Sapphire: The History, Meaning & Enduring Beauty of a Timeless Gemstone

Known for its beautiful blue colour, sapphire has a story that reaches far beyond its place as September's birthstone.

When most of us hear the word sapphire, we picture blue.

That deep, beautiful blue is certainly what sapphire is best known for, and it's probably part of the reason the gemstone has remained so recognizable for generations.

But there is much more to sapphire than its colour.

It has been worn for centuries, associated with royalty and tradition, chosen to mark meaningful occasions and passed from one generation to another.

And although sapphire is September's birthstone, you certainly don't need a September birthday to love it.

Sometimes you're simply drawn to a stone because you think it's beautiful.

I think that's reason enough.

What Exactly Is Sapphire?

Sapphire belongs to the mineral family called corundum.

Here's something I find fascinating: ruby belongs to exactly the same mineral family.

Red corundum is called ruby. Other gem-quality colours of corundum are generally called sapphire.

So while blue is the colour most of us immediately associate with sapphire, sapphires can also be pink, yellow, orange, green, purple and even colourless. These non-blue varieties are often referred to as fancy sapphires.

Blue sapphire gets its colour from trace elements within the mineral, particularly iron and titanium. Even small differences in those elements can contribute to variations in colour.

That's one of the things I enjoy about working with gemstones.

Nature doesn't make everything identical.

Two stones may belong to the same gemstone family and still have their own colour, character and little differences.

A Gemstone With a Long History

Sapphire's story stretches back thousands of years.

Across different periods of history, people have attached their own beliefs and symbolism to the stone.

Ancient Persians believed the earth rested on an enormous sapphire whose reflection gave the sky its blue colour. During the Middle Ages, members of the clergy wore blue sapphire because of its association with heaven. Sapphire also became connected with royalty and has traditionally represented ideas such as sincerity, truth, faithfulness and nobility.

I think it's important to distinguish those traditions from what a gemstone actually does.

Wearing a sapphire won't create wisdom, loyalty or clarity.

But symbols can still matter.

A stone that has represented faithfulness for centuries might feel particularly appropriate in a piece marking an anniversary. Someone else may choose sapphire to remember a September birthday.

And another woman may choose one for no symbolic reason whatsoever.

She simply loves blue.

All of those reasons are valid.

More Than a September Birthstone

Sapphire is the traditional birthstone for September, which makes sapphire jewelry an obvious choice for September birthdays.

But birthstones don't have to belong only to the person born in that month.

A birthstone can represent a child or grandchild.

It can remind you of someone you love.

It might mark the month something important happened.

Or you might ignore the calendar completely and wear the gemstone because it's the colour you reach for again and again.

That's the part of gemstone symbolism I enjoy most.

There may be centuries of history behind a stone, but once you choose it, the meaning can become entirely your own.

Why Sapphire Works So Beautifully in Jewelry

There is also a very practical reason sapphire has remained important in jewelry: it's a durable gemstone.

Sapphire ranks 9 on the Mohs hardness scale and has excellent toughness, making it well suited to jewelry that may be worn regularly.

Durable doesn't mean indestructible, of course. Fine jewelry should still be treated with care.

But sapphire's combination of beauty and durability gives it wonderful versatility.

A small sapphire can bring a beautiful point of colour to an otherwise simple sterling silver design.

And that's probably how I like sapphire best.

Not overwhelmed by lots of other details.

Just beautiful silver, clean lines and that unmistakable touch of blue.

It's one of the reasons I chose sapphire as one of the options for my Sapphire or Crystal Bezel Pendant Necklace. The bezel is simple and modern, allowing that little sapphire to become the focus without the necklace feeling overly formal.

Sapphire and Sterling Silver

I have always loved the way blue gemstones look with sterling silver.

There's something about the cool brightness of the metal beside a rich blue stone that feels clean, understated and timeless.

And it doesn't need to be saved for a special occasion.

A sapphire necklace can be worn with a white shirt and jeans.

Small sapphire studs can become everyday earrings.

A sapphire ring can sit beside simple silver bands.

That's very much how I think about jewelry at Plein de Vie.

Beautiful enough to feel special.

Easy enough to actually wear.

If you love that combination too, you can explore my Sterling Silver Jewelry Collection, where gemstones and sterling silver appear throughout many of the designs.

Choosing a Sapphire Piece

If you're considering sapphire jewelry, start with something much simpler than rules about what you're supposed to buy.

Ask yourself what you actually wear.

Do you reach for earrings every morning?

Would a small pendant get more wear?

Do you love rings?

Would you prefer one noticeable blue stone, or just a tiny touch of colour?

Then consider the sapphire itself.

Colour can vary considerably from one sapphire to another. Blue sapphires may range from lighter blues through deeper blue and violetish-blue tones, while fancy sapphires offer an entirely different range of colours.

There isn't one shade you have to prefer.

Choose the one you want to look at.

Because ultimately, jewelry has to work for you, not for a gemstone chart.

Caring for Sapphire Jewelry

Sapphire is durable, but a little care will help keep both the gemstone and its setting looking beautiful.

For routine cleaning, warm water with mild soap is generally safe for sapphire. A soft cloth or soft brush can help remove everyday residue, followed by a good rinse and gentle drying.

Treatments can affect how some sapphires should be cared for, so if you're unsure how a particular stone has been treated, it's worth asking before using ultrasonic or steam cleaning methods.

And as with the rest of your jewelry, give your sapphire pieces a little space when you store them rather than tossing everything together.

Beautiful jewelry doesn't require complicated rituals.

Just thoughtful care.

The Meaning You Give It

I think we sometimes put too much pressure on jewelry to have a profound story behind it.

Sometimes it does.

A sapphire might represent someone born in September.

It might celebrate an anniversary.

It might be connected to a person, place or memory.

And sometimes you simply see that incredible blue and think:

I love that.

That's meaningful too.

Because while sapphire comes with centuries of history and traditional symbolism, the stone doesn't get to decide what it means when you wear it.

You do.

And perhaps that's part of the reason gemstones remain so personal.

The history comes with them.

The story you add is entirely your own.

xo, Tammy