Long associated with royalty and romance, and also said to symbolise fidelity and the soul, Sapphire is the birthstone for the month of September.

Taking its name from the Greek work "Sappheiros", sapphire belongs to the corundum family of minerals and whilst the term sapphire usually refers to the blue variety, this birthstone comes in a rainbow of other colours.

With famous sapphires including the Rockefeller Sapphire (a 62.02ct rectangular step cut stone that was unearthed in Burma, and subsequently acquired in 1934 by financier and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller Jr.), perhaps the best-known Sapphire in recent years is the 12ct blue gem surrounded by diamonds in the Sapphire engagement ring first worn by Princess Diana, and then given by her son Prince William to Kate Middleton, now the Duchess of Cambridge.

Where is Sapphire Found?

Three historically important sources for the September birthstone are Kashmir, Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) and Sri Lanka.

Sapphires were discovered in Kashmir in 1881, when a landslide high in the Himalayas exposed a large pocket of "cornflower" blue crystals. Between 1882 and 1887, thousands of large, beautiful crystals were recovered, with the stones faceted from these crystals establishing Kashmir's Sapphire reputation as one of the world's most covered gems. 

The Mogok area of Myanmar is another location famed for producing the September birthstone. Its jungle-clad hills hemmed by mountains make a dramatic landscape, with the Sapphires found here typically occurring alongside ruby deposits, but in much smaller quantities than its red counterpart.

For more than 2,000 years, Sri Lanka has also been an important source of Sapphires. The blue and fancy-color stones mined from the alluvial gravels of this “jewel box of the Indian Ocean” can display remarkable brilliance and saturation. In addition, the island’s milky white “geuda” sapphires can be heat treated to a rich blue color.

Specifications

• Mineral: Corundum
• Chemistry: Al₂O₃
• Colour: Every colour except red
• Refractive Index: 1.762 to 1.770
• Birefringence: 0.008 to 0..010
• Specific gravity:4.00
• Mohs Hardness: 9

Also given as a gift for the 5th and 45th wedding anniversary, at W.Bruford, we hold in stock a stunning selection of Sapphire jewellery perfect for those September birthdays. Often complemented by diamonds, for a little extra sparkle, if you are looking for a Sapphire pendant, pair of Sapphire earrings or Sapphire ring to mark that special occasion, why not pay us a visit today.

Shop Sapphire, The September Birthstone, Online HERE

Information Taken From The GIA (Gemological Institute of America)