September Birthstone— Take Your Pick
September, like many months, has a much wider array of birthstones than one might imagine. However, September is alone in having six different birthstones! These include peridot, zircon, agate, moonstone, sardonyx, and perhaps the most popular, sapphire.
Sapphire is considered September’s traditional birthstone, which is why it’s likely the most well-known of the six. However, many people don’t know that sapphires can come in many colors. You may typically think of sapphire as a gorgeous blue gemstone-- and you wouldn’t be wrong-- but sapphire can also come in many other colors, such as red and green.
Historically, it was believed by elite Greeks and Romans that blue sapphire, in particular, could protect the owner from harm and envy. In the Middle Ages, clerics believed that they symbolized Heaven. Ancient Persians even believed that the earth rested on a giant sapphire, which is the reason the sky is blue.
Like many stones, sapphire is also said to have healing powers. In Medieval Europe, for example, it was believed that sapphire could cure plagues and eye diseases, as well as act as an antidote to poison.
Sapphire has traditionally symbolized sincerity, faithfulness, truth, and nobility. Because of this, sapphire has historically been a symbol of royalty and was often displayed on the robes of the clergy and worn by the aforementioned Greek and Roman elites.
Sapphire can be found in a number of places throughout the world. While the gemstone was discovered in Kashmir in the late 1800s, it has also historically been found in Myanmar and Sri Lanka. In addition, it has also been shown to be plentiful in Australia, Thailand, Cambodia, Madagascar, the United States, and countries throughout Asia and Africa.
If you were born in September, it is likely you may have some sapphire jewelry-- but how should you care for it? While sapphire is not as hard as diamonds, it still ranks relatively high (9) on the Mohs scale, meaning it is very tough and very difficult to damage. This makes it an excellent choice for jewelry that is worn on a daily basis, such as rings. Your sapphire jewelry can also be heat-treated in order to help retain its brilliant color.
When it comes to cleaning your sapphire jewelry, your safest bet will always be warm, soapy water. As long as your jewelry is not treated by any method other than heat-treating or lattice diffusion-treating, ultrasonic steam cleaners can also be a good option. Of course, we’ll clean it for you, too-- just make sure you know how your sapphire has been treated so we can make sure we do it right and keep your jewelry in perfect condition.
