What do airbags, smoke alarms, fire-escape plans, and sapphires have in common? They’re all meant to protect your loved ones. Granted, only the first three are proven to work. But it’s been said since the Middle Ages that the sapphire—September’s birthstone—has protective powers. From clergy to commoners, sapphires have been worn for centuries with the intent of warding off evil. We just think they’re pretty, the kind of “blues” anyone would gladly have.
But wait. They’re not just blue. While sapphires are best known and valued for their deep blue hues, did you know they’re also available in other colors? We mean all the colors in the rainbow, from bamboo greens to bruise-purples. Pink sapphires have become almost as well-known as the blue ones, but if you want to get creative about gifting a sapphire to someone with a September birthday, here are a few lesser known ways to do it:
- Padparadscha sapphires. In the ancient Sanskrit language, the term padparadscha was used to describe the color of a lotus flower. Just as lotus flowers can vary in color, so can padparadscha sapphires. Most could be best described as a salmon tone, somewhere between pink and orange. Some people have even described the gem color as a mix between a perfect sunset and a lotus bloom. (Obviously, these people are in marketing.) It’s a beautiful choice for someone who prefers warmer tones.
- Star sapphires. Inclusion isn’t always a bad word in gemology. In diamonds, inclusions tend to diminish value. But in sapphires, they may increase it: Tiny, reflective, needle-like inclusions in some sapphires intersect to form a gorgeous star pattern that is highly prized. The most prized star sapphires are a deep and vivid blue. The best ones have good contrast between the star and the stone.
- iSapphires and clock sapphires. This isn’t a real term, but it does bring us to a unique way to give the gift of sapphire to a September birthday girl or guy. Sapphire is the third hardest stone, behind diamonds and moissanite. Because it’s so hard, it’s used in a variety of behind-the-scenes applications. That includes the screens of iPhones, iPods, and iPads, as well as the crystals of finer wristwatches and pocket watches. (The “crystal” is the transparent cover that protects the face of the watch.)
Got someone in your life with a September birthday? Come see us for the perfect gift. We don’t carry iAnything, but we do carry a beautiful selection of sapphire-crystal timepieces and sapphire jewelry!
