what does this symbol mean?
An oval faceted gem seen from above, with an eight-sided table

September birthstone: sapphire

The September birthstone is sapphire, best known in blue but found in many colours.

How to read it

Sapphire is corundum of any colour except red, which is ruby. The word on its own means the blue gem, but GIA and the International Gem Society both note that sapphires come in many other colours.

Also searched as: birthstone for September, sapphire birthstone, Sept birthstone.

Why sapphire is September's stone

The 1912 list made sapphire the September birthstone and moved peridot to August. George Kunz, writing in 1913, objected: he held sapphire to be properly the stone for April.

Where this symbol came from

oldsymbols.comSeptember birth flowers: aster and morning glorySeptember’s birth flowers are the aster and the morning glory. In the Victorian flower dictionaries the China aster meant variety, and the morning glory affectation or affection, depending on the book.

Find a birthstone by date

stringmash.comBirthstones by monthThe birthstone for any month or birth date, in the current US list, the UK list and the older tradition.

More birthstones

The same shape elsewhere

Sources

Researched, edited and approved by Rory Hansen before publishing. Last reviewed September 27, 2026. How we research

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