The Ultimate Guide to Green Sapphires
What better way to celebrate March than with a feature on green sapphires?! While many people default to only considering emeralds when in the market for a deep green gemstone, sapphires are a great alternative. It is a common misconception that all sapphires are deep blue in color when in reality, they come in a range of hues as wide as a rainbow! Sapphires can be found in greens, pinks, yellows, and even oranges. As much as we love our blue stones, we appreciate sapphires for their remarkable range. In honor of St. Patrick’s day and spring’s anticipated arrival, join us as we learn about green sapphires.
A Quick History of Sapphires
Sapphires have been intentionally mined since the 7th century BC and were originally associated with royalty and romance. Throughout history, sapphires have been used in fashion, religion, medicine, art, and royalty for their antiquity, symbolism, beauty, and more. Traditionally, sapphires are associated with the color blue as its name is thought to be derived from the Greek word “sáppheiros” which likely refers to lapis lazuli, a deep blue metamorphic rock known for its intense blue color.
It is believed that sapphires were first discovered in India during ancient times, but were not widely used until the 18th century when they began to be mined in Sri Lanka. Etruscan Jewelry, an ancient style of jewelry from Mesopotamia and Egypt that dates back to the 7th century BC, features the use of sapphires, making it the oldest known source.
Where Are Green Sapphires Found?
Green sapphires can be found primarily in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Cambodia, Australia, Tanzania, Madagascar, and the USA. Anueva Jewelry proudly sources green sapphires from many locations, with our best-selling being sapphires from Montana. To shop nature-made Montana sapphire jewelry, visit our collection of ready-to-ship items and loose Montana sapphires.
Color and Rarity of Green Sapphires
Sapphires are a variety of corundum; in their purest form, they are colorless (which is extremely rare), but when their chemical makeup is altered by the presence of other trace elements, their color changes. The trace element responsible for the green color in sapphires is iron (FE). Depending on how much iron is present, green sapphires can range from light mint green to dark forest green. The exact shade of green depends on how other trace elements (such as titanium) interact with each other and with the iron present in the gemstone.
Green sapphires are rarer than their well-known blue counterpart, yet they are still relatively widely available. As many shades of green are desirable, color saturation does not contribute greatly to its price. Eye-clean lighter green stones can be found, as well as rich, intense green stones, and anything in between.
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Do Green Sapphires Make Good Engagement Rings?
If you love green, then green sapphires are a great stone for engagement rings! Sapphires score a 9 on the Mohs scale, second only to diamonds in hardness. Their toughness and durability make them a practical (and beautiful) choice for a ring that is subject to the daily wear and tear of life.
Get started on your own custom green sapphire engagement ring with our "Build Your Own" process or speed up the timeline and browse our ready-to-ship section. If you need some creative inspiration as you determine the best style for your engagement ring, below are two wonderful options that feature green sapphires. The first option features a gorgeous fancy-cut octagon Montana sapphire in a classic six-prong setting with our signature Evergreen finish. The stone has great clarity and a beautiful light mint/spring green color. The second ring is a three-stone ring that showcases a 2.72ct fancy, elongated cushion-cut African sapphire alongside a baguette diamond and a grey geo-cut Montana sapphire. This unique ring has no visible inclusions and is a bold, deep teal color that catches the light beautifully. View both options below:
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Why Anueva Jewelry Loves Green Sapphires
Creating beautiful jewelry at Anueva is a delicate balance between the love we have for precious gemstones and the conversation of our earth’s resources. We dare to create unique pieces that showcase our individuality and represent our appreciation for mother nature. Our studio is located in Seattle, the heart of the Pacific Northwest, and we intentionally craft pieces to reflect the natural world around us. Deep green is an emblematic color of our city, and we love to work with green stones as a way to cherish and eternalize their beauty. If you are looking for a beautiful alternative to a more traditional diamond engagement ring, or wish to capture the varieties of green in nature, we encourage you to consider green sapphires!