The birthstone
for September is the sapphire.
Sapphire, a member of the corundum family, gets its name from
the Latin, sapphirus, and the Greek sáppheiros
(blue). The color in blue sapphire comes from titanium and
iron oxides; the depth of color depends on the amount of oxides
in the stone.
Prized since ancient times, sapphire has been called the "Gem
of the Heavens." Persians believed the earth rested on an
enormous sapphire, and the sky reflected its beautiful color.
In the 12th century, the Bishop of Rennes praised the sapphire
and initiated its use in ecclesiastical rings.
Mohs hardness: 9
Refractive Index: 1.760-1.770
Specific Gravity: 4
The toughness of sapphire is excellent, and it may be cleaned
by steaming, ultrasonic, jewelry cleaners, soap, or an untreated
cloth.
Color: Sapphires are found in all colors of the spectrum, from
ruby red to yellow, green, blue, violet, pink, gray, black, or
colorless, and all shades in between.
Origin: Sapphires are found in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Cambodia,
Burma, India, Tanzania,Greece, Australia, and the United States.
