned by a private collector named Maurice Tempelsman. Maurice Tempelsman is a Belgian-American businessman and diamond merchant. It's a colossal blue sapphire that weighs a staggering 61,500 carats (about 27 pounds or 13 kg). This extraordinary gem is renowned for its exceptional size and vivid blue colour. It was carved into an intricate sculpture that features scenes from various civilizations and historical periods. The Millennium Sapphire is truly a remarkable example of the grandeur and allure that sapphires can possess.

Erin loves to work with Sapphires. We currently have some stunning examples available to purchase. These are all one-of-a-kind pieces so once they go, they go!

Erin Cox