The color blue has inspired poets, songwriters and mankind for centuries. This season, it’s also inspiring plenty of fashion statements, as seen in Vogue, Elle and Los Angeles Times to name a few. It’s no surprise then that blue gemstones are some of the most coveted in the colored gemstone spectrum.

September’s birthstone, sapphire, is unique among gemstones. It is a very hard gemstone, second only to diamond. Sapphire is a variety of the mineral corundum. While other stones are known for their singular hues, sapphires come in a variety of colors.

September’s birthstone is one of our favorite gemstones at GIA –sapphire. Sapphires have been long associated with royalty and romance (hence the engagement ring of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, and The Royal Couple – William and Katherine!).