Sapphire - Birthstone of September!

Multi-Hue Sapphire Beads

Sapphires are corundum in any color of the rainbow except red. Red corundum is known as Ruby. Sapphires are a 9 on the Mohs hardness scale and are also the birthstone for the month of September. Madagascar is the world leader in sapphire production (as of 2007) specifically its deposits in and around the city of Ilakaka, but Sapphires are also found in the USA, Myanmar, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Australia, Thailand, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tanzania, Kenya and China.


Lucky you if this magnificent gemstone is your Birthstone.  You can choose from an amazing array of colors.  Don't care for clear stones? In this incredible family, you have the choice of a star sapphire. A star sapphire is a type of sapphire that exhibits a star-like phenomenon known as aster-ism. Star sapphires contain intersecting needle-like inclusions (often the mineral rutile, a mineral composed primarily of titanium oxide) that cause the appearance of a six-rayed "star"-shaped pattern when viewed with a single overhead light source.  Just pick your favorite one and that can be your special Sapphire birthstone.   Blue became the "official" color for Sapphires when is was promoted by the Jewelers of America, the American national association of Jewelers, in 1912.  Now you know that you can choose the one that appeals to you! 

Personally I love the Padparadscha an unbelievable brilliant pink/orange.  The name derives from the Sinhalese  word for lotus blossom.  Along with rubies,  they are the only type of corundum to be given their own name instead of being called a particular colored sapphire. 


I hope this information has helped you to better understand Sapphire and some of it many facets! 

Autumn Hued Sapphires

Yellow Sapphire Briolette Bead

Blue Sapphires

September Birthstones: Sapphire, Peridot, Agate & Moonstone

September Birthstones: Sapphire, Peridot, Agate & Moonstone

The traditional birthstones for September are Sapphire & Peridot. The modern birthstone for September is Sapphire, the mythical birthstone is Agate and the Ayurvedic birthstone is Moonstone.

Sapphire is a member of the corundum family and can be any color except red or pinkish-orange. Red corundum are Rubies and pinkish-orange are padparadscha. Sapphire has a hardness of 9.0 on Mohs scale; second in hardness only to diamonds!

The cost of natural sapphire varies depending on their color, clarity, size, cut, and overall quality as well as geographic origin. Significant sapphire deposits are found in Eastern Australia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, East Africa and in the United States at various locations (Gem Mountain) and in the Missouri River near Helena, Montana. Sapphire and rubies are often found together in the same area, but one gem is usually more abundant.

See our Sapphire, Peridot, Agate & Moonstone Beads and create a handmade gift for your favorite September Babe.

Speaking of handmade ... I have found some lovely handmade decoupage art. See Yana's art here: Dawanda or Artfire & read about her on her blog: Handmade by decoupage art.