A Jeweller’s Choice: Why Sapphire is the Ultimate Gemstone
If I had to choose just one gemstone to wear for the rest of my life, the decision would take me less than a second: sapphire. While every gemstone has its unique charm, sapphire holds a special place in my heart for three key reasons. It's not just the dazzling beauty of a sapphire ring that captivates me, but its remarkable properties, rich history, and surprising variety.
1. A Spectrum of Colour and Unmatched Durability
Sapphire is a member of the corundum family of minerals, a group that also includes the beloved ruby. The defining characteristic of a ruby is its distinct red colour. But if a corundum gem is any other colour, it’s a sapphire. These colours can be blue, purple, pink, brown, yellow orange or green - a combination of two (we love bicolour sapphires!) Or even colour change. The exception to this rule is the exquisite padparadscha sapphire, a highly sought-after variety with a unique pink-to-orangey peach tone.
Beyond these special designations, sapphires come in virtually every colour imaginable—from blue, pink, green, and orange to even brown and yellow. But it's not just the vast spectrum of hues that is so appealing; it's the magical range of saturations and tones within each colour.
This colourful variety is matched by extraordinary toughness. Sapphire is a 9 on the Mohs hardness scale, making it one of the hardest gemstones after diamond. It’s also incredibly tough, resisting cleavage or breaking, which makes it an ideal choice for sapphire jewellery you can wear every day.
2. Rooted in Lore and Legend
My second favourite thing about sapphire is its deep connection to human history. The lore surrounding this precious stone is a testament to how long we have cherished these treasures from the earth.
Ancient Persians believed that the earth was supported on a pedestal of giant blue sapphire, and its reflection painted the sky. It was also believed that Moses was given the Ten Commandments on a slab of sapphire (though now many believe it was lapis lazuli). There is even a famous Roman ring from Emperor Caligula, carved from a single sapphire crystal. This lore speaks to how universally these pieces of nature’s art have been valued and collected throughout history.
3. The Wild and Wonderful World of Sapphire
Finally, I’m endlessly fascinated by the wild and wonderful things sapphires can do. While a classic faceted blue sapphire is stunning, some sapphires exhibit magical optical properties.
You might encounter a star sapphire, a type of sapphire that contains tiny needle-like inclusions. When polished into a cabochon, these inclusions create a mesmerising six-rayed star that appears to float across the stone’s surface when light hits it. Other sapphires are known as colour-change sapphires, which can shift in hue depending on the light source—from a vibrant blue in daylight to a purplish-pink under incandescent light.
From its incredible range of colours and impressive durability to its rich history and magical optical effects, sapphire is a gemstone that truly has it all.
