Sapphire Guide
Sapphire is a variety of the mineral corundum and, at 9 on the Mohs scale, second only to diamond in hardness. That makes it one of the best coloured stones for rings and everyday jewellery.
More than blue
Blue is the classic sapphire colour, but corundum occurs in almost every shade. Pink, yellow and other colours are known as fancy sapphires, and our multi-colour pieces bring several together in one design. Red corundum is not called sapphire at all: it is ruby.
Judging a sapphire
Look for depth of colour, a good cut and a lively surface. A heavily included stone can look dull because less light moves through it, while a well cut stone with strong colour looks livelier. Watch for zoning, where parts of the stone look paler or uneven at certain angles; a stone can still be beautiful with some zoning, but it is worth noticing when comparing.
Birthstone
Sapphire is the birthstone for September.
Care
Sapphire is durable enough for daily wear. Clean it with warm soapy water and a soft brush, and ask us before using an ultrasonic cleaner, as some settings are not suitable.