September’s birthstone, the sapphire, has held enduring significance since the Middle Ages, when its celestial blue hue symbolized the heavens and was believed to attract divine favor and wise judgment.
The ancient Greeks wore sapphires when consulting oracles for guidance, while Buddhists regarded the gem as a source of spiritual enlightenment. In Hindu worship, sapphires played a role in sacred rituals. Early Christian kings cherished sapphires for their reputed protective powers, often setting them in ecclesiastical rings.
According to Jewish tradition, the Ten Commandments were engraved on sapphire tablets, although many scholars today suggest the biblical reference likely points to lapis lazuli, another blue gemstone.
The most prized violet-blue sapphires historically came from India’s Kashmir region during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In 2015, a record-breaking Kashmir sapphire sold for over $6.74 million, commanding an astonishing $242,000 per carat at auction.
Some of the world’s most famous star sapphires, including the 1,404.49-carat Star of Adam, the 563.4-carat Star of India, and the 182-carat Star of Bombay, were mined in Sri Lanka.
Though Australia was once a major source, the discovery of sapphire deposits in Madagascar during the 1990s shifted global production. Today, Madagascar leads the world in sapphire mining.
In 1902, French chemist Auguste Verneuil developed a method for creating synthetic sapphires, opening the door for widespread industrial applications in areas such as semiconductors, satellite systems, high-durability optics, and scientific equipment.
Sapphire also became a symbol of royal romance when Prince Charles presented Lady Diana with a 12-carat blue sapphire engagement ring in 1981—a piece later passed to Kate Middleton by Prince William in 2010.
Today, top-quality blue sapphires remain among the rarest and most treasured natural gemstones in the world.