Shimmering Sapphire, September’s Stone of Royalty and Wisdom

“At night, the dark is blue and bluer still, as a sapphire of night.” -Alice Hoffman

Sapphire jewelry—September’s birthstone—immediately adds an aura of royalty and serenity when you wear it. In fact, “Classic Blue” is the official color of 2020—and sapphires certainly fit the bill.

Sapphires and rubies are siblings. Red corundum stones (with chromium) are rubies; every other color is considered a sapphire. The blue of sapphires come from the addition of iron and titanium. “Fancy” sapphires are non-blue stones (except red), including violet, green, yellow, orange, pink, and purple.

Interesting sapphire facts

• They have a Mohs rating of 9, which makes them one of the hardest gemstones.
• Their color varies from a velvety pure blue (the most sought-after) to greenish/violet blue. Some sapphires actually change color under different lighting.
• Princess Diana’s engagement ring was a 12-carat oval blue Ceylon sapphire surrounded by 14 diamonds. Prince William gave the ring to Kate when he proposed to her.

Meaning and healing powers

• Traditional meanings of the stone are wisdom, royalty, and prophecy
• It’s believed to bring protection, good fortune, mental clarity, and spiritual insight to the wearer.
• Healing properties include restoring balance, relieving depression, and bringing serenity.

Seeing stars

A star sapphire has what’s known as “asterism.” It’s a 6-ray star pattern across the stone’s curved surface, caused by light that’s reflected from tiny needle-like inclusions.

Buying and caring for sapphire jewelry

The GIA lists these considerations:

• Color: Look for strong, vivid color saturation
• Clarity: Despite inclusions they’ve got better clarity than rubies
• Cut: Most usual cut is a brilliant pattern on the crown with a “step” cut pattern on the pavilion (side)
• Carat: Large sapphires are more readily available than rubies

To care for your sapphires: Consider professional cleaning and inspection every year or so. Clean them yourself with a soft toothbrush, warm water, and mild dish soap. While the stones are relatively hard, settings (gold, platinum) are soft. (BTW, be careful cleaning your stones over a sink…rings and things can fall down the drain!)

Wear and enjoy your sapphire jewelry—and be sure to protect it. Get an updated appraisal to make sure its insured value is correct. Contact me at 617-304-0174 or by email at aimee@ambappraisal.com. All necessary sanitizing features are in place for a safe, secure, in-person meeting.

Brilliantly yours, Aimee