Blue sapphires have been adoring the hands, wrists, necks and fingers of women for millennia and have a rich history. The deep blue color of the stone is rich with meaning and one of the most popular choices, second only to diamonds. This precious gemstone is also the September birthstone, making it an outstanding choice as a birthday gift for anyone born that month.
It enjoyed a special moment of fame when Prince Charles presented an engagement ring of a deep blue sapphire in a halo of diamonds to Lady Diana Spencer (Princess Diana). One of the most famous sapphires, it achieved iconic status and today this blue sapphire engagement ring is worn by Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales having been given to her by Prince William and copies are much in demand by modern brides.
What is Sapphire?
A member of the corundum family of minerals meaning it’s a formula of aluminum oxide. Known for its durability, the beautiful gemstone sapphire is second only to diamonds on the Mohs Scale of Hardness so has industrial as well as jewelry uses.
The most well-known color is blue which is due to the presence of iron and titanium trace elements but there is quite a range of colors of sapphire including pink, orange, yellow, green, purple, colorless, and black, all caused by different trace elements in varying quantities. (These will define the range of color intensities). Red versions of sapphire are known as rubies.
But what does gifting a sapphire mean to the person receiving the piece of jewelry? It could mean many things. Let’s find out more.
Love Symbolism
There are quite a few ways in which sapphire jewelry symbolizes love. It makes sense to choose sapphires as a gift for the love of your life, both for their symbolic meaning and their beauty. Whether it’s an engagement ring, an eternity band, or a pair of stud sapphire earrings for an anniversary, sapphire means love in all of these ways.
- Fidelity and trust: the vibrancy of the blue in a sapphire is linked to trust, fidelity, and sincerity in a relationship.
- Hope and faith: the sapphire stone represents the hope and faith that partners have in one another.
- Loyalty and faithfulness: all the way back to ancient times, sapphires have been connected to loyalty and faithfulness among romantic partners.
- New love and commitment: sapphires are a symbol of new love and commitment – perfect for an engagement ring.
- Everlasting love: a sapphire proves that your relationship will last forever.
- Strengthening emotional bonds: when a sapphire is given as a gift and worn, it symbolizes harmony and strong emotional bonding in a relationship.
Because of their profound symbolism to romantic couples, a sapphire gemstone is an excellent choice for engagement rings and wedding rings. They are also one of September’s birthstones, making them an ideal choice for a birthday gift and sapphires are also traditionally given on the 5th and 45th wedding anniversary.
Spiritual Symbolism
Many ancient civilizations and cultures revere the sapphire because it’s considered a sacred stone that has a high level of spiritual significance. Dating back generations, sapphires were worn by royals, oracles, and many others as a way to acknowledge the divine and make a spiritual connection.
- Ancient Greeks: wore sapphires when meeting with the oracle as a way to gather knowledge about their future.
- Ancient Indians: connected the stone to favor from the gods, as well as their astrological fortune.
- Medieval times: a sapphire symbolized holiness and faith in the celestial realm.
- Bible: the Ten Commandments are thought to have been inscribed on a sapphire tablet.
- Buddhists: connect the sapphire to calmness, prayer and meditation, leading the path to spiritual enlightenment.
With this in mind, a sapphire is a cherished choice for a religious ceremony due to its spiritual meaning for many people. That might be a baptism or confirmation. It might also be used as part of a prayer and meditation practice and may also appear on oracle beads or incorporated into an astrological fortune-telling session.
Emotional Symbolism
Wearing a sapphire is believed to bring divine wisdom and truth. That makes it something that many people feel connected with as part of a plan to get in touch with oneself and navigate emotional health in many aspects of life. As a stone of wisdom,
- Throat: turning inward to understand oneself.
- Conscience: using energy for positive thinking.
- Commitment and fidelity: especially when combined with diamonds or a white sapphire.
As mentioned above, because of its rich symbolism in relationships, a sapphire is perfect as an anniversary gift but is also ideal for showcasing a deeper connection with your partner. And of course, as mentioned above, a sapphire proves your emotional feelings for someone when given as a beloved birthstone for September birthdays.
Wellness Symbolism
Many people call sapphires their favorite stone for symbolizing wellness and boasting healing properties due to their protective qualities. Both as a reminder to take care of oneself and a powerful stone for protection, wearing this deep blue gemstone is a great way to contribute to your self care routine and to ward off illness, disease and other health problems.
- Ancient cultures: used sapphires as a talisman to protect against disease and poison, as well as bad influences.
- Modern cultures: believed to be a cure for many ailments, including insomnia, vertigo, thyroid problems, and disorders affecting the blood and nervous system.
- Mental wellness: thought to alleviate depression, boost positive thought patterns, and enhance feelings of self confidence.
- Blue color: linked to trust, patience, and confidence for the person wearing the stone.
The color and the stone itself are both aspects of the sapphire that are linked to wellness, both physical and mental. In addition to the above benefits, wearing a sapphire may also give you wisdom and turn a bad mood into a good mood.
Sapphire as a Birthstone
Sapphire is the official birthstone for September. Anyone born in this month is believed to have special protection when wearing the precious stone, from both negativity and a disorganized lifestyle. As a birthstone, it’s most popular as a blue sapphire pendant necklace, right hand blue sapphire ring or pair of sapphire earrings. With its physical beauty and array of colors, sapphire birthstones are a perfect gift for anyone born in September.
Colored Sapphires
While all of the heavenly blues are the most popular color choice, sapphires are available in a range of rainbow colors, from orange sapphires to pink to purple sapphires, to green and black sapphires. No matter the sapphire color you choose, you’ll love the sapphire piece you incorporate it into and will enjoy showing off the captivating color to everyone around. The best sapphires usually come from Sri Lanka. Let’s have a look at the spectrum of colors you can choose from when it comes to sapphire stones.
- Blue sapphires: symbolize depth, trust, and love.
- Yellow sapphires: linked to vitality, joy, and optimism.
- Pink sapphires: romance and tenderness.
- Green sapphires: renewal, growth and harmony.
Because each beautiful color is symbolic of different things, the beautiful sapphire you choose can be connected to someone or something special. Blue and pink sapphires are lovely choices for an engagement ring. Yellow and green may symbolize the emotions that go with life transitions, such as anniversaries, new babies, new jobs, or a cross-country move.
Final Thoughts
Though sapphires come in a wide range of colors, the most recognizable is the blue stone. It’s the September birthstone, as well as having a lot of symbolism for many reasons. Whether it’s a blue sapphire ring, earrings, tennis bracelet, or a natural sapphire necklace, you get timeless beauty and a touch of elegance anytime you wear a sapphire. You also get the benefits of the stone’s healing power and every one of its protective powers.
When it comes to enchanting gemstones, you can’t go wrong with adding a few sapphire pieces to your collection. At BridalRings.com, we offer a lovely selection of sapphire jewelry for all occasions and at a range of prices. Feel free to browse at your leisure.