September has arrived, bringing with it that lovely little shift towards cooler mornings, darker evenings and the first hints that autumn is waiting around the corner. And, of course, it also brings us a new birthstone to admire.
Sapphire is September’s birthstone and while most of us immediately picture a rich, velvety blue gemstone, there’s rather more to sapphire than meets the eye.
In fact, sapphire comes in a surprisingly beautiful rainbow of colours. And if sapphire isn’t quite your thing, September has another option too: lapis lazuli, a deep blue stone with an ancient history link which you may have seen on my newest piece my Egyptian Ankh necklace.
So this month, I’m looking beyond the classic blue sapphire and exploring some of the more unusual colours of September’s birthstone, before taking a little trip back in time to discover the story behind lapis lazuli.
Let’s start with the obvious question: if sapphire is blue, how can it be pink, yellow or green?
Well, sapphire is actually a variety of the mineral corundum. Red corundum is ruby (which you can find out more about in my July blog) while corundum in pretty much every other colour is classed as sapphire.
Non-blue varieties are known as fancy sapphires and they come in loads of shades including pink, yellow, orange, green, purple, violet and even colourless.
So yes, you can have a pink sapphire, a yellow sapphire or a green sapphire and still be wearing September’s birthstone!
Pink sapphires range from delicate, pale pinks through to much stronger, vivid shades. They make a lovely alternative to traditional pink gemstones such as pink tourmaline or morganite, particularly if you want something a little more unusual.
They’re also a great reminder that sapphire doesn’t have to feel formal or traditionally ‘royal’. I love the soft pink sapphire’s romantic feel.
Yellow sapphires range from soft lemon shades through to deep golden yellows, while orange sapphires can be wonderfully warm and vibrant.
And then there’s padparadscha sapphire – one of the most sought-after varieties. These unusual stones sit somewhere between pink and orange, with a colour often described as pinkish-orange or orange-pink.
The name comes from the colour of a lotus blossom and it’s also one of my personal favourites inspiring me to focus this blog on non-blue Sapphires.
Green sapphire doesn’t tend to get nearly as much attention as its blue cousin, but it can be absolutely beautiful.
The colours can range from delicate, muted greens to deeper shades, and because green sapphire is relatively understated, it can make a lovely choice if you like your gemstones with a more subtle sparkle.
For something slightly moodier, there’s purple sapphire.
These can range from reddish-purple through to violet shades, offering a much more dramatic alternative to the classic blue.
And if you’ve been following Rock & Rose for a while, you’ll know I’m never going to complain about a gemstone with a slightly darker side!
Yes, sapphire can even be colourless.
Colourless sapphire is sometimes known as white sapphire and can make a beautiful alternative to diamond. It doesn’t have quite the same optical brilliance or ‘fire’ as diamond, but it has the same impressive durability that makes sapphire such a practical gemstone for jewellery.
So really, when we say September’s birthstone is sapphire, what we’re actually saying is that September has an entire colour palette to choose from.
It’s also good if you love a coloured stone that isn’t high up the Moh’s scale and therefore not ideal for daily wear. Unlike the sapphire which is 2nd only to the diamond on that scale.
Sapphire has been treasured for thousands of years and has long been associated with qualities such as loyalty, sincerity, truth and nobility.
Perhaps one of the most famous sapphires used by royalty is that of the one in Princess Diana and Princess Kate’s engagement ring however the iconic sapphire cluster design can be traced back to 1840. Prince Albert commissioned a gorgeous sapphire and diamond cluster brooch to present to Queen Victoria as a wedding gift.
It also has some impressive credentials when it comes to durability. As I said above, corundum is the second-hardest natural mineral after diamond, making sapphire particularly well suited to jewellery that’s intended to be worn regularly.
And while blue sapphire has long had royal associations the history of sapphire jewellery goes much further back.
Ancient Greeks and Romans believed blue sapphires could protect their wearers from harm and envy, while medieval European clergy associated the stone with Heaven.
Today, thankfully, you don’t need to believe that your jewellery will ward off poison or protect you from the plague to enjoy a sapphire.
If none of those sapphires catch your eye, September has another beautiful option: lapis lazuli.
Unlike sapphire, lapis lazuli isn’t a single mineral. It’s actually an aggregate of minerals, including lazurite, calcite and pyrite.
And it’s the pyrite that gives many pieces of lapis their characteristic little flashes of gold.
That combination of deep blue and golden flecks is what makes lapis so instantly recognisable.
It also means that no two pieces are quite the same. Some are a rich, almost uniform blue, while others contain plenty of white calcite or shimmering golden pyrite (also known as fool’s gold).
Even though golden shimmer is beautiful, the plainer the stone the rarer it is and therefore more expensive.
“It is like to the colour of heaven and there is within it little bodies of gold”
Albertus Magnus ‘The Book of Secrets’ 13th century
By the 20th century the gemstone was admired by many jewellers, including Cartier who created various different pieces using lapis lazuli.
One bracelet was owned by both Marlene Dietrich and Wallis Simpson and when sold by Christies in 2024 it fetched 94,000 EUROS proving in some cases lapis can beat the price of gold.
Lapis lazuli has been treasured for thousands of years. It was discovered 9000 years ago in the Badakhshan mountains (near Afghanistan and Tajikistan).
It would transported along ancient trade routes for months and eventually find its way into some of the most important cultures of the ancient world.
Called the ‘Blue Stone’ as lapis means stone and lazuli from ‘azul’ meaning blue.
It was believed to be from the gods and the Ancient Egyptians were particularly fond of it. The blue stone on Tutankhamun’s mask is lapis lazuli.
Lapis was used for jewellery, amulets and decorative objects, and its intense blue colour was highly prized. Ground lapis was also used to create a rich blue pigment used in illuminated manuscripts and Di Vinci’s virgin’s cloak.
It is its association with ancient Egypt is one of the reasons I was particularly drawn to using lapis alongside my new Egyptian Ankh Necklace.
The ankh is one of the most recognisable symbols of Ancient Egypt, traditionally associated with life.
I’ve always loved the combination of an ancient symbol with a beautiful natural gemstone, so bringing the two together felt like a particularly fitting way to welcome September.
The deep blue of lapis lazuli works beautifully with the warm tones of copper and, if your necklace has them, the little flashes of pyrite can add an unexpected touch of gold.
It’s ancient-inspired without needing to take itself too seriously and, most importantly, it’s a piece you can actually wear rather than something that belongs behind glass in a museum.
The Egyptian Ankh Necklace which launched on on 1 September, just in time for September birthdays and anyone who simply loves a little ancient Egyptian inspiration, like me.
And because lapis lazuli is recognised as an alternative September birthstone, it’s a lovely option if you want something a little different from the traditional sapphire.
So there you have it. September’s birthstone isn’t simply one shade of blue or gemstone.
There’s a whole rainbow of sapphires waiting to be discovered, from soft pinks and sunny yellows to moody greens and purples. And alongside them, there’s lapis lazuli an ancient, characterful stone that brings its own story to the table.
And perhaps that’s what I love about birthstones. There’s always more to discover than you first expect.
Whether you’re a September baby, looking for a meaningful birthday gift, or simply someone who can’t resist a beautiful gemstone, there’s something rather special about wearing a little piece of the story with you.
And if Ancient Egypt is more your thing then the Egyptian Ankh Necklace is perfect for you.
Because if you know me I always think alternative is so much more interesting!
Egyptian Museum | Tutankhamun’s Mask
Secret Language of Victorian Jewelry | Amy Azzarito
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