Sapphire: The September Birthstone
- Thomas Glover
- Sep 12
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 15
Sapphire is one of the most celebrated gemstones in the world, prized for its rich blue hues and exceptional durability. At Thomas Glover, we are proud to offer a curated selection of antique and vintage sapphire jewellery.
Sapphire is famous for its deep, velvety blue tones, though it occurs naturally in an extraordinary spectrum of colours – from cornflower blue to peach, pink, yellow, green, and even the beautiful padparadscha blend of pink and orange. Its name comes from the Latin sapphirus and Greek sappheiros, meaning 'blue stone', though in antiquity the term was often applied to other blue gems such as lapis lazuli. Over time, gemological understanding refined the definition to the corundum variety we know today.
With a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale, sapphire is second only to diamond, making it ideal for daily wear. Its colours are determined by trace elements within the mineral corundum: iron and titanium produce blue hues, chromium creates pink, iron alone creates yellow or green shades, and a combination of iron and vanadium gives violet or purple sapphires. When the chromium content is high enough to produce red, the gem is classified as ruby, sapphire’s equally celebrated corundum counterpart.
Throughout history, sapphires have held deep symbolic meaning. In ancient Persia, they were thought to protect the wearer from envy and harm, with the sky’s blue said to be a reflection of a vast sapphire on which the world rested. In classical Greece and Rome, they were linked to the gods of the heavens and worn for wisdom and divine favour. In the Middle Ages, clergy wore sapphires to symbolise purity, while royalty valued them as protection against betrayal.
Historically, the most celebrated sapphires came from Kashmir, discovered in the late 19th century in the remote Himalayan mountains. Mined for only a short period before the deposits were exhausted, these stones are prized for their royal blue colour and distinctive velvety texture, created by microscopic rutile inclusions that scatter light.
Other renowned sources include Burmese (Myanmar) sapphires from the Mogok region, known for their intense blue and exceptional clarity, and Ceylon (Sri Lanka), a source for over two thousand years, famed for producing large stones in a wide range of colours, with the bright cornflower blue the most coveted. In recent decades, Madagascar has emerged as a major source, producing stones that rival traditional origins in beauty and quality.
Among the world’s most famous sapphires are the Star of India, a remarkable 563-carat star sapphire now housed in the American Museum of Natural History in New York, celebrated for its striking size and distinct star-like asterism. Another famous sapphire is the Stuart Sapphire, which forms part of the British Crown Jewels. Likely originating from Sri Lanka, this historic 104-carat blue sapphire was reputedly smuggled out of England by King James II in 1688 during his deposition, and after a complex journey through Stuart descendants, it was eventually acquired by George IV and later set in the Imperial State Crown by Queen Victoria.
Their connection with love and fidelity has made sapphires a popular choice for betrothal rings from the medieval period to modern day. Famously, Prince Charles gave Lady Diana Spencer a sapphire and diamond cluster engagement ring, now worn by Catherine, Princess of Wales.
Across the centuries, sapphire jewellery has evolved in style. Georgian pieces featured sapphires in closed-back silver or gold settings, surrounded by foiling to enhance their colour, with cluster rings and girandole earrings. In the Victorian era, sapphires were featured in ornate brooches, lockets, and rings, and paired with diamonds or pearls and set in yellow gold. The Edwardian period introduced platinum, allowing for airy, lace-like settings, with sapphires in garland-style necklaces, millegrain-set rings, and delicate brooches. Moving into the 20th century, the geometry of the Art Deco era embraced sapphires in calibré and baguette cuts, creating strong contrasts with emeralds, rubies, or onyx.
At Thomas Glover, we are fortunate to offer antique and vintage sapphire jewellery from across these eras. Each piece is selected for its beauty and the quality of the gemstone. Our collection includes everything from Victorian sapphire cluster rings to contrasting Art Deco designs, each with its own story to tell. Whether chosen as a token of love or an heirloom to pass down, a sapphire jewel remains a beautiful and timeless gift to yourself or others.
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