This month we’re promoting American Made Sapphire Rings – Sapphires from Montana, USA.

Montana sapphires were some of the first sapphires sold in the United States.

Some of the early Tiffany & Co jewelry were adorned with the beautiful blue sapphires found in Montana by early settlers of the wild west.

Most prospectors in Montana were looking for gold, but were happy to find rare sapphires in their gold pans too.

March celebrates the wonderful Montana sapphires in our inventory!  We’re proud of our Montana sapphire engagement rings that are designed and commissioned by our clients.  Made in the USA is not only how we make our sapphire jewelry, but also where it all comes out of the ground.

What is a Ruby?

A Sapphire of course!  Very specifically – a red sapphire.

All colors of sapphires (and rubies) belong to the same mineral family called Corundum.  Members of the corundum family have the same chemical composition and only differ in their trace elements.  It is these trace elements, introduced during the formation of the gemstones, which determine the color of the corundum.  Pure corundum without any presence of trace elements is considered colorless sapphire.   In the case of Ruby, the trace element is Chromium.

Rubies also have a unique phenomenon called fluorescence, which refers to an object’s ability to emit visible light when it is exposed to radiant energy.  Certain Rubies, particularly those found in marble (from locations like Burma or Vietnam,) emit a strong red fluorescence in daylight, enhancing the color of the stone so it appears to glow red.  I’ve included two pictures of our natural Burmese rubies.

A Ruby doesn’t have to be from Burma to be considered top quality.   At the Natural Sapphire Company, we are continuously adding to our selection of untreate Rubies from other locations, such as Tanzania, Mozembique, and Madagascar.  As you can see below, many of these other localities produce Rubies just as beautiful and stunning as those from Burma.  Click here for our entire selection of loose Ruby gemstones.

Turn heads in a glamorous sapphire and diamond necklace!

With the record-breaking sales of the Elizabeth Taylor collection at Christie’s and prices of auction pieces continuing to climb, it’s clear opulent jewelry is popular and gaining momentum.

Get the same luxurious look with a new sapphire necklace from the Natural Sapphire Company.  Our designers have recently added a selection of dazzling sapphire necklaces sure to turn heads at your next big event.

The designs all combine our natural, untreated sapphires with carefully selected, colorless diamonds to create stunning pieces.   Not only are the designs a show stopper, but the rarity of untreated, natural sapphires means you are wearing an exceptional necklace sure to last for generations.

We also have a gorgeous ruby and diamond necklace.

Click here for our full selection of sapphire and ruby necklaces.

Celebrate American gemstones with us during our March sale on Montana sapphires!

Montana is an incredible source for untreated, natural sapphires in a variety of unique colors.  Here at the Natural Sapphire Company, we have been diligent about building up our inventory with these unique stones to offer our customers the widest variety of natural sapphires on the market.

The soft, pastel colors that come from these mines along the Missouri River are perfect for spring and with our wide selection of designer settings, you have endless options to create a memorable and stylish piece. (See our settings for rings, earrings, pendants, and necklaces.)

So join us in celebrating gemstones mined right here in the USA and shop our Montana sale!

The Academy Awards is a yearly favorite of mine for scoping out jewelry trends.  Not only do celebrities on the red carpet have access to the finest designer and vintage pieces, but their selections in jewelry style and corresponding dresses highlight fashion trends for the season.

This year, I was thrilled to see sapphire earrings adoring some of the more stylish celebrities on the red carpet.  Both Tina Fey and Leslie Mann did us proud by displaying gorgeous sapphire earrings to match their navy dresses.

Looking for your own red carpet worthy sapphire earrings?  Checkout these styles below or click here for our entire selection of earrings.

Color is definitely in style this spring, from cheerful color-blocking to soft and demur pastels.

Sapphires are one of the few gemstones available that come in a wide range of colors, perfect to fit the lively spring season.

Check out my recommendations below to see how sapphires can complement spring 2012 runway color tends.

See something you like but want it set in jewelry?  Don’t hesitate to contact us and we will help you find the perfect setting for this spring’s fashion.

Color Trend: Pastels

This look by 3.1 Phillip Lim would look fantastic with a peachy padparascha sapphire (PA2036) or a natural violet sapphires (U3332)

Color Trend: Navy and Baby Blues

Our natural blue sapphire (B4633) is the perfect complement to Jason Wu’s dress for this spring season.

Color Trend: Sunny Yellow

Pair a yellow sapphire (Y43) or a soft minty blue sapphire (U3364) with Derek Lam’s skirt and blouse combo.

Color Trend: Tangerine

The color of Donna Karan’s tangerine dress was all over the Spring 2012 runway and we have the perfect untreated, orange sapphire to match (U2836).

At The Natural Sapphire Company, we have a huge selection of jewelry designs to fit every personality and style.  Don’t see what you are looking for?  Let us help!  Using the latest in AutoCAD software, our designers can work with you to custom design your perfect setting.   We can help you build a new design from scratch based on an idea or vision you already have in mind, or we can modify some of our existing pieces to fit a specific cut or size of sapphire.   We assist you from start to finish, from picking the perfect sapphire to casting the final piece.  The finished look is perfectly designed by you!

To give you a better understanding of how our designers customize a ring or pendant in our AutoCAD program, let me walk you through a sample of a recent work flow.  This customizable pendant is called “Flowers on the Heart” and was inspired by the nature of flower and tribal shapes.

The first step to making this pendant is to design the form of the flower shapes.  Then, using AutoCAD, each shape is extruded through polysurface (blocks) giving them a raised appearance.  Using a specific command called Fillet, the corners are smoothed out for a more fluid appearance.

The second step is to make the main body pendant, which is drawn from lines into solid form.   The unnecessary parts are cut out in order to have hollow space on the main body.  The main body is completed by again using the Fillet command to smooth out the corner angles.

Next, a simple setting is created to perfectly match one of our natural sapphires.  The new setting is placed inside the hollowed area of the main body.

Last but not least, the initial flower designs are mounted onto the main pendant body by using the AutoCAD command “Transform Smart Flow.”  The final touch is to attach a chain to the top.

….and the final design is ready for casting and to be set with a natural sapphire!

For more pendant designs, please see our entire selection here.

What makes a Princess a Princess?

Well, depending on who you ask it could be her groom, her style, her fashion, her rarity, and maybe her smile.

All of those characteristics come with a blue sapphire ring.

Her groom; he asked for her hand in marriage with a majestic sapphire ring.

Her style; the way she looks while wearing a sapphire ring.

Her fashion; the fact that she chose a blue sapphire ring is a fashion statement alone.

Her rarity; natural sapphires are extremely rare, just like a princess.

Her smile; she certainly smiles each time she looks at her sapphire engagement ring.

So you see, engagement rings that are fit for a princess are made with sapphires.

Celebrate your most special possessions in life with a sapphire.

－ナチュラルサファイア　ロッククリスタル　ペンダント－

ナチュラル・サファイア・カンパニーに　サファイア原石のデザインが出来ました。

岩っぽい形と自然らしい表面がとても魅力的な　天然サファイアの原石。

人工処理を加えず　質の高い天然サファイアの原石をジュエリーにあしらったものは　市場であまり見かけません。

そんなレアな天然サファイアの原石に４つのデザインが登場です。

ユニセックスな JS989W14 は　サファイア原石を引き立てます。長細い形の原石が最適です。  例えば CR2051 や CR2021 など。

JS986W14 もまたシンプルに原石の美を見せることが出来ます。このデザインはどの自然体な原石の形にも対応できます。

JS988W14 は繊細な模様のような品のあるデザインをサファイアの上に被さる様にセットされています。金属の色とサファイアの色が融合してとても綺麗です。 例えば CR2086 や CR2088 など、このデザインには　平らで小柄原石がピッタリです。

クラウンが印象的な JS987W14 は　人工加熱していない高い品質のサファイアジュエリーに珍しい楽しいデザインです。  このデザインには長細い原石、例えば CR2029 や CR2008 などが最適です。

サファイアクリスタルペンダントは　一つ付けでも十分存在感もあり綺麗ですが、　お客様がお持ちのほかのペンダントとレイヤーにしてつけるのも“ジュエリー通”らしく　ジュエリーコーディネートの個性に深みを出し　着けた人のトータルファッションコーディネート全体の印象をぐっと引き立てます。

また　夏場は　カジュアルにアウトドアのレジャーにも　光りすぎず　もってこいです。

ファセットカットされたサファイアと比べ　クリスタルは値段も手ごろで、希少価値の高い質の天然サファイア原石は、男性にも女性にもプレゼントとして最適です。

宝石の原石コレクター必見のクオリティー。　初心者から熟練されたジェウリーを愛する方へ、純粋に自然の生んだ貴重なジュエリーを是非楽しんでみてください。

Buying jewelry for a special man in your life (be it husband, father, brother, or friend) can be a challenge.  Let me suggest the perfect gift that blends practicality with sentiment…cufflinks!

Cufflinks have been worn by men since the seventeenth century, when they were used as small chains to hold together a gentleman’s shirt cuffs.  The concept still holds today (literally), but the sophistication of the cufflink has evolved into a piece of jewelry that is both functional and refined.  These days, both men and women wear cufflinks as a subtle expression of personal style.

The Natural Sapphire Company recently launched several new cufflink designs.  All our cufflinks are set in silver, which gives our customers an attractive price for the ownership or gift of a sapphire.  Take a look at some of our new designs below or browse our entire selection of cufflinks here.

J3171 features a solitary, blue sapphire in a modern setting, perfect for any business occasion. This style is also available with a pink sapphire (J3211).

J3169 is similar in style to J3211 with a single sapphire, but the stone is centered for a more focused and tailored appearance.

In addition to our new designs, we have also added the option of white sapphires to many of our already popular styles.  J3012 is my personal favorite.  The monochromatic look of white sapphires and silver is sharp and classy, perfect for a special occasion or night out on the town.

Here at the NSC, we have a large selection and variety of settings for our untreated, natural sapphires. Our designers continuously add new and fresh settings that will inspire our customers and emphasize the beauty of natural sapphires. I recently added a new, contemporary ring setting (JS452W14) which is made specifically for round gemstones and will beautifully accent any of the sapphires available to you from our website.  Try this design with a rare padparadscha sapphire set in white gold or, for something a bit more original, pair a pure white sapphire with a rose gold setting.

Check out the video below to see the design as it unfolds.

JS452W14 Ring Setting

Why do some people love green sapphires more than purple sapphires, or light blue sapphires over cornflower blue sapphires?

Some of the most beautiful sapphires that I have ever seen have been undervalued by many other people.

I like to think of sapphires as a representation of the person wearing them, a characteristic, a personality inside a crystal.

I don’t think there are many gemstone suppliers offering sapphires that are very unusual, unusual to the point that few people would care to buy them.

Our Curiosities category is one of our most visited sections of our website.

These are some of my favorite sapphires, no two alike, nothing that is replaceable.

Many of them have unusual inclusions, things that by most standards would make the gemstone less desirable.

I’m glad that other true collectors, lovers of truly rare natural sapphires see these gemstones the same as I do.  Recently I received an email from just such an individual and his words express my thoughts precisely:

That’s why I like the idea of “eye clean” – so when you look carefully you can still see its part of the real world.  When I look into a beautiful blue star sapphire and see the criss-crossing of the rutile needs, so-tiny — but so clear, it’s like I’m looking at a sapphire, but also at a perfect combination of black opal.  That is why I love your stones: they have life and personality to them which is obviously picked-up from the buyer (I assume you).  That is so personal.  I wonder how many people realize that when they a buy a stone from you … they are buying a part of how you perceive the world in its beauty.  Again, that is so personal.

Natural Sapphires, untreated are natural wonders of planet earth.

CG59 – Untreated, Bi Color Sapphire

Our designers at The Natural Sapphire Company are always looking for new and exciting ways to display the beauty of natural sapphires.  With spring coming, we were inspired to create a new collection to emphasize the organic and natural beauty of rough sapphire crystals.

Our new collection includes four spectacular pendant designs.  The rocky organic shape and rough surface features of sapphire crystals give the jewelry a pure and earthy look, perfect for boosting your casual outfits this spring and summer.  Not only will these pendants look beautiful alone, but they are also a great textural piece for layering with multiple pendants.

Best of all -  our rough sapphire crystals are priced lower than faceted sapphires, making them perfect as an everyday gift for someone special.   As with all of our untreated, natural sapphires, the crystal pendants are a sure hit with the entire range of jewelry lovers, from beginners to collectors.  Contact our team today to help you select the perfect sapphire crystal and design for your every need.

JS989W14 is a simple, unisex design that shows off the beauty of sapphire crystals.  This design is perfect for long, narrow sapphire crystals, such as CR2051 and CR2021.

JS986W14 is another unisex design that uses the least amount of metal coverage to fully display the natural shape and texture of your rough sapphire crystal.  Because of its simplicity, the JS986 design works well with any shape or color of crystal.

JS988W14 is our most elaborate design.  An intricate pattern is woven through the pendant so that, when attached to the sapphire crystal, gives the piece a two tone effect between the sapphire color (blue, pink, yellow, etc.) and the metal color (white gold, yellow gold, or rose gold.)  This effect is best seen with frosted flat small crystals like CR2086 and CR2088.

JS987W14 is meant for royalty with a design that features a metal crown atop a rough sapphire crystal.  This imaginative design is perfect for long sapphire crystals with pointed ends, such as CR2029 and CR2008.

This December, Christie’s will be auctioning some of Elizabeth Taylor’s iconic sapphire jewelry. This event will be a rare opportunity for collectors to own a piece of Hollywood history.

The Elizabeth Taylor auction features 950 items from the actress’ personal collection including jewelry, clothing, art, and memorabilia. A traditional auction will take place, as well as an online-only portion that gives greater access to fans and collectors across the globe. The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor auction will run from December 13^th through December 16^th.

Our favorite items from the auction are, of course, Elizabeth Taylor’s sapphire jewelry.

A 40th birthday gift from Richard Burton, this sapphire and diamond sautoir features an impressive 52.72 carat blue sugarloaf cabochon sapphire in a beautiful art deco style setting. The pendant section of the necklace can be detached and worn as a brooch.

This art deco Egyptian revival diamond and sapphire bracelet is a gorgeous work of art. Each bracelet segment features an Egyptian figure composed of rubies, sapphires, and emeralds.  This is certainly a fitting piece for Taylor, who famously played Cleopatra in 1963.

This sugarloaf blue cabochon sapphire ring is another of our favorites. Any blue sapphire ring makes a statement, and we love the way the center sapphire is highlighted by the diamonds on the shank of the ring.

If you’re looking for a similar sapphire ring, we have a number of statement rings in our own sapphire collection.

J2740 is a striking antique cushion cut blue sapphire ring. We think Elizabeth Taylor would be proud to wear this gem.

Our talented designers are always busy creating  beautiful ring styles that are perfect for any occasion.

Whether the ring if for an engagement ring, a holiday gift or even treating yourself to a magnificent right hand ring we have many ring styles for each customer.

Colorful engagement rings are our specialty.  These striking rings with rich colored sapphires in any color you can think of are a perfect choice framed with diamond side stones enchancing the richness and depth of the center stone.

J2977: Natural Untreated Ruby and Diamond Engagement Ring

J3007: Natural Untreated Purple Sapphire and Diamond Ring

J2789:  Natural Untreated Yellow Sapphire and Diamond Engagement Ring

Pave settings with gorgeous pave diamonds surrounding the center stones are populars with brides and every customer alike!

Diamonds add a great deal of sparkle and enhance the size of the center stone. Who would not love that?

J2827: Natural Blue Sapphire and Diamond Ring

J2933: Natural Untreated Pink Sapphire and Diamond Ring

J2448: Natural Untreated Padparadscha Sapphire and Diamond Ring

Another setting style we love are our raised settings that show off the sapphire center stone! The sapphire takes the spotlight and the ring perfectly accommodates a wedding band!

J2852: Natural Untreated Blue Sapphire and Diamond Ring

J2617: Natural Untreated Yellow Sapphire and Diamond Wedding Set

Twisted bands are striking and unique. The swirling setting adds romantic appeal to any  sapphire engagement ring!

J2960: Natural Untreated Blue Sapphire and Diamond Wedding Set

J2858: Natural Untreated Blue Sapphire and Diamond Ring

Vintage glamour antique settings add a timeless beauty that is sure to be an heirloom for the next generations!

J666: Natural Untreated Blue Sapphire and Diamond Antique Style Ring

J2897: Natural Untreated Ruby and Diamond Ring