Sapphire, September's birthstone

Sapphire, renowned for its deep blue color, is, like ruby, a member of the corundum family of minerals. Not all sapphires are blue: they come in yellow, green or pink, and are called pink rubies or pink sapphires. 

Since ancient times, sapphires have been surrounded by myth and legend, symbolizing wisdom, sincerity and loyalty. King Solomon is said to have given sapphires to the Queen of Sheba. The ancient Persians even believed that the blue of the sky came from the reflections of sapphires. 

Even today, this gem adorns iconic royal jewels such as the British imperial crown and Princess Diana's famous engagement ring, now worn by the Princess of Wales. 

Sapphires are extracted from deposits located mainly in tropical regions such as Burma, Madagascar and, of course, Sri Lanka with its famous Ceylon sapphires, highly prized jewels of the Indian Ocean.