Few gemstones have the presence, history and versatility of sapphire. Best known for its rich blue colour, sapphire has been treasured for centuries and remains one of the world’s most admired coloured gemstones.
For anyone celebrating a September birthday, sapphire jewellery is an especially meaningful choice. It is the traditional birthstone for the month, making a sapphire ring, necklace or pair of earrings a thoughtful gift that can be worn long beyond the birthday itself.
But sapphire deserves attention throughout the year too. Available in a remarkable spectrum of colours and suited to everything from delicate everyday jewellery to impressive statement pieces, it is a gemstone with far more variety than its famous blue reputation might suggest.
At Avanti Jewellers, our sapphire collection includes classic blue stones alongside pink, purple, green, teal, light blue and rainbow sapphire designs, as well as both contemporary and pre-owned jewellery.
Why Is Sapphire the September Birthstone?
Sapphire has been associated with September for generations and has a history stretching back thousands of years.
Throughout different cultures and periods, the gemstone has been linked with royalty, romance and faithfulness. Its enduring reputation for beauty, combined with its excellent durability, has helped sapphire remain one of the most recognisable and desirable precious gemstones.
For a September birthday, this gives sapphire jewellery a particularly personal quality.
A pair of sapphire earrings can make an elegant gift for someone who prefers jewellery they can wear frequently, while a necklace offers an easy way to introduce colour into an existing jewellery collection. A sapphire ring can feel more significant, making it particularly suited to milestone birthdays or special celebrations.
Sapphire is also traditionally associated with the 5th and 45th wedding anniversaries, giving it meaning well beyond September.
Sapphire Engagement Rings: A Timeless Alternative
Sapphires have a long association with romance, making them a natural choice for engagement rings.
Perhaps the most famous modern example is the oval blue sapphire and diamond engagement ring originally worn by Diana, Princess of Wales, and later given by Prince William to Catherine. Its enduring appeal helped reinforce sapphire's place as a distinctive alternative to a traditional diamond centre stone.
There is also a practical reason sapphire works so well in engagement jewellery.
Sapphire scores 9 on the Mohs scale of hardness, second only to diamond among commonly used jewellery gemstones. It also has excellent toughness, making it well suited to rings and other pieces intended for regular wear.
Classic blue sapphire and diamond combinations remain particularly popular, but lighter blue, teal and other fancy-coloured sapphires can provide a more individual look.
Sapphire Isn't Just Blue
Mention sapphire and most people immediately picture an intense blue gemstone. In reality, sapphire offers an extraordinary range of colour.
Sapphire belongs to the mineral family corundum. Red corundum is classified as ruby, while corundum in virtually every other colour can be described as sapphire.
Alongside blue, natural sapphires can occur in:
- Pink
- Purple and violet
- Yellow
- Orange
- Green
- Teal and blue-green tones
- Colourless varieties
- Stones displaying more than one colour
These non-blue stones are often known collectively as fancy sapphires. Some sapphires even change appearance under different lighting conditions.
This variety makes sapphire particularly interesting for jewellery.
Someone who loves traditional fine jewellery may be drawn to a deep blue sapphire surrounded by diamonds, while pink or purple sapphire can introduce softer colour. Green and teal stones create a more contemporary feel, and rainbow sapphire jewellery brings several shades together in one design.
Our current sapphire jewellery collection reflects this diversity, with predominantly blue sapphires alongside colourful alternatives such as pink, green, teal and rainbow sapphire designs.
What Makes a Sapphire Beautiful?
As with any natural gemstone, no two sapphires are exactly alike.
Several characteristics contribute to the appearance and desirability of a sapphire, but colour is particularly important. For blue sapphire, GIA notes that the most highly valued examples generally display strong to vivid saturation with medium to medium-dark tones, while still retaining brightness.
However, there is no single shade that everyone should prefer.
Some people are immediately drawn to dark, dramatic blue. Others prefer a softer cornflower blue or a lighter stone with greater brightness. When choosing sapphire jewellery for yourself or as a gift, personal preference matters enormously.
Cut is important too. A well-considered cut can help showcase a sapphire's colour and brilliance, whether the stone is shaped as a classic oval, round, pear, cushion or something less conventional.
Clarity also varies naturally. Inclusions are expected in many sapphires and can provide evidence of the gemstone's natural formation. The overall combination of colour, clarity, cut, size, treatment and sometimes origin will influence the value of an individual stone.
What Is a Ceylon Sapphire?
The term Ceylon sapphire refers to sapphire originating from Sri Lanka, historically known as Ceylon.
Sri Lanka has been an important source of fine sapphire for thousands of years and continues to be closely associated with exceptional gemstones.
Ceylon sapphires can occur in different colours and depths of blue, so the term does not describe one specific shade. However, some Sri Lankan blue sapphires are admired for attractive brighter or lighter blue tones that allow plenty of life and colour to remain visible within the stone.
This can create a very different appearance from an extremely dark blue sapphire.
For someone choosing between the two, neither is automatically better simply because it is lighter or darker. A beautifully balanced sapphire should have a colour that appeals to you while retaining brightness and character.
Our sapphire collection currently includes examples of light blue Ceylon sapphire jewellery, offering an alternative to the deeper blue shades traditionally associated with the gemstone.
What About Padparadscha Sapphire?
Among the most intriguing fancy sapphires is padparadscha, an exceptionally distinctive colour combining pink and orange.
The name derives from a word associated with the colour of a lotus blossom, and GIA describes padparadscha sapphires as ranging broadly through delicate pinkish-orange to orange-pink hues.
These stones offer something very different from traditional blue sapphire and demonstrate just how varied the corundum family can be.
Our sapphire collection can occasionally include unusual stones such as natural padparadscha sapphire, making it worth exploring beyond the classic blue designs when looking for something particularly individual.
Are Sapphires Treated?
Many natural sapphires available within the jewellery industry are treated to improve their appearance.
Heat treatment is common and is generally used to improve colour or clarity. According to GIA, the results of conventional heat treatment are permanent and the practice is widely accepted within the gem trade.
Other treatments also exist, including diffusion and fracture filling, so treatment information is an important consideration when evaluating certain gemstones.
For significant sapphires, particularly higher-value stones, accompanying laboratory certification or gemstone information can provide useful details about characteristics such as treatment and, in some cases, geographic origin.
New or Pre-Owned Sapphire Jewellery?
One of sapphire's great strengths is that it works beautifully across very different periods of jewellery design.
Contemporary pieces can highlight the clean colour of the stone through modern settings and unusual cuts, while pre-owned sapphire jewellery often offers more traditional clusters, intricate settings or designs that are less commonly produced today.
A pre-owned piece can be particularly appealing if you enjoy jewellery with individuality and history. Because availability naturally changes as one-off pieces are sold, it also makes browsing the collection particularly interesting.
At Avanti, our sapphire selection includes both new and pre-owned jewellery, allowing you to explore a broad variety of styles rather than one particular aesthetic.
The Meaning and Symbolism of Sapphire
Sapphire has accumulated considerable symbolism over its long history.
Traditionally, it has represented truth, sincerity, faithfulness and nobility, while historic cultures also associated blue sapphire with protection. Its connection with loyalty and faithfulness helps explain why it has remained such an appropriate gemstone for romantic jewellery and significant gifts.
For a September birthday, however, its symbolism can be as personal as you choose. A birthstone piece might celebrate a milestone, represent someone special or simply be chosen because its colour is impossible to resist.
Caring for Sapphire Jewellery
Sapphire's hardness makes it an excellent choice for frequently worn jewellery, but every fine jewellery piece should still be treated with care.
Warm soapy water is considered a safe cleaning method for sapphire. The suitability of steam or ultrasonic cleaning can depend on whether the gemstone has been treated, so if you are unsure about a particular piece, professional cleaning is the safest option.
Rings worn regularly should also be checked periodically to make sure claws and settings remain secure.
Discover Sapphire Jewellery at Avanti Jewellers
For September birthdays, sapphire offers everything you could want from a birthstone: beauty, history, symbolism and enough variety to choose something that genuinely reflects the person wearing it.
Yet there is no reason to wait for September to appreciate it.
From timeless blue sapphire and diamond rings to colourful necklaces, earrings, bracelets and distinctive pre-owned designs, sapphire is one of those rare gemstones that can feel traditional, contemporary or completely individual depending on the piece.
Whether you are searching for a meaningful September birthday gift, celebrating an anniversary, considering a sapphire engagement ring or simply choosing something beautiful for yourself, explore our sapphire jewellery collection online at Avanti Jewellers and discover just how varied this remarkable gemstone can be.
