September Birthstone: Sapphire, Plus the Lapis Lazuli Option

The September birthstone is sapphire, the deep blue gem that has sat in royal rings for centuries. Here's a twist most people don't know: sapphire isn't only blue. It comes in pink, yellow, green and nearly every other colour except red. And red? That's ruby, the very same mineral.

One stone for September: why sapphire

Birthstone lists have changed a lot over the centuries. In 1912, American jewellers agreed on one standard list so everyone sold the same stone for the same month. September got sapphire, and it has kept it through every update since. People now just call it the modern list.

Some older and alternative lists also name lapis lazuli for September. It's not on the modern list, but it's a lovely blue second option, and we'll cover it below. You can see how the rest of the calendar lines up in our guide to every month's birthstone.

What sapphire actually is

Sapphire is corundum, a mineral made of aluminium and oxygen. Pure corundum has no colour at all. Traces of iron and titanium turn it blue. Other traces make pink, yellow, purple or green sapphires, which jewellers call "fancy sapphires". When chromium turns corundum red, it's called ruby instead.

Sapphire is hard. It sits at 9 on the Mohs hardness scale, just below diamond. That's why it's such a popular stone for rings that get worn every single day. It's even used for scratch-resistant watch faces, in its lab-made form. GIA's sapphire guide is a great read if you want the deep version.

A name with a mix-up

The word sapphire comes from the Latin and Greek words for blue. Here's the fun part: many historians think that ancient word was first used for lapis lazuli, not the gem we call sapphire today. So September's two blue stones may have shared a name long before they shared a month.

Rough sapphire vs the gem in a ring

Most people picture a clear, glowing blue stone. Sapphire doesn't start that way. Straight out of the ground, a sapphire crystal is often a chunky, six-sided barrel shape. It can be greyish, cloudy or coated in a brown crust from the rock around it.

Only a small share of rough sapphire is clear enough to cut into a gem. The rest stays as a natural crystal, and honestly, that's what we love about it. Holding a rough sapphire shows you what the gem really is before anyone polishes it.

That's what you'll find on our shelf: natural rough sapphire crystals and mineral specimens, not cut gems.

Sapphire meaning: what it's traditionally linked with

Sapphire has long been the stone of royalty and clergy. The story goes that medieval kings wore it to keep themselves wise and safe from harm. Blue sapphire engagement rings are still a royal favourite today.

These days, people use sapphire as a reminder of loyalty, honesty and clear thinking. It's traditionally linked with the throat and third eye chakras, and with Virgo, the sign that holds most of September.

Lapis lazuli: the blue stone some lists add

Lapis lazuli isn't a single mineral. It's a rock made mostly of blue lazurite, with white streaks of calcite and gold flecks of pyrite. Those gold flecks are why people say it looks like a night sky.

It's much softer than sapphire, at about 5 to 5.5 on the Mohs scale. People have treasured it for thousands of years. Ancient Egyptians set it into jewellery and royal treasures, and Renaissance painters ground it into ultramarine, the most expensive blue paint of its day.

It's traditionally linked with truth, wisdom and self-expression, and with the throat and third eye chakras, much like sapphire.

One honest note: some lapis on the market is dyed to deepen the blue, and dyed jasper is sometimes sold as lapis. At The Rock Space, treated, dyed and man-made stones are labelled as such.

September zodiac signs and their stones

September is split between two signs:

• Virgo runs until about September 22. Sapphire's calm, clear blue suits Virgo well. Browse the Virgo collection.
• Libra starts around September 23. Libra is about balance and beauty, and lapis is a common pick. See the Libra collection.

Want your moon and rising signs too? Our free natal chart works them out from your birth time and place.

Is my sapphire real?

Here's the honest part. Most cut sapphires sold today have been heated to improve their colour and clarity. It's a long-standing, stable practice, and a heated sapphire is still natural. Lab-grown sapphire also exists. It's real corundum, just made in a lab, and it has been around for over a century.

A few clues for a cut stone:

• Tiny flaws. Natural sapphire usually has small needles or specks inside. Perfectly clean and cheap deserves a second look.
• Colour bands. Natural blue sapphire often shows straight bands of colour. Lab-made stones can show curved lines instead.
• Bubbles. Round bubbles point to glass.

Rough sapphire looks different: natural crystals are usually dull on the outside and feel heavy for their size.

Caring for September birthstones

• Sapphire is easy. Warm soapy water and a soft brush are fine.
• Lapis needs more care. Wipe it with a damp cloth, skip long soaks and keep it away from harsh cleaners.
• Store them apart. Sapphire will scratch lapis and most other stones in a jewellery box.

September birthstone gift ideas

A birthstone takes the guesswork out of a gift. A few ideas from the shelf right now:

• A real rough sapphire. A rough sapphire specimen is a great gift for a rock lover.
• Ready to display. A sapphire crystal in a display box is small and gift-ready.
• Something to wear. The lapis lazuli bracelet brings in September's other blue.

Browse the full sapphire collection. Shopping for other birthdays? See the August birthstone and the October birthstone guides.

Know someone with a September birthday? Make them a free September birthstone card and send it by text or email.

Frequently asked questions

What are the two birthstones for September?

The modern list names one: sapphire. Some older and alternative lists also include lapis lazuli, so many people count it as September's second stone.

What is the 6 rarest birthstone?

Lists vary, so there's no fixed ranking. The stones usually named as rarest are alexandrite, fine untreated ruby and emerald, natural pearls and large clean spinel. Fine sapphire often makes the list too.

What is the official colour of September?

Blue is the colour most people link with September, thanks to sapphire. Lapis lazuli's deep blue fits the same theme.

What 2 months have three birthstones?

June (pearl, moonstone, alexandrite) and August (peridot, spinel, sardonyx) are the usual answer. December also has at least three on the modern list.

Come say hi

Rough sapphire is a surprise in your hand: small, heavy and nothing like a ring stone. Visit us at 396 Victoria Street North in Kitchener and hold a few before you choose. Or take the Crystal Quiz if you'd rather start online.