All About Fancy Sapphires: Going Beyond Blue

Designers Dana Walden Chin & Rad Chin are jewelers and avid gem collectors. In fact, the Dana Walden gem library is one of the most impressive in New York City, comprised of only certified ethical and truly unique gems that were hand selected by Dana & Rad personally. They love working with fancy sapphires in every color - from champagne & yellow hues to pinks & purples to greens and varying shades of blue. Dana & Rad have become well known for sourcing the most stunning, one of a kind gems for their timeless-but-distinctive designs, and sapphires allow the designers to introduce rich colors into their artful creations.

Sapphires are a popular engagement ring choice for brides who want a non-traditional & responsibly-sourced design. Ranking a 9.0 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness, fancy sapphires are a truly durable and viable gem to consider for your bridal set; the only gem that ranks higher on the hardness scale is the diamond itself. But when clients visit the studio, they’re often surprised to learn the wide range of colors in which natural sapphires are actually available. “Wait, aren’t sapphires blue?” many folks ask, familiar with the sapphire tone that is traditionally recognized as the birthstone for the month of September (and as seen in a certain famous royal ring). Sure, sapphires come in deep blue, but the amazing gemstone is also available in other shades of blue, as well as an array of other colors entirely. 

Shown (left to right): Sabra $4900, Athena $4100

Sapphires are in the mineral family Corundum, an aluminum oxide comprised of only aluminum and oxygen. They require a silicon-free environment to grow and part of what makes the gems so rare is how common the presence of silicon is in the earth’s crust. That said, significant deposits can be found all over the world, including Sri Lanka, India, Australia and even the United States (home of the famous Montana Sapphires, prized for their rich color and pristine clarity).

Like diamonds, sapphires have a chemical composition that has varying color expressions when trace elements are introduced to the environment where that gem is forming, so the most pure form of sapphire is colorless and clear (creating white sapphires). When titanium is introduced, you get the velvety blue that is known to most jewelry lovers. The introduction of iron creates a yellow sapphire, chromium creates pink and orange colors, and the presence of vanadium creates purple sapphires. Colorful non-blue sapphires, also known as Fancy Sapphires, can be mined in just about every color under the sun except red, as red Corundums are classified as rubies.

Shown (left to right): Juno (large blue) $15,500, Florentine (East-West oval, small pear) $2600, Elsa (blue-green round, diamond halo) $8350, Spring (green, double halo, splitshank) $5000, Oran (emerald-cut green sapphire) $16,800. 

The amazing color range of responsibly-mined sapphires represented in Dana Walden’s engagement ring collection shows the astounding potential for timeless pieces that are still packed with distinctive personality. (And, rest assured that every piece with diamond accents has been carefully vetted, with all gems certified ethical and conflict-free). 

“It can be difficult to find non-traditional colors in classic, refined settings,” one client said. “But Dana and Rad make it possible to create heirloom-worthy pieces with gems that are truly unique. I can create my very own masterpiece in the color I love most.”

Our most popular fancy sapphire pieces are teal sapphires and pink sapphires. Meanwhile, there is a growing interest in yellow and green sapphires, including bi-color sapphires with distinct color zones (as shown below).

 Shown: Aspen 0.56ct bi-color sapphire, $2850

What is your favorite fancy sapphire color? Would you consider a sapphire for your engagement ring design?

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