What Is September’s Birthstone?

Today, sapphire is closely related to royalty, with perhaps the most well-known modern sapphire belonging to Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, who wears the 12ct precious stone in her engagement ring. The iconic ring originally belonged to Prince William’s late mother, Princess Diana.

Queen Elizabeth II also had several sapphires within her personal jewellery collection, including heirlooms and sapphires that were gifted to her. This includes the Prince Albert Brooch, which contains a huge sapphire and was gifted to Queen Victoria by Prince Albert the day before their wedding. For these reasons, he sapphire has come to be known by the public as the gemstone of choice of the British Royal Family.

Sapphires are a popular choice for engagement rings largely because of their hardness. Scoring a 9 on the Mohs scale of hardness (with the highest score being 10), sapphires can withstand the tests of daily wear and are not easily chipped or broken. 

When given as an engagement ring, a sapphire is thought to represent honesty, faithfulness and good fortune. Sapphires pair brilliantly with diamonds, and make for a popular combination when it comes to engagement rings. 

Sapphires might appeal to people who like the antique or vintage effect a sapphire engagement ring provides, or to those who just want something different. Of course, if your future spouse was born in September, a sapphire engagement ring could be especially meaningful. 

As we discussed, sapphires are a popular choice for engagement rings because of their hardness. However, they should still be handled with care. Like diamonds, sapphires can be cleaned at home using warm, soapy water. However, if you notice the setting seems damaged or are unable to acheive the polished effect you would like after attempting an at-home cleaning, it's important to contact your jeweller as soon as possible. 

When buying a sapphire, it’s especially important to speak to a jeweller who can help you understand the qualities available and the subtle differences between different sapphires. When it comes to blue sapphires, the more vivid the blue, the more valuable the gemstone. Darker, duskier blues and paler, greyish blues are not as valuable as a sapphire with a rich blue colouring. That being said, sapphires can be found in almost every colour, and there are different rules for how each shade is graded in terms of colour quality. It's also important to note that although colour is important in sapphires, it's only one of the 4Cs.

Thinking of buying sapphire jewellery as a treat for yourself or a loved one? Get in touch with us and we’ll be happy to discuss this further with you. We also offer a custom jewellery service, where our experts will work with you to create your perfect, one-of-a-kind piece, providing 3D images beforehand to make sure you’re totally happy with the finished product. 

 

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