The word sapphire, originating from the Greek word ‘sappheiros’, is used to describe this mesmerising precious gemstone. Perhaps best known for its beautiful deep blue hues, it is a variety of the mineral corundum, consisting of aluminium oxide, with trace amounts of other elements, such as iron, titanium, chromium, copper, or magnesium.
This beautiful gemstone has a rich and fascinating history behind it and many significant meanings, which we explore in this blog below.
Sapphire’s Characteristics
Sapphire Hardness
The sapphire is among the most durable naturally occurring elements in the world, second only to diamond in strength and scoring 9 out of 10 on the Mohs scale – the scale used to score gemstones on their durability.
Sapphire Colour
While typically blue, sapphires can be found in many other colours. “Fancy” or "particoloured" sapphires are often found in yellow, orange, green, brown, purple, and violet hues, which can be intricately arranged into rainbow sapphire jewellery.
Red is the only colour of corundum that is not referred to as a sapphire, as these are considered to be rubies. The rarest of sapphires is a pinkish-orange colour called padparadscha, the Sanskrit word for lotus flower. The fascinating thing about sapphires and rubies is that these gemstones have the same chemical composition and the same mineral structure. Trace amounts of impurities determine if a gem corundum will be a brilliant red ruby or a beautiful blue sapphire.
Sapphires can exhibit a phenomenon called the “star effect", or asterism. This occurs when needle-like inclusions create a six-ray star pattern on the surface of a cabochon-cut sapphire, often called a “star sapphire”.
Sapphires come in many sizes. They are readily available under 1 carat and can come as large as 20 carats in fine quality, but these stones are exceptionally rare.
The Sapphire’s Royal Connections
A royal favourite, stunning sapphires in dazzling regal blue tones, have been the choice of many monarchs throughout the ages and are perhaps the reason for the term ‘royal blue'.
The famous Stuart Sapphire, a cabochon sapphire weighing 104 carats, has adorned royal crowns since 1214. It was so admired by the young Princess Victoria that she had it set into the Imperial State Crown for her coronation in 1838. The sapphire was then moved to the back of the Imperial State Crown in 1909, during the reign of King Edward VII, where it remains today, a treasured piece in the collection of the British Crown Jewels.
What Is the Birthstone for September? – Sapphires’ Many Meanings
The blue sapphire is recognised as the birthstone for September. It is used to mark a 45th wedding anniversary and is the stone associated with a sapphire royal jubilee, which is celebrated after 65 years. The ‘Blue Sapphire Jubilee’ was the term used to mark the 65th anniversary of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II.
With its durability and a long history symbolising holiness, faith, peace and protection. Sapphires have become a popular choice for engagement rings, particularly in recent years.
Katherine Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, wears probably the most famous sapphire engagement ring in the world. The ring, formerly owned by Diana, Princess of Wales, features a 12-carat oval Ceylon sapphire surrounded by 14 solitaire diamonds, set in white gold.
This heavenly blue stone is surrounded by ancient myth and legend and is often attributed with mystical powers. Stories from ancient Persia depict the Earth sitting upon a huge blue sapphire pedestal. They believed that the stone reflected upwards toward the heavens, giving the sky its beautiful blue colour.
Sapphire’s Origins
Corundum, or sapphire, is found all over the world and is also used widely in industry for abrasive and cutting purposes due to its strength and durability.
Historically, the Kashmir region of India was noted for the production of famous Kashmir blue sapphires, while sources of production today include Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Tanzania, Australia, Cambodia, Thailand, Madagascar, and the USA.
The majority of fine gemstones are found in very small quantities in only a few places, most notably Sri Lanka, which has produced these precious gemstones for thousands of years and is still a major producer of the finest untreated stones in the world.
The “Star of Adam”, the world’s biggest blue star sapphire, was discovered in a mine in Sri Lanka in 2016. The gem weighed in at a massive 1,404.49 carats and was given an estimated value of at least $100 million. It is unlikely to be set into any kind of jewellery due to its size, and it appears destined to become a priceless museum piece.
Many of the world’s largest and most valuable sapphires originated in Sri Lanka.
The Allure of Sapphire Jewellery
Some of the world’s finest jewellery contains sapphires. These beautiful gemstones are equally as alluring when set into small pieces of jewellery, such as rings, necklaces, earrings, and brooches, as they are in the famous collections owned by film stars, princesses, and monarchs.
For timelessness, durability, and elegance, a sapphire is an excellent choice. A perfect gift for a September birthday, the deep, rich colours of this exquisite blue birthstone so accurately reflect the cool, crisp nature of this time of year.
Sapphire Jewellery at Allum & Sidaway
At Allum & Sidaway, we have an incredible selection of sapphire jewellery for you to discover, whether you want to celebrate a special moment in style or are simply looking for something to complement your day-to-day looks.
Purchase from our impressive range of sapphire rings, sapphire necklaces, or sapphire earrings online or visit one of our stores to take a look at our selection in person.
If you’d like to know anything more about our sapphire jewellery or any of our other choices from our diverse collection of jewellery, contact us today. A member of our experienced team will gladly assist you.