FIFTEEN THINGS YOU NEVER KNEW ABOUT SAPPHIRES: SEPTEMBER’S BIRTHSTONE
Sapphires come in many different colours, but perhaps the most magical and fascinating of them all are the ‘colour-change’ sapphires. These gemstones have the remarkable ability to change their colour, depending on light that surrounds them, or the time of day in which they are viewed!
According to ancient legends, every sapphire has a star trapped inside of it. Don’t believe us? Then check out one of the sapphire’s most stunning properties, known as ‘asterism’. This is a beautiful effect when needle-like inclusions cause a six-pointed ‘star’ of light to appear on the surface of sapphires which have been cut with a cabochon cut.
Some sapphires exhibit even more impressive effects, including a 12-pointed star, and the ‘cat’s eye’ - a line of light which runs down the centre of the stone.
Some people claim that sapphires help develop psychic powers and clairvoyance!
Sapphires have been created synthetically - the first once to have been made in a lab date back to 1902.
Sapphires have long been associated with royalty and the nobility. Famous examples include a sapphire engagement ring presented to Josephine by Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte at the end of the 18th century, and the sapphire engagement ring of Lady Diana Spencer, given to her by Charles, Prince of Wales. This tradition and royal connection goes all the way back to medieval Europe, when sapphires were worn by kings and queens as protection from negative influence and poisoning!
However, they weren’t just for the upper reaches of high society. In 19th century England, they were the gemstone of choice for engagement rings among the burgeoning middle classes, and this golden age of jewelry design still influences modern ring makers to this day.
September’s birthstone has a history which is entangled with myth and magic. Over the centuries, they’ve been believed to have the power to ward off the evil eye, protect their owners from infection and eye disease, and even help preserve faithfulness and chastity.
There are dozens of beautiful legends involving sapphires, but our favourite is the ancient Persian belief that the earth itself was set upon an enormous sapphire, and the blue of the sky was its reflection.
Sapphires score a 9 on the Mohs Hardness Scale (diamonds score a 10) which makes them hard enough to be used in heavy industry!
Sapphires are not only a birthstone, they’re also associated with the zodiac symbol of Taurus.
Sapphires really are a global treasure, scattered far and wide across the world. They can be found underground in Sri Lanka, Australia, the USA, Madagascar, India, and in several parts of mainland Africa.
Sapphires have been popular and sought-after since the times of the classical world, and were first ascribed a truly special status by the ancient Romans, who adored their sparkle and scintillation, using them for their fine jewelry. Many examples of Roman sapphire jewelry still exist to this day.
Sapphires are most famous in their blue form, but actually they come in a wide range of colours, each more dazzling than the last. Pink, orange, yellow and green sapphires can all be found in nature, while the rarest and perhaps most valuable of all is the fabled padparadscha, a pink-orange sapphire.
Sapphires take their colours from additional minerals which penetrate into forming corundum, during periods of phenomenal tectonic pressure. Different minerals create different colours, for example iron and titanium blending with corundum will create a blue sapphire, whereas chromium will create a red sapphire, otherwise known as a ruby
