September Birthstone Sapphire | Ainsworth Jewellers

SEPTEMBER BIRTHSTONE

Sapphire

Sapphire is the gemstone variety of corundum, consisting of aluminium oxide and measuring 9.0 on Moh’s hardness scale sapphires can be worn every day.

Although the most well-known colour is blue, they come in every colour of the rainbow (apart from red!) In fact there are no limits to the colour, tone or saturation in a sapphire, it’s part of their magic.

September Birthstone: Sapphire

Sapphire is the gemstone variety of corundum, consisting of aluminium oxide and measuring 9.0 on Moh’s hardness scale sapphires can be worn every day.

Although the most well-known colour is blue, they come in every colour of the rainbow (apart from red!)

In fact there are no limits to the colour, tone or saturation in a sapphire, it’s part of their magic.

Although sapphires come in a variety of colours, whenever someone says sapphire they are referring to blue sapphire. A red sapphire is called a ruby. All other sapphires are referred as fancy sapphires. Usually these sapphires are specified with their colour for example yellow sapphire, colourless sapphire, black sapphire, pink sapphire, orange sapphire, green sapphire and so on. These fancy sapphires have a market of their own.

The terms ‘Cornflower’ and ‘Royal’ are used to describe two of the most prized colours of the sapphire. Cornflower blue is a light-to-medium, delicate pastel blue with high brilliance, often with a velvety texture. Royal blue is a deeper, highly saturated, and vivid, rich blue, known for its bold appearance.

Often sapphire colour has been allocated to a particular geographical location, but precise sources of precious gemstones should only be stated with accompanying certification from diagnostic inclusions or documented traceability. Often a personal preference, it is still a source of endless fasciation for me. So let me take you on a journey…

The term ‘Classic Kashmir’ has been used for sapphire sourced from the high altitude mining area in the Himalayas, on the north west Indian border with Pakistan. These have a ‘sleepy’ or ‘velvet’ appearance caused from tiny rutile inclusions scattering light. Historically this was a very important sources of fine sapphires. Most deposits were exhausted after the 1920’s so Kashmir sapphires today have an even greater cachet.

For thousands of years fine sapphires have been found in Sri Lanka (formally called ‘Ceylon’) and today are still the top producer in the world of fine, untreated stones. A Sri Lankan sapphire is unique because it has a light and bright blue colour.

Burma (now called Myanmar since gaining independence from the British) is another long-time producing country of fine blue sapphires. Usually Burmese sapphires are described as ‘royal’ blue, typically on the darker side of blue.

Each sapphire however, should be graded by its visual appearance of sheer beauty.

Helen’s Jewellery Box

Helen’s sapphire story telling jewellery box

including sapphire and diamond engagement ring, right hand rings, self-purchase sapphire set bracelet from Tiffany. This also includes a blue glass set long chain showing how costume and fine can be worn and enjoyed together.