September babies, you got a good one: sapphire. Most people picture a deep royal-blue gemstone when they hear the word, but sapphire comes in a spectacular range of colors, and some of my favorites are the oddballs: pale, banded, included, color-zoned, and wonderfully imperfect.
What is September's birthstone?
Sapphire is September's traditional and modern birthstone. Sapphire is a variety of the mineral corundum, just like ruby. In gemology, red corundum is called ruby; corundum of other colors is generally called sapphire. Sapphire has a Mohs hardness of 9, which makes it especially resistant to scratching and a popular choice for engagement rings and other frequently worn jewelry.
Sapphires have long been associated with wisdom, loyalty, and sincerity. But what I love most is how much personality they can have.
Sapphires aren't just blue
Yes, there are the classic velvety blues. But natural sapphires also occur in light blue, pink, yellow, green, purple, peach, and more. Some have multiple colors in the same stone, known as color zoning or parti-color. Others have inclusions that create soft, misty, or almost painterly effects.
I'm particularly fond of light blue sapphires, especially in unexpected shapes and delicate gold settings. This necklace shows exactly why.
What about pink and green sapphire?
They're every bit as much sapphire as the familiar blue variety. Pink sapphire can be playful or romantic, while green sapphire often has an earthy, subtle mood that works beautifully with yellow gold. If you're born in September but don't like blue, there's no reason to abandon your birthstone.
Why I love unusual, included, and banded sapphires
Some of the sapphires that interest me most aren't the textbook-perfect ones. They may have delicate inclusions, soft color shifts, unexpected geometry, or natural banding. These features can make a gemstone feel much more individual, and they inspire designs that simply wouldn't exist with a conventional calibrated stone.
Look at this softly colored, hexagonal sapphire. Its natural banding is part of what makes it special.
Are sapphires good for everyday jewelry?
Often, yes. With a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale, sapphire is one of the more scratch-resistant gemstones used in jewelry. That makes it a strong option for rings and frequently worn pieces. It isn't indestructible, though: a sharp impact can still chip or damage a stone, and settings need proper care.
Some sapphires display a star-like effect called asterism, usually seen in cabochon-cut stones. Fine needle-like inclusions reflect light in a pattern that can create a six-rayed star. And sapphire color and clarity can be affected by treatments, so it's important to understand gemstone disclosures when comparing stones.
Do natural sapphires have to be expensive?
Not necessarily. The rarest, finest stones can be extraordinarily valuable, but natural sapphires span a broad range of colors, cuts, sizes, and price points. Smaller stones and gems with visible inclusions or unconventional cuts can be especially interesting in artist-made jewelry. I love designing around what makes a stone unusual instead of hiding it.
Shop handmade sapphire jewelry
These natural sapphire pieces were available in my studio when I put this guide together. Each one-of-a-kind design is made individually, with no duplicates.
Explore the September birthstone collection →
Want something truly unusual? Let's choose the gemstone first.
If all you know is that you love pale blue, mossy green, pink, or something a little strange, that's enough to start. Tell me the colors and shapes you're drawn to, and I can curate a selection of natural sapphires and other gemstones for you to consider. We'll start with what catches your eye and design a custom piece from there.
