Beyond Blue: The Beauty of Pink, Green and Yellow Sapphires

Sapphires are the birth gemstone for September. With their impressive blue hues and deep sparkles, they have captivated royalty and courts alike, becoming some of the most famous gemstones in the world. 

The real beauty of sapphires comes from their variety of colours. Not only known to be blue, these precious gemstones can be found with pink, yellow and green hues; making them a desirable gemstone for every-person's jewellery box.

In this article, we celebrate the sapphire, how they are formed and some of our favourite famous beautifully coloured sapphires.

Composed primarily of the mineral corundum, sapphires owe their exquisite hues to trace elements that subtly infuse the crystal structure. Iron and titanium create the celebrated blue tones, while other elements such as chromium or vanadium yield rarer shades of pink, yellow, or green. 

The most well-known and recognised colour of sapphires is blue, the most prized being a shade of ‘Cornflower Blue’. From deep to light turquoise hues, blue sapphires have been associated with wisdom, royalty and divine favour in Ancient civilisations like Greece and Rome.

Blue sapphires match well when set on both yellow gold and white gold, allowing wearers to match their style. 

Known for their delicacy and rarity, pink sapphires vary from pale pink to fuschia. The colouration stems from the traces of chromium within the composition, the same element that provides rubies with their colour, but in smaller quantities. Pink sapphires hold symbolism with love, compassion and good fortune, becoming perfect gifts for those you adore and wish good luck on. 

Sapphires can also be found with hues of green. Their verdant tones arise from trace elements of iron, titanium, or chromium, creating shades that range from delicate mint to deep forest green. These precious green gemstones are usually found when mining for Sapphires in Montana, USA in the upper Missouri River gravel bars, Dry Cottonwood Creek, Rock Creek, and Yogo Gulch.

Symbolically, green sapphires are regarded as gems of tranquillity, renewal, and wisdom, embodying harmony with nature and balance in life’s journey. They are often chosen to inspire calm decision-making and compassion.

Yellow sapphires, a variety of the mineral corundum, are formed deep within the earth under immense heat and pressure. Their radiant golden hue arises from trace elements of iron within the crystal structure, lending them a warm and captivating brilliance. These precious gemstones are most commonly found in warmer climates like Sri-Lanka, where the yellow tones are referred to as 'cornsilk' or 'butter yellow'. 

Traditionally, yellow sapphires are associated with wisdom, prosperity, and optimism, often symbolising clarity of thought and the nurturing energy of the sun. These sapphires are particularly revered in astrology, believed to attract wealth and success.

Star sapphires are truly unique variations of sapphires. Found in many different colours, these precious gemstones include a special feature called asterism, which adds a mystical element to the stone by depicting a star-like reflected or refracted light.

This style of sapphire is most commonly seen within the ‘Golden Era’’ of Hollywood being statement pieces, most famously worn by silent-film actress Mary Pickford. 

Pickford, known throughout the 1920's as 'America's Sweetheart' was gifted the 'Star of Bombay', a 182 carat cabacon-cut sapphire originating from Sri Lanka, by her husband Douglas Fairbanks. After her death in 1979, the gemstone was bequeathed to the Smithsonian Institution for public display. 

At Michael Spiers, our stunning Sapphire necklace and matching tennis bracelet is a rainbow of multi-coloured sapphire elegance. With variations of blue, pink and even yellow, this set enhances your look to new heights, indulging in the dazzling glamour of these precious gems.

Sapphires are more than just gemstones; they are symbols of wisdom, virtue and good fortune. Whether you are looking for a vintage-inspired setting or a more modern and minimalist style, we host a wide range of sapphire bracelets, rings, and necklaces for your perfect gift.