September 1, 2024
September Is the Sapphire Month
By Eloise Graham
The birthstone for September is the gemstone sapphire. Chemically speaking, a sapphire is the mineral corundum which consists of aluminum oxide ( Al2 O3 ) and trace amounts of elements such as iron, titanium, cobalt, lead, chromium, vanadium, magnesium, boron and silicon.
Is blue the only color for the sapphire?
No, sapphires, depending on varying amounts of different elements can come in many colors. Sapphires can be blue, yellow, green, black, white, pink, purple, orange, grey and brown. The yellow to yellow-orange stone may dull but all of the other colors will remain bright and clear.
What is the symbolism or mythology of the sapphire?
The sapphire is said to symbolize wisdom, good fortune and holiness. In an engagement ring, this stone means faithfulness and sincerity. In Christianity, the priests used the blue color to show their relationship with paradise. In mythology, the ancient Greeks associated the sapphire with their god Apollo. At the famous oracle at Delphi, sapphires were often worn because the Greeks believed the gems were connected to the spirit world.
What is the price range of the sapphire?
The range of sapphires goes from $25 a carat to over $11,000 per carat. As of May 2023, the most expensive sapphire sold was $135,000 per carat. In general it can be said that the light, pastel colors are less expensive than the rare, intensive sapphire colors.
Where are sapphires found?
Significant sapphire deposits are found in Australia, Afghanistan, Cambodia, Cameroon, China, Columbia, Ethiopia, India, Jammu, Kashmir, Kenya, Tanzania, Thailand, Vietnam and even in Montana in the U.S.
