September means Sapphires!
This month we're taking a closer look at one of the most sought after gemstones; Sapphires!
The birthstone of September is synonymous with having Royal connections and for being the most well known blue gemstone, but there's so much more to find out about these beautiful stones.
Sapphires are a variety of the mineral Corundum and the presence of Titanium gives the stones their blue colour, the amount present will affect the intensity of the blue, which is why the colour can vary so much, ranging from a very pale Cornflower blue to an almost black midnight colour. When other elements are present, such as Chromium, the colour will change altogether. Did you know that Sapphires actually occur in almost every colour?! Rubies are effectively red Sapphires as they are also formed from Corundum.
Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Madagascar and Thailand are some of the most common places Sapphires are found. Sapphires found at the foothills of the Himalayas in the Kashmir region of northern India are the most prized and are incredibly valuable, the intensity of colour is instantly recognisable with the blue being totally velvety and dazzling!
The Kashmir Valley
We currently have this stunning Art Deco 8.41 Carat natural unheated Ceylon Sapphire available on our website.
In history Sapphires have been used in jewellery for thousands of years, they have been symbolic of offering the wearer protection and the Ancient Greeks thought Sapphires had healing powers. In more modern times they have been associated with innocence, integrity and wisdom!
In practical terms, Sapphires are a great gemstone to enjoy wearing. Scoring 9 on the Mohs scale of hardness, making them tough and practical gemstones for daily wear.
Here's a selection of some of the Sapphire pieces we have available currently. Remember if you can't spot what you're looking for, feel free to send us a message, we may be able to source the perfect piece for you.