September birthstone: the sapphire

Birthstone: September

Blue sapphire

Thesapphireis the gemstone of Apollo, the Greek god of prophecy. Because it was believed that the sapphire was in contact with the spirit world, it was used to predict the future. The mysterious sapphire is found in multiple colors, but the dark velvety/cornflower blue variant is the most valuable. The sapphire stands for truth, love, purity, and sincerity. The gemstone is said to alleviate fever, hearing and eye problems, and rheumatism, and to give strength to resist temptations and eliminate impure thoughts. The sapphire is one of the nine gemstones in the Thai order of the nine gemstones.

History of Sapphire

During the Middle Ages, all blue stones were called sapphires, which came from the Latin word for blue; sapphirus. Since the 19th century, sapphire has been considered a gemstone in its own right. It belongs to the corundum group, whose other varieties are ruby, the red-colored version, and Padparadscha, the orange-pink version.
The blue sapphire is the best-known, rare and sought-after version, but colorless, yellow, purple and green sapphires also exist. Sapphires in a color other than blue are also called ‘fancy colored’ sapphires. Multicolor sapphires occur, but these are less valuable. Multicolor sapphires are also called ‘parti colored’ sapphires. Generally speaking; the more intense the color of a sapphire, the higher its value.

Elegant sapphire

Sapphire is a royal gemstone. Sapphires are part of the British Crown Jewels, each with its own name: the Saint Edward and the Stuart. The world's most famous engagement ring, that of Princess Diana, which later became Kate Middleton's engagement ring, also contains a sapphire. The blue sapphire suits every style, every hair color, and gives your outfit a royal touch. The sapphire radiates a beautiful shine, which makes your face glow when you wear a pendant with a sapphire. Bella Hadid, for example, combined a sapphire necklace with a light pink evening dress at the Cannes Film Festival in 2017. But blue sapphire earrings can also give an outfit an extra sparkle. Or a beautiful ring, as an eye-catcher for a special occasion. This stone of the month goes with everything!

Strong stone

Sapphire has been loved for centuries, not only for its exceptional beauty but also for its extraordinary properties. Sapphire is the hardest stone in the world after diamond. Because it is such a durable material, sapphire is used in iPhone screens, watches, bulletproof glass, and more.

Location

Most sapphires are found in Sri Lanka, but they are also mined in Myanmar, Thailand, China, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Tanzania, Madagascar, Australia and the United States. The location where the sapphire is found determines its colour. The lighter variety of sapphire is found in Sri Lanka, while those from the United States are more metallic in colour and the Australian ones are very dark blue. Most valuable sapphires come from Kashmir, India and have a cornflower blue colour. The largest sapphire ever found weighed approximately 20 kilos.

Vindplaats

De meeste saffieren worden gevonden in Sri Lanka, maar ze worden ook gewonnen in Myanmar, Thailand, China, Zimbabwe, Kenia, Tanzania, Madagaskar, Australië en de Verenigde Staten. De vindplaats van de saffier bepaalt zijn kleur. De lichtere variant van de saffier wordt gevonden in Sri Lanka, die uit de Verenigde Staten zijn meer metaalachtig qua kleur en de Australische zijn heel donkerblauw. De meeste waardevolle saffieren komen uit Kashmir, India en hebben een korenblauwe kleur. De grootste saffier die ooit gevonden is woog ongeveer 20 kilo.

BIRTHSTONES

About the stone of the month

Gemstones have been worn as jewelry for decades. It is therefore interesting to learn about the history behind the stone. Many cultures and individuals also attribute magical powers to gemstones. They serve as talismans and are said to improve or protect your life. Furthermore, if you wear the stone that corresponds to your birth month or zodiac sign, its effect is even more powerful. For each type of stone, certain properties are also attributed to stones that suit the person born in that month. It is therefore especially fun to choose a gemstone that enhances your character, or that of the person for whom it is a gift. Sapphire is associated with the month of September and is a perfect gift set in a ring for someone born in October, or as a traditional gift for a 45th wedding anniversary.

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