What Is September’s Birthstone

 

Of all the months, September lucked out with its birthstone. Very few gems have held society’s attention over the years the same way as the sapphire. Its gorgeous blue color and superior durability make it a top selection for jewelry — especially for daily wear.

 

If you’re a September baby or love the beautiful color this stone offers, here’s what you should know about the September birthstone.

 

What is the Meaning of a Sapphire?

 

Sapphires are associated with both royalty and faithfulness. Over the years, they have been attributed to nobility and romance. There is plenty of famous sapphire jewelry, including the sapphire engagement ring Prince William gave to the duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, which was Princess Diana’s. When you wear sapphires, the stones are thought to bring you good fortune, spiritual insight, and protection. The word sapphire comes from the Greek word sappheiros, referring to a blue stone.

Is Sapphire Jewelry Durable?

 

One of the top reasons diamonds are popular is that they’re durable enough to be worn daily. Whenever people decide to select another gemstone, they wonder if that stone will hold up to the same durability test.

 

You can quell this fear immediately with sapphires, which are a nine on the Mohs hardness scale (diamonds are a ten on the Mohs scale). These stones have excellent toughness and no cleavage. They won’t break when struck. This makes them an ideal choice for engagement rings and other pieces of jewelry that you want to wear daily.

 

September stone color

 

Most people think sapphire is synonymous with deep blue gemstones. And yes, while these stones typically give off a rich blue hue, they aren’t limited to that color. In fact, every color in the mineral corundum family that isn’t red is classified as a sapphire.

 

Here are the varieties of colors you should look out for in addition to classic blue.

 

· Colorless sapphires

· Pink sapphires

· Orange sapphires

· Yellow sapphires

· Purple sapphires

· Black sapphires

· Green sapphires

 

Now, you may or may not hear sapphires of the above colors called this. Green sapphires, for example, are often called green corundum. Colorless corundums are called leukosapphires. If you hear someone refer to blue corundum, that’s the same stone as the sapphire you’ve known all your life. Other colors are referred to as fancy sapphires. You might hear the term padparadscha, which refers to the extremely rare orange-pink sapphire.

 

That said, if someone holds up a “red corundum,” that isn’t a red sapphire. It’s actually a ruby. Rubies and sapphires are part of the same family, but rubies have their own nomenclature.

 

What Impacts the Color of a Sapphire

 

The color of a sapphire is dictated by the proportions of chromogenic elements (titanium, iron, vanadium, and chromium) in the chemical composition of the stone.

 

Even among blue sapphires, there’s often a vast shade and hue difference. The color difference often depends on where they’re mined from and their chemical qualities.

 

If you’re looking for a cornflower blue or royal blue gem, then that sapphire is likely sourced from Myanmar (Kashmir), Thailand, and Madagascar. If you’re looking for a medium blue sapphire, these gems are likely to be sourced from Sri Lanka.

 

How to Purchase High-Quality Sapphires

 

There’s no standardized grading system for sapphires like there are diamonds. So, how do you differentiate a superior-quality sapphire from an inferior stone?

 

The most important quality factor is color. The more valuable sapphires will have a rich medium blue color, while the lower quality sapphires will be darker blue and opaquer when viewed from the center.

 

Because sapphires are natural gemstones, you should expect them to contain natural inclusions. Inclusions are any material that is trapped within a mineral at any point of the mineral’s formation. Inclusion-free sapphires are virtually non-existent. However, those stones with fewer inclusions usually are more expensive because these imperfections will reduce the luster and brilliance of the sapphire.

 

If you come across a perfectly clear sapphire, it may be lab-created, synthetic, or an imitation. This should be a red flag rather than a rare find.

 

September birthstone gifts

 

Birthstone jewelry makes a gift extra special and personal. Do you love the idea of purchasing sapphire jewelry but aren’t sure when to do it? Here are a few occasions that you can keep in mind.

 

September month stone

 

If your partner has a birthday in the month of September, you can never go wrong with sapphire jewelry. The sapphire is their birthstone, and if we can be a little biased, it’s one of the best. It’s unique, colorful, and durable. Who wouldn’t want to celebrate with new sapphire earrings or a pretty sapphire pendant?

 

Luxury push present

 

If your baby mama is expecting in September, consider a sapphire jewelry push present. It can be a beautiful reminder of the bundle of joy she welcomed in September.

 

Sapphire anniversary gifts

 

If you share a September anniversary with your partner, then you can never go wrong. Sapphire earrings, necklaces, and bracelets are always a safe bet when it comes to selecting a gift that your partner will love and wear.

 

5th anniversary gift

 

The gemstone for the 5th anniversary is the sapphire. Plan a trip to one of the places where sapphires are plentiful (like Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Madagascar, and Mozambique), or gift a pretty piece of jewelry with five stones in honor of the number of years you’ve been together.

 

45th wedding anniversary gift

 

The 45th anniversary is called the sapphire anniversary! For this reason, traditional 45th-anniversary gifts typically include sapphires in their designs. This is another perfect occasion to switch the anniversary gift from diamonds to a more unique gemstone.

 

65th anniversary gift

 

Just 20 years later, you can celebrate with sapphires once again. When you hit your 65th-anniversary milestone, this is known as your “Sapphire Jubilee.” Spare no expense and go all out when it comes to gift ideas.

 

Sapphire birthstone gifts

 

Ready to shop for an upcoming birthday or anniversary? Check out these sapphire jewelry gifts that’ll make any recipient glow.

 

Blue Sapphire Earring Studs

 

If you’re new to gifting jewelry, earring studs are great for beginners. Every single jewelry wearer could use another pair of studs. These Blue Sapphire Earring Studs are a refined, high-quality set that is great for both 1st and 2nd hole sizes. They also come in a natural blue color, which means they can be worn daily with pretty much any outfit.

 

Visit here to learn more.

 

Sapphire Huggie Earrings

 

Are you looking for a pair of subtle, durable, everyday earrings? Look no further; the sapphire huggie earrings are ideal for a low-maintenance gal who wants something super ‘in’ style-wise.

 

If you’re gifting these earrings for one of the occasions above, consider the type of metal the recipient wears most often with jewelry. Do they like silver, gold, or rose gold? Do they like to mix? Regardless of their preference, these huggies can be customized in 14k white gold, yellow gold, and rose gold. They’re sure to be a hit!

 

Visit here to learn more.

 

Pink Sapphire Tennis Necklace

 

If sapphire is your partner’s birthstone, but they aren’t the biggest fan of blue? Consider this pink sapphire tennis necklace! It’s the perfect twist to the September birthstone. It takes the classic tennis necklace design and replaces the diamonds with gorgeous pink sapphires.

 

We love the idea of gifting this necklace as a push present for a baby girl born in September. Mama will be pretty in pink! She can even wear this necklace as a choker and pair it with other longer chain necklaces.

 

Visit here to learn more about the necklace and find out about the customizations that you can make.

 

Blue Sapphire Tennis Necklace

 

Do you want a tennis necklace with classic blue sapphires? You’ve met your match. This necklace features sapphires sourced from Sri Lanka. It’s the perfect gift for a mama who just gave birth to a baby boy in September. It’s subtle enough to be worn daily, or she can dress it up to wear on special occasions.

 

If you pick the necklace for a wedding anniversary, it’d be an exciting gift to receive at dinner. She can pop it right on and enjoy it that evening!

 

Visit here to learn more.

 

How to Clean Sapphire Jewelry

 

When cleaning sapphire jewelry, you can always feel confident about cleaning it with warm, soapy water. This will never damage your jewelry.

 

If you have one, ultrasonic and steam cleaners are normally safe for untreated, heat-treated, and lattice diffusion-treated stones.

 

If you have a fracture-filled, cavity-filled, or dyed material, it should only be treated with a damp cloth.

 

While sapphire stones are very durable, even if they’re untreated or heat-treated, you should always avoid using harsh chemicals or cleaning detergents as this can impact the color of your stone.

 

Final Thoughts

 

The sapphire is calling your name! September is a great reminder of why this gemstone stands out among almost all others. Use occasions like anniversaries and birthdays to gift sapphire necklaces, rings, earrings, and bracelets to someone special in your life.

 

Our mission at Alexis Jae is to help people skip the middleman and invest in high-quality, ethically-sourced jewelry. We only sell fine jewelry (14k or 18k gold) featuring precious or semi-precious stones. Start shopping today and save 50% off traditional retail prices! Visit here to learn more. Our New York-based jewelers love helping you find the perfect piece.