Birthstone

September

Origin

Sapphires are found in Afghanistan, Australia, Myanmar/Burma, Cambodia, China, Colombia, India, Kenya, Laos, Madagascar, Malawi, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, USA, and Vietnam.

History

Sapphire has been associated with royalty for centuries, often decorating robes of royalty and clergy as the fairytale gemstone. The precious gem is known for its association to royalty and romance, reinforced in 1981 when Britain’s Prince Charles gave a blue sapphire engagement ring to Princess Diana. Her personality and charm captivated the world and her sapphire ring was admired by all until her death on August 31, 1997. In July of 2010, Princess Di’s son, Prince William, proposed to Kate Middleton using his mother’s 18-carat sapphire and diamond engagement ring.

Sapphire comes from the Greek word sappheiros. In ancient Greece and Rome, kings and queens believed sapphire would protect them from envy and harm. Today Sapphire’s extraordinary blue color is used as the standard to compare other blue gemstones.

Fashion

Sapphire is a great stone to wear daily, as it is a 9 on the Mohs hardness scale (out of 10). It is also a great gemstone to pair with diamonds. Sapphires are used for a variety of exquisite jewelry pieces, decoration, and more. Growing more popular every year, sapphire gemstone engagement rings are a fantastic alternative to the traditional diamond engagement ring. Raw sapphire gemstones are sometimes even cut into sapphire dice to be used as a piece of luck for game players.

Whether you are wearing your little black dress, a beautiful gown, or your favorite jeans and t-shirt, you can’t go wrong with sapphire jewelry. If the “traditional” blue sapphire doesn’t work for you, pick any other color you’d like: pink sapphire, yellow sapphire, orange, green…no really, sapphires are available in most every color of the rainbow!

Formation

Sapphires form within the earth by shifts in heat and pressure and raw sapphire gemstones are found in metamorphic and igneous rocks. Sapphires may also be found in alluvium deposits.

Cleaning & Care

Sapphire can easily be cleaned at home with warm, soapy water and a soft brush. Ultrasonic and steam cleaner may be used by professionals for untreated sapphire gemstones. Fracture-filled, cavity-filled, or dyed stones should only be cleaned with a damp cloth. Care should be taken in avoiding exposure to extreme heat and chemicals.

Treatments

Sapphires are often heat treated to achieve the beloved blue color.

Mohs Hardness

9.0

Scratch resistance through the ability of a harder material to scratch a softer material.

Specific Gravity

4.0

The relation between the density of any substance and the density of water.

Refractive Index

1.762 - 1.770

The ratio of the velocity of light in a vacuum to its velocity in a specified medium.