Getting to know sapphire

The new Lace Collection from the Brian Gavin team comes with several options of gemstones. With white diamonds, tsavorite and sapphire, the Lace Collection of engagement rings and wedding bands allows you to find the perfect color for your fiance-to-be. Having this many choices may make settling on one gem a difficult task. Learning about each stone may help you find the best fit for your ring purchase. Here's a better look at the sapphire:

Mineral

Sapphire is an aluminum oxide mineral called corundum. In its pure and natural state, corundum is colorless. In fact, it is so transparent, that a sapphire without impurities could be used as a window material. However, as the mineral forms, the presence of impurities in the crystal add a hue to the gem. Corundum forms in the in the trigonal crystal system and is normally described using hexagonal shapes. Corundum is also very hard, registering a nine on the Mohs scale, which measures gem hardness. Diamonds are 10, making sapphire a close second.

Color

Though known for its brilliant blue hue, sapphire can come in any color excluding red - red is reserved for rubies, which are also made from corundum. Sapphire's many shades of blue - ranging from pale to deep indigo - are due to the inclusion of iron and titanium in the crystal forming process. Sapphire is frequently unevenly colored, as it is dichroic. This means that the apparent color of the gem changes depending on the direction from which you view it. Alexandrite sapphire changes as a result of lighting. For example, these varieties of sapphire will appear blue in daylight, and reddish or violet in artificial illumination.

The Lace Collection offers rings with small pink or blue sapphires around the shank, allowing you to choose a custom engagement ring color. Each engagement ring has a matching band with the same set of gems. Choose a blue sapphire ring and matching band for the bride that loves sapphire's most well-known hue.

Cut

Brilliant diamond cuts are often chosen to optimize light performance within the gem. This cut works for sapphires as well. However, the cut can be mixed. Some have a brilliant cut on the top with a step pattern on the pavilion to allow light to bounce around inside the gem. The Lace Collection rings use a signature round cut for the sapphires to create a soft, lacey look.

Birthstone

Sapphire is the birthstone for the month of September. It is also the gem of the 5th and 45th anniversaries.