Sapphire History and Lore

This month’s blog is a celebration of beautiful blue sapphires. Sapphire history and lore is rich, and this September birthstone is considered one of the most royal gemstones.

Sapphires have appeared in some of the most ornate and beautiful jewelry pieces ever created. Here’s a glimpse at some of the world’s most famous and highly valued sapphire jewelry pieces.

Princess Diana’s engagement ring

Following Prince Charles’ proposal, Lady Diana Spencer chose a diamond and blue sapphire engagement ring from a Garrard catalog, instead of having a diamond ring custom made for her, which was the royal custom.  The decision was controversial, but also launched her reputation as “The People’s Princess.” Since then, affordable replicas of her ring became so popular, that it became known as “the commoner’s ring.”

About the her ring...

The ring has a large oval sapphire—estimated to be between 9 and 12 carats— surrounded by 14 round diamonds set in 18K white gold. The ring cost around $60,000 when it was purchased in 1981, and today has been estimated value between $500,000 and $4 million. Prince William inherited the ring following Princess Diana’s untimely death, and famously presented it to Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, when he proposed to her in November 2010.

Maria Alexandrovna’s sapphire brooch

Originally from Sri Lanka, The Maria Alexandrovna sapphire was purchased by Alexander II at the London Great Exhibition of 1862, and presented to his wife, Maria Alexandrovna. That is where it gets its name.

This sapphire is a 260.37-carat oval with an evenly distributed medium-dark saturated blue color. The sapphire was later set in a brooch consisting of 56.60 carats of smaller diamonds.

The Star of India

Discovered in Sri Lanka about 300 years ago and currently on display at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, the Star of India is about 2 billion years old and weighs 563 carats—about the size of a golf ball—making it the largest gem-quality blue star sapphire in the world.

The presence of the mineral rutile gives the gemstone’s appearance a slightly milky quality, as well as the distinctive star effect, known as asterism. Tiny fibers of rutile in a three-fold pattern reflect incoming light in the star pattern. In addition to its great size, the Star of India is unique because it has asterisms on both sides of the gemstone.

On October 29, 1964, the world-famous sapphire was stolen from the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. Several months later, the uninsured Star of India was recovered in a locker in a Miami bus station.

The Stuart Sapphire

If you love jewels and ever visit London, be sure to see the Stuart Sapphire, which often goes unnoticed because it is located at the back of the Imperial State Crown.

The 104-carat Stuart Sapphire is a fine blue—though flawed—gem. It is oval in shape, about 1½ inches by 1 inch in width, and is set in a gold brooch. The gem is drilled at one end, probably so that it could be worn as a pendant.

Dating back to 1214, the Stuart Sapphire was owned by members of the Royal House of Stuart, for whom it was named. Robert II, the first monarch of the Stuart dynasty, was the first to own it, and it was later inherited by James II, who took it with him to France when he was deposed in the Glorious Revolution of 1688-89.

James II gave the sapphire to his son James Edward, who passed it on to his son, Charles Edward. Today, it is on display as part of the British Crown Jewels collection at the Tower of London, and is located on the back side of the British Imperial State Crown.

Where to shop for sapphire jewelry?

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September Birthstone Q&A: Sapphire

 September’s birthstone, the sapphire, has a rich history.

Blue sapphires have been associated with royalty for centuries. One of the most recognizable pieces is the sapphire and diamond engagement ring given to the late Princess Diana by Prince Charles, now famously passed down a generation to Kate Middleton by Prince William.

Test your knowledge of sapphires, and learn some interesting facts about September’s royal birthstone.

1. In addition to being the birthstone for September, what number wedding anniversary do sapphires celebrate?
2. Blue sapphire is a variety of the mineral called corundum. What other gemstone comes from corundum?
3. The blue sapphire is derived from the Greek word, sappheiros. What does the word mean?
4. Sapphires come in many colors. What is the most valuable and in-demand color?
5. The Star of India is the world's largest gem-quality blue star sapphire, and is around two billion years old. In what famous museum is it displayed?
6. On the Mohs scale of hardness, sapphires rate a 9.0. What gem is harder?
7. What did the ancient Greeks believe sapphires were a symbol of?
8. The ancient Persians believed the earth was supported by a giant sapphire and that it gave what its blue hue?
9. According to Jewish midrash, Moses’ sapphire tablets were carved from where?
10. The late Diana, Princess of Wales, famously chose a blue sapphire and diamond ring for her engagement to Prince Charles. Replicas of the ring became so popular with people, that it was given what nickname?

September Birthstone Quiz Answers:


1. Sapphires celebrate the 45th wedding anniversary.
2. Rubies also come from the mineral corundum.
3. The Greek word sappheiros meaning blue stone.
4. Blue sapphires are the most expensive and desirable of all sapphire colors.
5. The Star of India is on exhibit in the Morgan Memorial Hall of Gems at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.
6. Diamonds are the only gem to rank a 10 on the Mohs scale of hardness.
7. The ancient Greeks believed sapphires were a symbol of wisdom and purity.
8. The ancient Persians believed a giant sapphire gave the sky its blue hue.
9. According to Jewish midrash, Moses’ sapphire tablets were carved from the throne of God, making them the most precious gemstone.
10. Princess Diana’s ring became so popular with the public that it became known as “the commoner’s ring.”

Fabulous Facts About Sapphires

Sapphire Ring: https://www.ebay.com/itm/233138374649

Few gems are considered as regal and magical as sapphires—the royal gemstone and September’s birthstone.

Here are some fun and fabulous facts about sapphires, courtesy of GIA.

1. Blue sapphire is a variety of the mineral corundum, the same mineral that rubies come from.
2. The sapphire is derived from the Greek word "sapheiros," which means blue.
3. On the Mohs hardness scale, sapphires are second only to diamonds in hardness.
4. Although sapphires come in many colors, the most valuable and sought after are deep blue sapphires.
5. In addition to being the birthstone for September, sapphires are also the gemstone for celebrating 45th wedding anniversaries.
6. The ancient Greeks believed sapphires were a symbol of wisdom and purity.
7. The ancient Persians believed the Earth was supported by a giant sapphire and its reflection made the sky blue.
8. According to Jewish midrash, Moses was given tablets of sapphire that were carved from God’s throne, making them the most precious gemstone.
9. The late Diana, Princess of Wales, famously chose a blue sapphire and diamond ring for her engagement to Prince Charles.
10. After the engagement of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer, reproductions of her ring became so popular with the public that it became known as “the commoner’s ring.”
11. After inheriting it upon her death, Prince William gave his mother’s ring to Kate Middleton when he proposed to her. The Duchess of Cambridge can almost always be seen wearing it in public.
12. The 104-carat Stuart Sapphire is on the back side of the British Imperial State Crown and is currently on display as part of the British Crown Jewels collection at the Tower of London.

Source: GIA

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