09 · SeptemberBlue Sapphire Pendant 5 mm
Natural heated blue sapphire, Mohs 9, four-claw set in silver.
- Natural
- Heated
- Mohs
- Wear
- 9
- Daily
£235incl. VAT
Section: September
September — Sapphire
Sapphire — corundum in every colour but red
Mohs 9, no cleavage. Rated for daily wear, and the most forgiving stone in this catalogue.
3 pieces in this month, ordered by how often they can sensibly be worn — the most forgiving first.
Mineralogy
Sapphire is corundum, the same mineral as ruby, coloured blue by iron and titanium together. It also occurs colourless, yellow, pink, green and orange. Mohs 9, no cleavage, and the second hardest natural material after diamond.
What the trade does to it
The large majority of blue sapphire on the market has been heated, often above 1600°C, to improve colour and clarity. Beryllium diffusion is also used in the trade to force colour into the surface layer; this site does not stock diffusion-treated sapphire. Natural sapphires here are declared heated.
Documented history
Sapphire has held September since the 1912 standardisation. Sri Lankan deposits have been worked continuously for over two thousand years and are among the oldest gem sources still in production.
September pieces
From £235 · all prices include VAT
09 · September
Wear grades in this month
Suitable for daily wear
3 pieces in September
- Remove before contact sports and heavy manual work
- Remove before swimming pools and hot tubs — chlorine attacks the metal, not the stone
Occasional wear — avoid knocks
0 pieces in September
- Remove before gym equipment, gardening, DIY and washing up
- Do not stack against harder stones, which will abrade this one
- Avoid sudden temperature change
Delicate — special occasions only
0 pieces in September
- Remove before any physical activity — knocks will chip this stone
- Keep away from perfume, hairspray, cosmetics and hand sanitiser
- Avoid sudden temperature change and prolonged dry heat
- No ultrasonic tank, no steam, no soaking