September
Birthstone : Blue Sapphire
Birthstone Color: Deep Blue
The striking deep blue of a quality sapphire is reminiscent
of a cloudless night sky. Ancient civilizations
believed that the world was set upon an enormous sapphire,
which painted the sky blue with its reflection.
This legend, as well as the belief that the ten commandments
were inscribed upon tablets made of sapphire, gives
September’s birthstone a royal place among gemstones.
Named
after the Greek word "sapphirus", meaning blue, Sapphires
have long been a favorite among priests and kings,
who considered them symbolic of wisdom and purity.
These gemstones are prominent among the British Crown
Jewels, and Prince Charles chose this as the engagement
stone for his fiancée, Princess Diana.
In
ancient times, Sapphires were thought to be protective
against envy, and even against poisoning. A
common belief was that a venomous snake placed in
a Sapphire vessel would rapidly die! Ground
to a powder, the blue stone was believed to cure colic,
rheumatism and mental illness, and to strengthen eyesight.
Sapphire
is a variety of the mineral corundum. Corundum
is found in every color of the rainbow, with red being
designated as ruby and all other hues Sapphire.
But the most prized color of Sapphire is a rich, deep
blue. These gemstones were mined as early as the 7th
Century BC from India and what is now Sri Lanka.
They are found today in Sri Lanka, Kashmir, Myanmar,
Thailand, Australia, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, China,
Madagascar, and the United States. Large specimens
of Corundum crystals are rare, although the 563-carat
Star of India can be seen in the American Museum of
Natural History. This is the largest and most
famous of star Sapphires, which are cut to reflect
light from inclusions within the stone, revealing
a bright six-legged star pattern.
The
Sapphire is second only to the Diamond in hardness,
making it a durable gemstone for setting into jewelry.
A gift of Sapphire represents sincerity and faithfulness.
As nourishing to the soul as gazing up at the sky
on a summer day, this brilliant blue gemstone is truly
a heavenly choice!
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