Fun facts about sapphire jewelry

September is sapphire season! Sapphires are the birthstone for the month of September, and they are beautiful stones that have been around for ages! With their long history, there are a ton of interesting facts about them that most people don’t know. These are a few of our 14 Karat jewelry experts favorite fun facts about sapphires: 

1. Sapphires are considered one of the cardinal gems. This is a term that dates way back in history and refers to gemstones that were valued above the rest. The five cardinal gems included sapphires, diamonds, rubies, emeralds and amethysts. These gems were traditionally used in religious, cultural and other important ceremonies. 

2. When people think of the sapphire stone, most people imagine a deep blue color. While this is the most traditional color, our 14 Karat jewelry experts say that sapphires actually come in every color of the rainbow! They come in everything from orange to green to purple, but pink is the rarest, most commonly sifted from Sri Lankan rivers. 

3. There are sapphires that can change colors too! These stones will show off different colors depending on what type of light they are under. These are most typically blue during daytime but will transform into a deep violet hue under incandescent light. These sapphires can be found in a lot of different places, including the United States! 

4. Sapphire is made from the mineral corundum and makes it extremely durable. Sapphires are the second most durable gemstone coming in only behind diamonds. Due to their durability, sapphires are even used in apple watches and can be worn for everyday use. They score a nine out of 10 on the Mohs scale of hardness. 

5. Sapphires and rubies are chemically almost identical! They are both a variety of the mineral corundum, but sapphires have trace amounts of iron and titanium which makes them blue. 

6. Some of the most famous sapphire jewelry pieces belong to royalty, probably coining the term “royal blue.” Napoleon Bonparte gave Josephine a sapphire engagement ring, but even more famously, Kate Middleton currently wears an heirloom blue sapphire engagement ring from Prince William. It features a 12-carat oval blue sapphire gemstone and is surrounded by a halo of diamonds. 

7. Sapphires have a rich history and have symbolized many things over the years. Persians believed that the sky was blue because the entire world rested on a blue sapphire. During ancient Greek and Roman times, soldiers would wear sapphires to protect them from their enemies. Sapphires were also thought to possess healing properties and would be used as treatments for diseases like colic. 

8. Sapphires are not just used to celebrate September birthdays, but they are also used as 5th and 45th anniversary presents! 

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Our 14 Karat jewelry experts would love to help you pick out or design a custom sapphire jewelry piece! Perfect to celebrate someone born in September, or just because! Contact us today to get started.