Purple is one of those colors people really love—or really don’t. It doesn’t seem to please the collective eye as much as a blue or green, two of the most popular colors in jewelry.
But if there could be a shade of purple that’s universally appreciated, it might be lavender—light, not overpowering, complementary of many other colors. You wouldn’t find it in the purple of an amethyst, and in fact the best source of that hue might come from purple spinel.
For a variety to please many purple palates, look to September’s birthstone—sapphire. That beautiful, pillowy soft shade of lavender is there, and you’ll find more electric varieties, too: lilac, orchid, grape, even a gorgeous periwinkle.
I’ve noticed myself becoming more drawn of late to purple, a color I’d often been ho-hum about. Chalk it up to my 2-year-old: Some kids love cartoon characters, some love animals—mine loves purple. And the color is ideal for the autumn to come—a lovely companion to the browns, grays, and other moodier shades of the season.
So in honor of the glorious month of September and it’s magnificent birthstone, some of the prettiest purple sapphire jewels around.
Rosemary pendant in 18k yellow gold with vitreous enamel and purple sapphires, $1,200; Gwen Barba exclusive for The SevenOrigami Link earrings in 18k rose gold with 5.5 cts. t.w. purple sapphires and 0.5 ct. t.w. diamonds, $9,790; Kavant & SharartPeace & Plenty ring in 14k yellow gold with 4.86 cts. t.w. purple sapphires, $2,750; Eden PresleyDouble Skin bezel charm in 14k yellow gold with 4.29 ct. violet sapphire, $7,680; RetrouvaiEarrings in 18k yellow gold with purple and pink sapphires, price on request; VramJumbo Sweetheart ring in 18k yellow gold with purple sapphire and tanzanite, $4,450; GemellaPendant in 18k rose gold with 4.74 ct. free-shape purple sapphire and 0.17 ct. t.w. diamonds, $5,877; Yael DesignsZoe stud earrings in 14k rose and white gold with 1.42 cts. t.w. purple sapphires and 0.29 ct. t.w. diamonds, $2,990 Canadian (U.S. $2,200); Jared BrownStackable ring in 18k white gold 2.504 ct. untreated purple Mozambique sapphire and 0.32 ct. t.w. diamonds, $16,200; Sonya KMidnight ear cuff in 18k blackened gold with purple sapphire, amethyst, and blue sapphire, $4,200; Emily P. WheelerBubble ring in 18k yellow gold with 1.26 cts. t.w. purple sapphire cabochons, $4,730; Polly WalesThree-stone ring in platinum with 8.14 ct. purple star sapphire, 1.19 cts. t.w. lavender spinel, and 0.45 ct. t.w. diamonds, $32,000; Omi Privé
Top: Melted Glacier earrings in 18k white gold with purple sapphire briolettes and diamonds, price on request; H. Ajoomal Fine Jewelry
