Birthstone Spotlight: Sapphire

Welcome to our birthstone spotlight for September! This month we will learn about one of the most beloved gemstones in the world, Sapphire!

What is Sapphire?

Sapphire is part of the mineral species, corundum. Blue sapphire is the most iconic variety, but sapphires come in a wide range of colors, including violet, green, yellow, orange, pink, and purple. The name “sapphire” is used for every color variety of corundum that is not red (because when corundum is red, we call it a ruby)!

Corundum sometimes displays a phenomenon called asterism, also known as the star effect. We call these “star sapphires.” 

Sapphires are found in many places, including Madagascar, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Australia.

The History of Sapphire

The name “sapphire” comes from the Greek word sappheiros. Kings and queens in ancient Greece and Rome believed the blue sapphires would protect them from harm. During the Middle Ages, blue sapphires were thought to attract the blessings of Heaven. Blue sapphires have long been associated with royalty and romance. It also traditionally symbolizes nobility, truth, sincerity, and faithfulness.

In the 1990s, the discovery of new sources of fancy color varieties increased the availability of yellow, orange, pink, and purple sapphire. These discoveries also led to fancy sapphires to be widely recognized.

Quality Factors

Color: Sapphire’s value is most influenced by its color. Blue sapphires are most valuable when they are velvety to violetish blue in medium tones. Other color varieties can also demand high prices, particularly when the color is rare, intense and uniform through the gemstone.

Clarity: Although it’s normal for a sapphire to have some natural inclusion, sapphires generally have fewer inclusions than rubies. Sapphires that exhibit extremely high clarity are very rare, and therefore very valuable.

Cut: Color has a significant influence on the cut of a sapphire. Cutters generally aim to achieve the best overall color while retaining weight and maintaining good proportions.

Carat Weight: Most commercial-quality sapphires weigh less than 5 carats, although blue sapphires can be as large as hundreds of carats. Larger blue sapphires are more readily available than large rubies. 

How to Care For Sapphire Jewelry

Sapphires are a durable, stable gemstone, so they typically don’t need special care. Ultrasonic cleaners and steam cleaners are both generally safe to use on sapphire jewelry. You can also use warm, soapy water to clean your sapphire jewelry at home. Sapphires are resistant to most of the effects of heat, light, and common chemicals that can easily damage other gemstones. 

Interesting Facts About Sapphire

• Sapphire is September’s birthstone, as well as the 5th and 45th-anniversary gemstone.
• Sapphire ranks as a 9 on the Mohs scale.
• The most famous engagement ring in the world, Princess Diana’s ring, starred a beautiful blue sapphire.
• Padparadscha sapphire is an incredibly rare and collectible variety of sapphire. It is a mix of pink and orange hues. 
• The most expensive blue sapphire in the world is the Blue Belle of Asia. In 2014, it sold for $17,305,996!