September has a versatile and well-loved birthstone, Sapphire. Sapphires are part of the “big three” (what the jewelry industry defines as the three most precious and commonly sought-after gemstones) which are Rubies, Sapphires and Emeralds. In ancient times Sapphires we’re associated with romance and royalty, which was brought back to light in 1981 when Prince Charles gave Princess Diana a Sapphire engagement ring.
SAPPHIRE MAKE UP
Most people think Sapphires are only available in blue. Although blue is the traditional and most common color for Sapphires, any colored gemstone of the corundum family that is not classified as a Ruby is classified as a Sapphire. Sapphires can be found all around the world and come in a multitude of colors. Some Sapphire exporters include but are not limited to Sri Lanka (previously known as Ceylon), Madagascar, Australia, USA, Nigeria, Thailand, Vietnam, China, Cambodia, Kenya and Tanzania
SAPPHIRE VERSATILITY
Sapphires are such a well-loved and sought-after gemstone partly because of their durability. Sapphires are a 9 on the Mohs scale of hardness, right behind a diamond at 10. This makes Sapphires a great gem for everyday jewelry or for someone who is rough on their jewelry throughout the day. Like previously stated, Sapphires come in many different color variations, including clear (or white Sapphires), which are a popular imitation/look-alike for diamonds.
SAPPHIRE TRENDS
We talked about Sapphires being versatile and durable, which may be a reason that Sapphire accent stones in engagement rings have gained popularity. The jewelry industry has been seeing a number of people break the mold of traditional engagement rings by incorporating colored stones, usually Sapphires, into their bridal set. Another Sapphire trend the jewelry industry has seen is jewelry with multicolored gems. Since Sapphires come in such a wide variety of colors, they are often the perfect stones to use for colorful gemstone jewelry.
Whether you’re a September baby, an active person who needs durable jewelry or just a Sapphire lover like the rest of us, Sapphires are an excellent gem to consider when purchasing your next piece of jewelry. Stop into our Palm Harbor studio or shop our custom Sapphire designs online.