Sapphires

Sapphires have captivated cultures around the globe as far back as 800 BC. These incredible gemstones are highly desired for their rich colouring and ability to stand the test of time – often being passed down through generations. Sapphires are the second hardest gemstone next only to diamonds with a rating of 9 on the MOHS scale. While they are commonly thought of as ceylon blue, this gemstone can be found in a myriad of colours and gradients from yellows & oranges, pinks & purples to blues & greens. A sapphires colouring is the result of it’s unique formation environment, meaning each gemstone colour is unique and tells the story of the part of the earth it came from.

Raw Sapphire

Raw sapphires refer to gemstones which are in their natural organic state. They are uncut and untreated. Each raw sapphire holds its own unique properties that result from its formation process – therefore the shape and size of every raw gemstone is unique.

Pictured above - a bespoke piece featuring a raw blue sapphire. Right - a ceremonial set featuring a raw white sapphire.

Sapphire Colours

While people commonly think of sapphires as being blue, they are infact found in a wide variety of colours and tones. Ranging from deep blues and greens to pinks, purples oranges and yellows.

Pictured above - a bespoke signet featuring an oval cut orange sapphire & a round cut white diamond. To the right - a bespoke signet featuring pink and purple sapphires.

Ceylon Sapphires

When picturing a sapphire, people commonly think of the Sri Lankan Ceylon sapphire. These sapphires are bright in colour and present as a cornflower blue. They are much lighter than the Australian sapphire and warmer in tone.

Heat Treated

Heat treating can be used to increase the richness of a sapphire’s colouring. This technique is most commonly utilised with yellow sapphires – turning them into a rich orange. While some people prefer to have untreated gemstones, this process does not compromise the integrity of the stone in any way. Heat treated stones are of the same structural integrity as non-treated stones.

Parti Sapphires

Parti sapphires, also known as polychrome sapphires, are gemstones which hold more than one colour in a single stone. They exhibit a dazzling gradient, or banding as a result of the unique mineral composition in their formation environment. They are often custom cut to best exhibit their colour zoning.

Australia is a leading producer of Parti Sapphires, the stones here exhibit a unique green, yellow and blue banded colouring that is highly prized the world over.

Above - An embedded round cut parti sapphire in a textured band. Right - A four claw set emerald cut parti sapphire in a yellow gold.

Australia is home to many precious gemstones including a wide range of brilliant sapphires. While they come in a range of colours, they are most commonly found in blacks, blues, greens and the parti sapphire. Due to the earths high iron content, Australian sapphires have deep highly saturated colouring and tend to be more greenish – blue in their hue. As these stones are so rich in colour, they are often specially cut to best exhibit their unique deep tones.

Australian Sapphires

We work directly with local gem-cutters who hand fossick stones. Their unique skill allows them to cut each stone to best exhibit it’s natural beauty. These direct relationships ensure our suppliers ethicacy and integrity.