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Sapphire- Symbolic Meaning & Gemstone Care
Sapphire's symbolic meaning centers on its power to guard innocence, bestow truth, and promote good health. Learn how to style and care for September’s celestial birthstone.
Since ancient times, humans have associated gemstones with healing properties and spiritual significance.
The pull to attach special significance to gemstones continues in modern times, with the designation in 1912 of birthstones for each month by the American National Association of Jewelers. Whether you choose a stone for its traditional spiritual meaning, its connection to your birth month, or love the color of the stone, it is fun to understand these traditions.
Sapphires: A Symbol of Romantic Devotion
Traditionally associated with romantic devotion, sapphires make a meaningful choice for an engagement ring or wedding band. Adding diamonds brings a contrast of dark and light, amplifying the blue and adding sparkle. Princess Diana’s iconic Sapphire and Diamond engagement ring, now worn by Kate Middleton, is a stunning example of this classic combination.
Perhaps you are looking for “something blue” to add to your wedding dress with a sapphire necklace or bracelet. And don’t forget Anniversaries! Sapphires, seen as a symbol of romantic devotion and fidelity, are the designated stone for the 5th and 45th anniversary.
Sapphires naturally occur in Myanmar, Kashmir, Sri Lanka, Australia, Thailand, Brazil, and Kenya. HAVERHILL sapphires are sustainably grown in a lab, which mimics their formation in nature. They share all the chemical, physical and optical properties of naturally mined sapphires - with deep consistent color, excellent durability, and few inclusions. At HAVERHILL, we love sustainably grown sapphires because they are gentle on the earth, are beautifully consistent in their celestial blue color, have few to no inclusions and are beautifully cut.
Caring for Your Sapphire Jewelry
Rated 9 on the Mohs hardness scale, Sapphires are very durable, just one step away from diamonds. This makes them scratch resistant and excellent for everyday wear. In 1822 Friedrich Mohs created this scale to rate gemstones from 1 (softest) to 10 (exceptionally hard), based on their ability to withstand scratches. Sapphires are so hard they can scratch softer gemstones such as Amethyst and Citrine. Store your Sapphire jewelry in your jewelry pouch or box to keep the gemstone from scratching softer stones.
Sapphires are very durable and so are an excellent choice for everyday wear. You can wear your sapphire jewelry in the shower, while swimming, sleeping and exercising. Occasional cleaning with a non-abrasive jewelry cleaner or mild dye-free dish soap and warm water is a simple way to maintain the beauty of your Sapphire jewelry. Let the jewelry soak in a small bowl for a few minutes (away from the sink and drain), then brush gently with a soft toothbrush. Be sure to rinse it completely and blot dry with a chamois cloth.
Combining Sapphires with Other Gemstones
Sapphires work beautifully with other gemstones. Here are a few of our favorite combinations from our Shop for Good Collections. Support a cause that speaks to you while you shop for gemstone jewelry.
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FAQ
Sapphires can range from a lighter royal blue to a deep navy blue. We do our best to represent gemstone color as accurately as possible on our website, but gemstone color can vary. The appearance of the color may also be affected by your computer monitor. If you have questions about the color of your Sapphire once you receive it, feel free to contact us and our Customer Service representatives can help you.
Sustainably grown precious gemstones are genuine gemstones grown in a lab from a “seed” and are chemically, physically and optically identical to naturally mined stones.
These lab grown gemstones have beautiful, consistent color and fewer inclusions than naturally mined stones. They are rated the same hardness on the Mohs scale.
Absolutely not! People wear gemstones for many reasons, not just because they are the birthstone for the month they were born. You may choose to wear a stone because you feel a connection to the color, because the traditional meaning resonates with you, or because it reminds you of someone you love like a child, a friend or a loved one who has passed away. Jewelry is extremely personal and you should feel free to wear gemstones that speak to you.