Everything You Need to Know About Sapphire, September's Birthstone
Sapphire, September's birthstone, is a precious gemstone prized by royalty and regular folks for centuries. The name "sapphire" comes from the Greek word "sappheiros," which means "blue stone." Sapphires can be found in many colors, including blue, yellow, pink, white, orange, and green. However, the most prized color is still blue.
Due to its hardness (9 on the Mohs scale), durability, and luster, sapphire is a popular choice for engagement rings and other fine jewelry. Natural sapphires of fine quality are relatively rare; many sapphires on the market today are laboratory-created. Read on to learn more about this magnificent gemstone!
Sapphire History and Lore
Sapphires have been used in jewelry for centuries. Some of the world's oldest known Sapphires date back to the 4th century BCE India. These historic gemstones have been found in royal treasuries and crown jewels worldwide, including in England, Scandinavia, Persia, and ancient Greece.
The British Crown Jewels include an impressive array of Sapphires, many of which were initially owned by Empress Eugenie of France in the 19th century. The famous "Star of India," the world's largest cut Sapphire (weighing in at 563 carats!), is also housed in the American Museum of Natural History in New York.
Sapphire is not only popular with royalty; it has also been featured in pop culture over the years. One of the most famous examples is Princess Diana's engagement ring, which features a 12-carat blue Sapphire surrounded by 14 diamonds. After Diana's death, her sons Prince William and Prince Harry chose to give their now wives Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle engagement rings that had belonged to their mother—Kate's features a blue sapphire (see below).
Sapphire Meanings and Properties
Because of its stunning beauty and long history, Sapphire has several different meanings and properties associated with it. Here are just a few:
- Wisdom: In many cultures (particularly Ancient Greece), Sapphire was believed to bestow wisdom and knowledge upon those who wore it.
- Royalty: As mentioned before, Sapphire has been prized by royalty all over the world for centuries. It continues to be a popular choice for engagement rings and other fine jewelry today.
- calmness: It was once believed that Sapphires could calm angry emotions like rage and jealousy. For this reason, many people wear Sapphire jewelry to stay level-headed and serene.
- faithfulness: Sapphire was thought to represent faithfulness and sincerity in medieval times. This makes it an ideal gift for a loved one you want to commit to!
Sapphire is a fantastic gemstone with a long history of being prized by royalty and regular folks alike. If you're looking for an engagement ring or other piece of fine jewelry with a meaning behind it, look no further than Sapphire! Nueva Luxe's collection of jewelry features both deep blue and pink sapphires.