September - The Month of Sapphire

Sapphire, The birthstone of September. 

 

Blue sapphire is the most precious and valuable gemstone besides ruby and emerald. Ruby and blue sapphire came from the same family called the corundum, which also included other categories called the “fancy sapphires”. They come in violet, green, yellow, orange, pink, purple, and intermediate hues. The mineral corundum is composed only of aluminum and oxygen, and it requires a growth environment that’s free of silicon. However, it is not common to find natural corundum as silicon is a very common element. Corundum in its purest state is completely colourless and it was once popularly used as a diamond imitation. 

 

It may come as a surprise but colourless corundum is rare, most corundum contains colour-causing trace elements. When the trace elements are iron and titanium, the corundum is blue sapphire. Only a few hundredths of a percent of iron and titanium can cause the color, and the more iron the corundum contains, the darker the blue. Chromium can cause the red colour of ruby or the pink of pink sapphire and Chromium with a missing electron can cause an orange color. Vanadium can cause a grayish-blue to green color. Iron and a missing electron can produce a strong yellow color. Iron alone can cause a pale yellow color. Last, interactions between trace elements and lattice defects produce many other colors.

 

In ancient Greece and Rome, kings and queens were convinced that blue sapphires protected their owners from envy and harm. During the Middle Ages, the clergy wore blue sapphires to symbolize Heaven, and ordinary folks thought the gem attracted heavenly blessings. In other times and places, people instilled sapphires with the power to guard chastity, make peace between enemies, influence spirits, and reveal the secrets of oracles.

 

Sapphire is undoubtedly one of the most versatile gemstones which come in all shapes and colours, surely you will find the one and only that suits you the best. In ikku london, we have a range of different colour and cut of sapphire jewelleries which can be found in our Pretty Little Flower Collection and the Rainbow Collection. Any enquiries do not hesitate to contact us directly!

 

Thank you for reading.

 

Unitil next week, be ikku!