September Birthstone: Sapphire
The September birthstone is sapphire. Its color is classic blue, from soft cornflower to deep royal blue, but sapphire also comes in pink, yellow, green, purple, orange, white and every other color except red. A variety of corundum rated 9 on the Mohs scale, it stands for wisdom, loyalty and truth.
Find the birthstone for your exact date in September, every sapphire color and what it is worth, natural vs lab-grown, and how TrueSanity makes sapphire jewelry with every cost disclosed.
By Amit Jhalani, third-generation jeweler · Updated October 2026
| September birthstone | Sapphire |
|---|---|
| Sapphire is the birthstone for | September |
| Color | Blue, plus every color except red |
| Mineral | Corundum |
| Meaning | Wisdom, loyalty, truth |
| Hardness | 9 Mohs |
| Zodiac | Virgo, Libra |
| Anniversary | 5th and 45th |
Find your date
What Is the Birthstone for Your September Birthday?
The birthstone for every day in September is sapphire. Your zodiac sign changes: Virgo covers September 1–22, and Libra begins on September 23.
Tap a day for its birthstone, zodiac sign and a famous September birthday.
September 1st Birthstone
Sapphire
Your Birthstone
If you were born on September 1st, your birthstone is sapphire. As a Virgo (Aug 23 – Sep 22), sapphire is especially aligned with your sign.
Virgo + Sapphire
Sapphire’s long link with wisdom and clear thinking suits Virgo’s analytical mind and quiet perfectionism.
What Is the September Birthstone?
The September birthstone is sapphire, a variety of the mineral corundum, the same mineral as ruby. Red corundum is ruby; corundum in every other color is sapphire. The name comes from the Greek sappheiros. At 9 on the Mohs scale, sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness, and corundum’s toughness makes it one of the best colored gems for rings worn every day.
September has one modern birthstone. Sapphire has been September’s birthstone since the modern list was set in 1912 by the National Association of Jewelers (now Jewelers of America). Older traditional lists named chrysolite, and the British list adds lapis lazuli as an alternative, which is why some charts show a second September stone. For the red side of the corundum family, see the July birthstone ruby guide.
What Color Is the September Birthstone?
The September birthstone color is blue. Blue sapphire is what most people mean, from soft, velvety cornflower blue to deep royal blue. Iron and titanium in the crystal create the blue; the most valued shade is a pure, vivid medium to medium-dark blue with strong saturation and even color. (Looking for a blue diamond instead? That is a different gem; see our blue diamond guide.)
But sapphire is not only blue. Corundum colored by other trace elements gives pink, yellow, orange, green, purple, teal, white and more. These are called fancy sapphires, and they are all September birthstones too. The most popular is pink sapphire.
Every Color of Sapphire
One mineral, every color except red. That one is ruby.
Blue
The classicCornflower to royal blue. The color that made sapphire famous and the most sought after.
Pink
ChromiumPastel to hot pink, colored by the same chromium that makes ruby red, in smaller amounts.
Yellow
IronPale lemon to deep golden. A warm, affordable way into sapphire.
Padparadscha
Pinkish orangeNamed for the Sinhalese word for lotus blossom. One of the rarest sapphire colors.
Teal, green & white
Modern favoritesBlue-green teals, greens and colorless white sapphire. Star sapphires show a six-rayed star.
How Much Is the September Birthstone Worth?
Sapphire ranges from very affordable to among the most valuable gems in the world. Small heated or lab-grown sapphires are very affordable, while a fine, untreated blue sapphire of several carats can cost more than a diamond of the same size. Is the September birthstone rare? Fine, untreated, vivid sapphires are; commercial sapphires are plentiful.
Color
The biggest factor. Pure, vivid, evenly colored blue is worth the most.
Treatment & origin
Untreated stones and famous origins like Kashmir and Myanmar carry big premiums. Lab-grown costs far less.
Size & clarity
Price per carat climbs steeply with size, and clean stones are worth more.
Our guide to what sapphire engagement rings cost goes deeper on price.
Natural, Heat-Treated and Lab-Grown Sapphire
Most natural sapphires are heated to improve their color and clarity. Heat treatment is common, permanent and accepted across the trade. Less common treatments, such as lattice diffusion, fracture filling and dyeing, need special care and should always be disclosed.
Lab-grown sapphire is real sapphire, the same corundum with the same hardness and color, grown in a lab rather than mined. TrueSanity’s lab-grown sapphires are Djeva Swiss material, cut on German machines. How lab-grown sapphire is made and how it compares.
TrueSanity sells both natural and lab-grown sapphire. We disclose every natural sapphire as heat-treated unless a lab report states it is untreated, and every lab-grown sapphire as lab-grown, on the product page and in the Transparency Manifest.
Where Sapphires Come From
Same mineral. Different mountains, different blues.
Kashmir
The legendFound after a Himalayan landslide around 1881; thousands of fine crystals were recovered from 1882 to 1887. Velvety cornflower blue. Long exhausted.
Sri Lanka
2,000+ yearsA source for more than 2,000 years. Bright, lighter blues, and the home of padparadscha.
Myanmar
Royal blueA historically important source of rich, deep blue sapphire, from the same region as Burmese ruby.
Madagascar
A major modern sourceBlues from commercial to fine, plus pink and other colors.
Australia, Thailand, Cambodia & Montana
Other key sourcesDarker blues and teals from Australia, classic Thai and Cambodian material, and Montana’s small, vivid stones.
September Birthstone Meaning & Symbolism
Sapphire stands for wisdom, loyalty and truth. For centuries it has been the stone of royalty and the clergy.
The Stone That Colored the Sky
Ancient Persians believed the Earth rested on a giant sapphire, and that its reflection made the sky blue.
Protection and Heaven
The elite of ancient Greece and Rome believed blue sapphire protected its owner from harm and envy. Medieval clerics wore it to symbolize Heaven.
Faithful Love
A symbol of loyalty, sapphire is a classic engagement stone, and it marks the 5th and 45th wedding anniversaries.
The History of the September Birthstone
- 2,000+ years ago
- Sri Lanka was already a source of sapphire. The elite of ancient Greece and Rome believed blue sapphire protected them from harm and envy.
- Middle Ages
- Sapphire adorned royalty and the robes of the clergy, a symbol of Heaven.
- 1881–1887
- A Himalayan landslide revealed sapphires in Kashmir. Thousands of large, beautiful crystals were recovered from 1882 to 1887, setting the standard for cornflower blue.
- 1912
- The National Association of Jewelers named sapphire the September birthstone on the modern list.
- 1934 and 1964
- John D. Rockefeller Jr. acquired the 62.02-carat Rockefeller Sapphire, from Myanmar. In 1964, the 563-carat Star of India was stolen from the American Museum of Natural History in New York, and was recovered months later in a Miami bus-station locker.
- 1981 and 2010
- Princess Diana’s engagement ring, a 12-carat blue sapphire ringed with diamonds, became one of the most famous engagement rings in the world. Prince William gave the same ring to Kate Middleton in 2010.
Sapphire, the Zodiac and Astrology
Sapphire is the birthstone for every September birthday, so it belongs to both Virgo (September 1–22) and Libra (September 23–30). Lists of zodiac stones vary from source to source; sapphire is widely linked with both signs, and with Virgo’s clarity and Libra’s sense of fairness.
In Vedic astrology, blue sapphire (neelam) is the gem of Saturn, and astrologers recommend or advise against it based on a person’s birth chart, which is why “who should not wear sapphire” is a common question. As a gem, sapphire has no such limits: anyone can wear it. If astrology matters to you, ask your astrologer about your own chart.
Four Ways to Wear Sapphire
Each piece ships with a Transparency Manifest. No hidden markups. Just the stone, the craft, and the truth.
How to Care for Your September Birthstone
Sapphire is one of the easiest gems to care for. Clean it with warm, soapy water and a soft brush. Ultrasonic and steam cleaners are usually safe for untreated, heat-treated and lattice diffusion-treated sapphires. Fracture-filled or dyed stones should only be wiped with a damp cloth.
Built for Daily Wear
9 on the Mohs scale with good toughness. Ideal for engagement rings.
Simple Cleaning
Warm, soapy water and a soft brush. Ultrasonic is usually safe for heated sapphire.
Store Apart
Only diamond is harder. Keep sapphire away from diamonds, and away from softer gems it could scratch.
Nocturnal Luxury, Radical Transparency
What a September birthstone piece really costs
Sapphire runs from affordable to priceless, and the gap has always been easy to hide. This is the live Transparency Manifest of a real sapphire piece: metal, sapphire, craft, shipping, and what we make. When its costs change, this changes with them.
How the Transparency Manifest works →Blue Sapphire Solitaire Petite Ring - Faria
Birthstone for Every Day in September
Whether you’re born on September 1st, September 15th, or September 30th, your September birthstone is sapphire. Birthstones are assigned by month, not by individual day. What does change is your zodiac sign: September 1–22 is Virgo, September 23–30 is Libra.
Sep 1–22 · Virgo
Earth sign · Ruled by Mercury
Sapphire’s long link with wisdom and clear thinking suits Virgo’s analytical mind and quiet perfectionism.
Sep 23–30 · Libra
Air sign · Ruled by Venus
Sapphire’s symbolism of loyalty and truth resonates with Libra’s instinct for fairness and balance.
September Birthstone by Date: Quick Reference
| Dates | Birthstone | Zodiac sign | Color |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 1st–5th | Sapphire | Virgo ♍︎ | Blue (and every color but red) |
| September 6th–11th | Sapphire | Virgo ♍︎ | Blue (and every color but red) |
| September 12th–17th | Sapphire | Virgo ♍︎ | Blue (and every color but red) |
| September 18th–22nd | Sapphire | Virgo ♍︎ | Blue (and every color but red) |
| September 23rd–26th | Sapphire | Libra ♎︎ | Blue (and every color but red) |
| September 27th–30th | Sapphire | Libra ♎︎ | Blue (and every color but red) |
The September 1st birthstone is sapphire.The September 2nd birthstone is sapphire.The September 3rd birthstone is sapphire.The September 4th birthstone is sapphire.The September 5th birthstone is sapphire.The September 6th birthstone is sapphire.The September 7th birthstone is sapphire.The September 8th birthstone is sapphire.The September 9th birthstone is sapphire.The September 10th birthstone is sapphire.The September 11th birthstone is sapphire.The September 12th birthstone is sapphire.The September 13th birthstone is sapphire.The September 14th birthstone is sapphire.The September 15th birthstone is sapphire.The September 16th birthstone is sapphire.The September 17th birthstone is sapphire.The September 18th birthstone is sapphire.The September 19th birthstone is sapphire.The September 20th birthstone is sapphire.The September 21st birthstone is sapphire.The September 22nd birthstone is sapphire (last Virgo date).The September 23rd birthstone is sapphire (Libra begins).The September 24th birthstone is sapphire.The September 25th birthstone is sapphire.The September 26th birthstone is sapphire.The September 27th birthstone is sapphire.The September 28th birthstone is sapphire.The September 29th birthstone is sapphire.The September 30th birthstone is sapphire.
September Birthstone FAQs
What is the September birthstone?
The September birthstone is sapphire, a variety of the mineral corundum. It is best known in blue but comes in every color except red, rates 9 on the Mohs scale, and stands for wisdom, loyalty and truth.
What color is the September birthstone?
The September birthstone color is blue, from soft cornflower blue to deep royal blue. Sapphire also comes in pink, yellow, orange, green, purple, teal and white; only red corundum is called ruby instead.
Are there two birthstones for September?
No. Sapphire is the only September birthstone on the modern list, set in 1912. Older traditional lists named chrysolite, and the British list adds lapis lazuli as an alternative, which is why some charts show a second September stone.
Why is sapphire the September birthstone?
Sapphire was named the September birthstone on the modern list set in 1912 by the National Association of Jewelers, now Jewelers of America. Its long history as a stone of royalty, the clergy and loyalty made it a natural choice.
What does the September birthstone sapphire symbolize?
Sapphire symbolizes wisdom, loyalty and truth. Ancient Persians believed the Earth rested on a giant sapphire that made the sky blue, the elite of Greece and Rome believed it protected them from harm and envy, and medieval clerics wore it to symbolize Heaven.
How much is the September birthstone worth?
Sapphire ranges from very affordable to extremely valuable. Small heated or lab-grown sapphires cost little, while a fine, untreated blue sapphire of several carats can cost more per carat than a diamond. Color, treatment, origin, size and clarity set the price.
Is the September birthstone rare?
Fine sapphire is rare: large, untreated stones with vivid, even blue color are scarce, especially from famous sources like Kashmir. Commercial heated sapphires and lab-grown sapphires are widely available.
Are TrueSanity sapphires natural or lab-grown?
We sell both. We disclose every natural sapphire as heat-treated unless a lab report states it is untreated, and every lab-grown sapphire as lab-grown, on the product page and in the Transparency Manifest. Our lab-grown sapphires are Djeva Swiss material, cut on German machines.
Is sapphire the same mineral as ruby?
Yes. Ruby and sapphire are both corundum. Red corundum, colored by chromium, is ruby; corundum of every other color is sapphire. Both rate 9 on the Mohs scale.
Who should not wear sapphire?
As a gem, anyone can wear sapphire; it is one of the hardest and toughest gems for everyday jewelry. The question comes from Vedic astrology, where blue sapphire is the gem of Saturn and astrologers recommend or advise against it based on a person's birth chart. If astrology matters to you, ask your astrologer about your own chart.
Which zodiac signs is sapphire for?
Sapphire is the birthstone for everyone born in September, so it belongs to both Virgo (September 1 to 22) and Libra (September 23 to 30). Lists of zodiac stones vary, but sapphire is widely linked with both signs.
Which stone is lucky for September born?
Sapphire, the September birthstone, is the stone traditionally linked with people born in September. It has long been worn for protection, wisdom and good fortune.
Is sapphire durable enough for an engagement ring?
Yes. Sapphire rates 9 on the Mohs scale, second only to diamond, and has good toughness, which is why it is one of the most popular engagement stones after diamond. Princess Diana's 12-carat sapphire ring is the most famous example.
What is a padparadscha sapphire?
Padparadscha is a rare pinkish-orange sapphire, named for the Sinhalese word for lotus blossom. It is one of the rarest sapphire colors, best known from Sri Lanka.
How do you clean a sapphire?
Use warm, soapy water and a soft brush. Ultrasonic and steam cleaners are usually safe for untreated, heat-treated and lattice diffusion-treated sapphires; fracture-filled or dyed stones should only be wiped with a damp cloth.
Does the September birthstone change depending on the date?
No. Every day in September has the same birthstone: sapphire. The zodiac sign changes, Virgo through September 22 and Libra from September 23, but the birthstone does not.
What is September's birth flower?
September's birth flowers are the aster and the morning glory. Its birthstone is sapphire, and its zodiac signs are Virgo (September 1 to 22) and Libra (September 23 to 30).
Keep Learning
More from the TrueSanity guides.
Find Your Sapphire
Birthstones by month
Sources: GIA, September birthstone · Jewelers of America, which set the modern birthstone list in 1912 as the National Association of Jewelers · American Gem Society · American Museum of Natural History, home of the Star of India.
Clarity is a Form of Luxury.