Sapphires, multicolored treasures

It’s an exceptional stone in more ways than one. First of all, in its color, which comes in a precious rainbow of shades, from the softest to the most dazzling. Then there’s its hardness, which comes close to matching that of a diamond. And finally, its rarity. For all these reasons, sapphire belongs to the closed circle of precious stones, alongside diamond, emerald and ruby.Like ruby, sapphire belongs to the corundum family. Oscillating between pink and yellow, orange, green or black, the best-known variety of sapphire is blue, a shade obtained by a skilful blend of iron and titanium. Burmese sapphires have always been considered the most beautiful for their royal blue color, but exceptional sapphire deposits can also be found in Madagascar, Tanzania, Thailand and Sri Lanka, where the famous Padparadscha sapphires originate.

Frieden necklace, Rainbow collection, set with naturally colored sapphires from Madagascar.

Discover Frieden jewelry by Lionel Meylan here

Beautiful and famous

The history of gemmology is full of anecdotes about sapphires, including the amazing story of the “Louis XIV”, a large rhomboid sapphire weighing 135.72 carats. Acquired by Louis XIV in 1669, it was the third gem in the French crown jewels. Until very recently, this sapphire was nicknamed “Ruspoli”, after a prominent Italian noble family. The real “Ruspoli” sapphire, which disappeared in the twists and turns of history, has now been found and the royal origins of this magnificent gem have been traced.The Etoile d’Inde is another remarkable specimen that has left its mark on history. Until the discovery of the Black Star of Queensland, it was considered the world’s largest star sapphire at 563.35 carats, or 112.67 grams. This pure marvel, discovered in Sri Lanka and preserved in New York’s Museum of Natural History, features a star on both sides. An unusual feature that has earned it its reputation and its name.

Creation without limits

With its rich palette of colors, sapphire is an almost inexhaustible source of inspiration for jewelers. Snow-set sapphires, in particular, allow for all kinds of gradations. Sapphire’s exceptional hardness also lends itself to all kinds of creations. Oval, cushion or pear-shaped, these marvels are set in rings, earrings, bracelets or pendants. Colorful they always are… Precious, infinitely…

More information on this ring here

Sapphire glossary by Florence Agier

Padparadscha Its salmon-pink color and rarity make Padparadscha the most sought-after sapphire in the world. Originating in Sri Lanka and highly prized by the Japanese, this variety features extraordinary shades of pink and orange.

Hardness Sapphire is a gemstone much appreciated by jewelry designers, not least for its hardness. It has a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale. Invented in 1812 by the German Friedrich Mohs to measure the hardness of minerals, this scale indicates that only one gemstone is harder than sapphire. It is diamond.

Ruby Among the incredible variety of corundum colors, red occupies a special place. Formed in identical deposits, ruby owes its color to the presence of chromium oxide. The main ruby deposits are found in Burma, Sri Lanka and Thailand.