September Birthstone Sapphire: Add Rhythm to the Blues
Sapphire Gemstones are not only celebrated in September; they have been so for ages, and the reasons for that are multiple... just like the colors of Sapphire itself.
In Sri Lanka they say: Blue Sapphire is the gem of kings, and the king of gems. But is not only Blue Sapphire that deserves royal attention:
Color-Change Sapphire and even
Green Sapphire fairly compete with their siblings of classic blue - both in beauty and rarity.
After you enjoy browsing the September Sapphire palette above, let us dive into the magic Blue of Sapphire history and mythology.
The great commander, a descendant of Genghis Khan, leader of the Mughal Shah Jahan, you also know him as the one who built the Taj Mahal in honor of Mumtaz Mahal, his dearly loved wife. His name in Persian means "king of the world" and this is no accident. Taj Mahal was not the only beauty created by the emperor! Shah Jahan ordered the famous Peacock throne from Sapphire, which Jean-Baptiste Tavernier will later describe in his travels in 1676. It took more than 7 years to create this throne! They called it this way because there were peacocks behind the throne, whose tails were encrusted with many precious stones, but the most famous of all was the luminous Sapphire.
Greek Mythology has a lot to do with Sapphire, which is named after the Greek word “Sapphirus” meaning “blue”. Thanks to the blue appearance of the sky, many ancient greeks believed that the sky was a reflection of a giant sapphire which the world was placed upon. Used as a protective measure, the sapphire was thought to contain the power of protection from poisoning and envy. Not only was the sapphire able to provide ancient greeks with protection, but it was said that it was also used as a healing power as well. Thought to harness the power to cure rheumatism, mental illness, colic and even strengthen one’s eyesight, the sapphire was often found in the medical tools of many ancient healers. Sapphires were also often worn in adornment to connect those to the spirit world. As years passed, sapphires become popular amongst witches and necromancers as they were thought to hold the ability to allow them to see their the “third eye”.
A sapphire brooch framed with 12 diamonds - this was Albert's gift for his beloved Victoria the day before their wedding. According to the English tradition, on the wedding day, the bride must have 4 things: something old, something new, something blue and something borrowed. Albert's gift was just "something blue." Blue color is a symbol of fidelity and devotion to a loved one! What could convey these virtues better than a Blue Sapphire?.. Now this brooch is worn by Queen Elizabeth II, and it was this jewel that served as the inspiration to create the wedding ring of Princess Diana, which is now worn by the Duchess of Cambridge.
Ancient Egyptians used the Sapphire for healing powers. In his book “The Curious Lore of Precious Stones” George Kunz states that one of the healing methods this gem was used for was to aid in the treatment of diseases of the eyes. It was believed that the astringent properties may have helped these eye conditions in their healing process. The sapphire of ancient egypt was originally referenced as the “lapis-lazuli”, but later during medieval times, sapphire was the name given to signify the stunning blue gem.
