September’s birthstone is a sapphire! And in celebration, we are dedicating a blog post to educate you about what sapphires are, why they’re special, and how they have become a highly prized gemstone!

“Sappheiros” = “Precious Stone”

• Sapphires are a blue, transparent variety of corundum.

• Blue is the most common color of sapphire.

• Sapphires come in a large range of natural colors and shades.

• Sapphire is the most precious of gemstones.

• It is also the most desirable gem due to color, durability and luster.

• The most valuable color of sapphire is known as a Kashmir sapphire, or cornflower.

• It has been said that a necklace of sapphires will cure a sore throat.

• Today’s sapphires are mostly mined in Australia.

• Sapphires traditionally symbolize truth, sincerity, and constancy.

• Sapphires are often associated with loyalty and dignity and are a favorite gemstone for royalty.

A sapphire scientifically encompasses all other gem varieties of corundum. So a ruby would    essentially be a red sapphire since ruby and sapphire are identical in all properties except color.

A Sapphire’s color is the most important influence on its value. A velvety blue to violetish blue, with medium to dark-medium tones, is the most highly valued sapphire.

Sapphires and All Their Splendor!

There is a lot more that goes into the value of a particular sapphire, and if you’d like to learn more, you can educate yourself at the GIA website!

~Slava

Dedicated to being your jeweler