Shop Our Beautiful Collection of September’s Birthstone Jewelry

Padis Jewelry store has a great selection of sapphires, which is September’s birthstone.  The word sapphire comes from the Greek word “sappheiros” and means blue stone.  However while blue may be the most well-known color of sapphires, the gemstones are made from any color of corundum except for red, which are rubies.  

Blue sapphires got a lot of attention after the famous blue sapphire engagement ring that Princess Diana received from Prince Charles in 1981 but the stone has been around for centuries.  It was believed to protect its owners from envy and harm by the Ancient Greeks and Romans, and in the Middle Ages, the stones were worn by the clergy and thought to symbolize Heaven. 

In addition to blue, fancy sapphires range in color from green, violet-blue, yellow, orange, pink and purple hued stones.  Sapphires are mainly mined in Sri Lanka, Ceylon, Burma (Myanmar), Thailand, Cambodia, Madagascar, Tanzania, Australia, and the U.S. (Montana). 

The most famous blue sapphires were from the Kashmir region of India/Pakistan and mined over a hundred years ago.  Very few examples of Kashmir sapphires exist today and then mainly in museums or in photographs.  The stones have a beautiful cornflower blue color.  One 22.66 carat cushion-cut Kashmir sapphire set in a pendant surrounded by diamonds was sold in 2007 at auction for a record $3,064,000. While that breaks down to $135,000 per carat, and was a new record for a sapphire, some gemologists said it was far from the best example of a Kashmir sapphire but rather indicated the stone’s rarity.   

While we may not carry Kashmir sapphires, we do have a stunning selection of sapphires that are a part of the Padis Signature Collection.  Visit our website to view our jewelry and for contact information.   

Padis Jewelry, a family-owned business, has been a trusted source for buying exquisite certified loose diamonds, engagement rings and fine jewelry since 1974.  We are one of the only jewelers in the area that offers such an exclusive selection of top names in the industry as well as such a large inventory.  For an opportunity to view one of San Francisco and the Napa Valley’s most impressive collections, please contact us to schedule a visit.