September’s Birthstone – The Sapphire

September’s birthstone is the sapphire, which symbolizes both purity and wisdom.

Medieval clergy wore the sky blue sapphires to symbolize heaven, while commoners thought the sapphire blessed them with heavenly blessings. Throughout history sapphires have been held in high esteem by priests, kings and emperors and references in the Bible likens them to the blue of the sky. 

The word sapphire comes from the Hebrew word sapir. Sapphires are said to have received their protective power from Saturn and enhance the influences of Venus. It was once thought that sapphires guard against evil and poisoning.  

The Sapphire’s blue color symbolize the sky and represent faith, friendship and loyalty. A person wears a sapphire to improve self-confidence, balance emotions and cure mood swings.  Sapphires are used to protect your loved ones from envy and harm.

The traditional metaphysical properties of sapphire are thought to be associated with clairvoyancy, telepathy, astral projection, insight, interpretation, spiritual enlightenment and they are used to banish evil thoughts. It is associated with truth, sincerity and constancy. It is the gemstone used to improve creative expression and give inner peace through meditation.

Health wise sapphire is used to lower fevers, reduce inflammation and alleviate pain. It is an aid in the curing of hearing problems, cancer, burns, colic, rheumatism, mental illness, pituitary and glandular functions. Sapphires can also be used as an anti- depressant.

So far only sky blue sapphires have been referred to but in actual fact pure blue sapphires can range from very light to very dark, with the most popular color being  a medium to medium dark blue or slightly violet-blue.

 

However sapphires aren’t just blue. They actually occur in a rainbow of colors including pink, purple, green, orange, yellow and red. These colored variants are known as fancy colored sapphires and are identified by their color, such as pink sapphire, green sapphire.  Together with the ruby and the blue sapphire, the colored sapphires all belong to the gem species known as conundrum.  A ruby could also be called a red sapphire.

Star sapphires are particularly beautiful and romantic - representing a star in the sky. Star sapphires come in blue and in the same color rage as the fancy colored sapphires.

September’s birthstone is a sapphire of any color, so the choice is amazing. Blue or fancy colored sapphires make fantastic engagement rings and heavenly gifts.

 

A maiden born when September leaves
Are rustling in September's breeze,
A sapphire on her brow should bind
To bring her joy and peace of mind