Why the sapphire's beauty goes way beyond the month of September
Sapphires might be the beautiful birthstone of September, but their appeal goes way beyond the first 30 days of autumn. Sapphires have become one of the most popular gemstones in the jewellery world, with more and more of us opting for sapphire engagement rings than ever before. But did you know these mesmerising gems have an enchanting story to tell? We spoke with esteemed Scottish jewellers, Laings, to discover what makes these glittering stones so special.
Photography courtesy of Laings
The History of Sapphires
There are many stories from the past, describing sapphires as powerful and magical stones. In Ancient Greece and Rome, Kings and Queens were convinced that blue sapphires held mystical powers that attracted heavenly blessings, giving their owners wisdom and health. Supposedly protecting the wearer from evil and witchcraft, they were also used in the Middle Ages as an antidote to poison and were strongly believed to cure illness.
Modern-day Sapphires
Today, blue sapphires represent loyalty, truth, and honesty. Closely associated with royalty, sapphires are one of the four precious gemstones and sit alongside diamonds, emeralds and rubies.
Sapphire engagement rings have become an increasingly popular choice in recent years. Many people are taking inspiration from Kate Middleton and sporting breathtaking sapphire rings that are also adorned with diamonds.
Deriving from the Latin and Greek words for blue, ‘sapphirus’ and ‘sapphieros’, you probably think of a rich azure, however, the gemstone comes in a rainbow of hues, from pinks to greens, and even yellows. This has made the gem even more popular, and exquisite jewellery styles are crafted using a range of sapphires to add a contemporary twist to fine jewellery.
Reading Sapphires
Belonging to a family of minerals called corundum, sapphires are amongst the strongest natural gemstone in existence, second only to diamonds. They measure nine on the Mohs hardness scale, meaning they work well for everyday wear.
They are graded in the same way as diamonds, on their cut, colour, clarity, and carat. These are ultimately what determines the gems price-tag. The colour of the sapphire, perhaps seen as the determining factor, considers three components; hue, tone, and saturation. Hue describes the stones primary colour, so whilst they might be defined as blue they’re often made up of a combination of different hues. For example, a blue sapphire could have a secondary green hue and therefore be more accurately described as greenish-blue. The tone characterises the degree of lightness or darkness the colour has, and saturation defines the strength or intensity of the colour.
When it comes to coloured gemstones, the most important thing is finding one that you love, and that speaks to you. Coloured gemstones are all about personal preference, and you’ll typically fall for the unique charm of a stone and how it resembles your overall style.
Giving the Gift of Sapphire
A piece of birthstone jewellery is a beautiful gift to give, with a personalised touch showing how much you care. The piece will be filled with sentimental meaning, and it becomes a gift that will be cherished forever.
Luxury jewellers, Laings, has an array of stunning sapphire jewellery that is perfect for anyone celebrating a birthday, engagement, or a special occasion. Each piece makes an elegant statement, with a touch of glamour thrown in. The enchanting blue hue is truly captivating, and when paired with the clear sparkle of diamonds, the mysterious tones of the stone are really enhanced. Head to Laingsuk.com to see Laings’ exquisite collection of sapphires.