When it comes to sapphire, you have an endless array of choices in colour! Sapphire belongs to the mineral species corundum, which includes the gemstone ruby. Besides blue sapphire and ruby, the corundum family also includes “fancy sapphires.” These unique sapphires come in a rainbow of colours from violet, green, yellow, orange, pink, purple, and intermediate hues. Sapphires can even be gray, black, brown, or white. A white sapphire makes for a great alternative to a colourless diamond. When it comes to choosing the colour of your sapphire be sure to keep in mind your individual style and personality, ensuring your choice is a true reflection of you!

An added benefit in choosing a sapphire engagement ring is the endless design options. Just like diamonds, sapphires are readily available in almost every desired shape. The most popular shapes are oval, round, and cushion. Other shapes such as pear, emerald, and princess can also be sourced!

A rainbow of different hues can be further accentuated by your choice of precious metal for your setting. For example, we have noticed a rise in pink sapphires being incorporated in rose gold jewellery. This combination beautifully emphasizes the warmth of the stone's pink hues. For a twist, consider setting a cornflower blue or purple sapphire in rose gold to make a gorgeous and unexpected statement.

A sapphire's versatility allows for it to be complemented by diamonds and even other sapphires. From 3-stone rings, halo designs, and ombre coloured bands, no matter the design you have your heart set on, choosing a sapphire will always provide a regal and eye catching look.

4. Sapphires Are An Affordable Option
Sapphires, like diamonds, come in a wide range of price points and the price of a sapphire per carat is generally lower than that of a diamond. Factors that determine the cost of a sapphire include size, colour, clarity, origin, and rarity. You can achieve a bigger look by choosing a sapphire as an alternative to a diamond centre stone. When choosing your sapphire, do keep in mind that there are some such as Kashmir blue sapphires, padparadscha sapphires, colour change sapphires and unheated sapphires that will command a higher cost.

A Howard Fine Jewellers custom designed sapphire & diamond ring. 

5. Sapphires Are The Perfect Balance Between Timeless and Contemporary
Sapphire gemstone engagement rings have decorated the fingers of royals and other style makers for centuries. More than 200 years ago, in 1796, Napoleon Bonaparte gave his future empress, Joséphine, a sapphire and diamond toi et moi (“you and me”) ring for their engagement. More recently, Princess Eugenie opted for a padparadscha sapphire, a rare colour best described as the perfect balance of orange and pink. While sapphire has long been associated with royalty and romance, they are certainly not only for the royals! Before the 20th century, blue sapphires were favoured over diamonds for engagement rings! 

 
Princess Eugenies padparadscha sapphire engagement ring.

The beauty, durability and affordability of sapphire make it a triple threat and the ideal choice for the bride-to-be who wants to make an alternative statement to a diamond. The wide world of sapphire allows for everyone from the classic beauty to the modern heroine to make this precious gemstone her own.

Is sapphire right for you? We would love to hear which colour of sapphire inspires you!

Summertime and the livin’s easy - the same goes for your accessories! With strong rays and high temps we’re looking for pieces that sparkle and reflect the light without weighing us down. We’ve rounded up 6 summer necklaces we’re crazy about. And, the best part? They’re actually perfect to wear year round! Whether for layering or as the main attraction, these necklaces make the perfect addition to your light, fresh, and easy stay-at-home summer wardrobe! P.S. They look pretty great in selfies too!  

1. Gold Lariat Necklace $795
Keep it classic with a dainty gold lariat that still makes a statement without going over the top. The unique design is cut to shine when the light hits, illuminating its wearer in sunny sparkle. Light and versatile, it works for a linen button-up to a bathing suit! Available in 14k white, yellow or rose gold.

May we suggest? You can make this a matching layered look by opting for the 3 piece layering set! Includes the choker, lariat, and long necklace for $2,075.00.

2. Disc Gold Necklace $850
Delicate but chic, we love these multi-disc gold necklaces! They add a touch of glam to your everyday summer style (and also look great with your going out wardrobe!). They remind us of confetti, if only all confetti was made from gold! Available in 14k white, yellow or rose gold.

What if I told you that you can create a week's worth of looks with just two necklaces! Would you think I was crazy? Well, I'm not crazy, I'm a working mom. With my busy schedule, I don't have the luxury of time to come up with a stylized outfit everyday. I rely on my jewellery collection to jazz up my professional and casual wardrobes. Meet my new favourite necklaces from New York based company Vahan!

 Check out some of the countless ways I like to style these pieces:

Double Lariat

By simply looping the pendant through the chains you create a look that elevates your daywear and compliments evening wear.

Lariat & Long

This look is one of my favourites! It shows different levels of the look and brings your eye to the necklaces.

Double Chain

From day to night this look is elegant, classy and ready for anything!

Long

Add a little sparkle to your day! Whether it is pearl, faceted black onyx or both this look is sure to dazzle.

You too can build your jewellery collection to help translate a simple outfit into a more sophisticated look. Vahan necklaces are $850.00 each, made with sterling silver and 14kt yellow gold, and pearl or faceted black onyx.

Mined in only a few regions of the world, such as South Africa and Russia, platinum belongs to the family of platinoids, which also includes palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium and osmium. It is among the densest and heaviest metals in the world, and is distinguished by certain unique chemical and physical properties such as exceptional corrosion resistance. Paradoxically, it is also soft, elastic and highly malleable, which makes machining and polishing especially difficult. At Rolex, the men and women who carry out the finishing of the bracelets and middle cases are well aware of the degree of experience required to master the fine art of polishing platinum.

Rare and precious, considered the noblest of metals, platinum is striking for its silvery whiteness and its vibrant luminosity. Known as far back as ancient Egypt and the pre-Columbian era, it was only discovered much later by Europeans. The secrets of shaping it, which are linked to its very particular physical proprieties, came to light even more recently. Since then, platinum has gradually risen to its current status as the ultimate metal of prestige. Particularly in jewellery, it showcases, like no other material, the precious stones set in it.

PRECIOUS STONES AND SOUL

But beyond its corrosion resistance, the exceptional luminosity of platinum gives it its special status. Whether in the form of a finished component or as a semi-refined raw material, platinum produces a white glow which gives it soul. For this reason, it is the jewellers’ metal of choice; like no other, it enables precious stones to gleam in all their splendour.