September's Birthstone - Stunning Sapphire!

Each month we have enjoyed exploring the birthstone for that given month. We are now to September (already!) and its birthstone is the gorgeous sapphire. When our mind conjures images of sapphire, we almost always picture a deep rich blue hue. In fact, there are sapphires of all colors except for red which is technically a ruby. Both rubies and sapphires are made of the same mineral - corundum! 

One of the most famous sapphires in the world is the one embedded in the engagement ring of Princess Diana and later Princess Catherine of Wales. This 12 CT sapphire helped to fuel the world's love of this beautiful gemstone and created a trend in wedding jewelry that still continues to this day. Beyond wedding jewelry, sapphires are also beautiful stones to incorporate into any jewelry design, and with their 9 hardness on the Mohs scale, they are ideal for everyday wear. In fact, sapphires are the third hardest mineral, right behind diamonds and moissanite. 

As you know from previous blog posts, gemstones are filled with meaning. We have a guide for easy reference called Gemstone Meanings & Metaphysical Properties. Sapphires in particular are said to represent protection, honesty, intuition, and inspiration. Additionally, they are also said to represent wisdom and loyalty. 

If you want to incorporate sapphires into your DIY jewelry designs, you have several choices. You can feature sapphire gemstones, sapphire colored crystal beads and fancy stones, or just invoke the spirit of the deep blue sapphire with lovely beads of your choosing in that color. I have selected some of my favorite sapphire inspired pieces below but you can find many more on the Beadaholique website: 

Toho Aiko Seed Beads, 11/0 #8F 'Transparent Frosted Dark Sapphire' (4 Grams)

Can't get enough of this lovely hue? Click here for even more sapphire options for DIY jewelry!