Sapphire:  September's Birthstone

 

Not only is the sapphire the birthstone of September but is also used to signify the anniversary of the 5th and 45th years of marriage.  The name comes from the Greek word "sapphirus" which means blue.   Sapphires have a time-honoured tradition with priests (who considered them symbolic of purity) and king s (who considered them symbolic of wisdom.)

• September Birthstone: Sapphire
• Birthstone Properties: Brings physical and emotional balance.
• Alternative Birthstone: Agate

Sapphires were mined as early as the 7th Century BC in India and what is now Sri Lanka. Today they are found in Sri Lanka, Australia, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Kashmir, Myanmar, Thailand, China, Madagascar, and the United States.

What a Corundum

What sapphires share with rubies is the fact that they are both varieties of corundum.  The sapphire's colour spectrum includes pink and lavender varieties, a rare orange hue, and, of course, the velvety blue sapphire that earned the gemstone its name.

Because of the way in which corundum crystals are formed, large sapphires are rare…and valuable. The priceless 563-carat Star of India, on display at New York City's Museum of Natural History, is the largest and most famous of "star sapphires" (sapphires that are cut to reflect light from inclusions within the stone to reveal a bright six-legged star pattern).

A Healthy Stone

Some believe that if a venomous snake is put in a vessel made of sapphire it would die because the power of the stone is so strong.  Sapphires therefore earned the reputation as an excellent all-purpose medicine and were ingested as an antidote to poison. Additionally, sapphires were ground into powders as a remedy for everything from colic to rheumatism and mental illness.

Sapphires were also believed to be able to stop bleeding and cure disorders of the eye.

The Eyes Have It

Egyptians associated the clear sapphire with the eye of Horas -- the all-seeing, all-knowing "eye in the sky" -- while the gemstone was used by the Greeks to to tap into the subconscious mind by stimulating the opening of the "third eye."

A Mirror of the Soul

In ancient times saphires were exchanged between husband and wife.  One one hand, this may have been because the stones represents sincerity and faithfulness, yet on the other hand, it may be because a sapphire won't shine if worn by someone wicked.

Sapphires were considered to be so powerful they continued to protect the original owner even after being sold.

Say it With Sapphires

Clear sapphires, like diamonds, are the guardians of love. When exchanged with a loved one, sapphires enhance feelings for one another and attunes the two psyches. Sapphires have the power to banish envy and jealousy, and are said to promote chastity in virgins and fidelity in marriage.