Two gemstones.
Side by side.

GEMSTONE ONE

Cassiterite

Cassiterite guide: identity, composition SnO₂, hardness 6–7, origins, collecting and care.

Colour & appearance

Black, reddish brown, golden brown; rarely pale

Mineral family

tin oxide mineral

Mohs hardness

6–7

Representative source regions

Bolivia; China; United Kingdom; Nigeria

Bolivia China United Kingdom Nigeria

Jewellery & care

Selected faceted cassiterite can be worn in protected settings, but brittleness and cleavage make daily ring wear a poor choice.

BlackBrownGolden

Read the Cassiterite guide

GEMSTONE TWO

Sapphire

Sapphire is a gem variety of corundum, often associated with blue but also found in other colours. Its hardness makes it an enduring jewellery material, although the secu...

Colour & appearance

Blue and other colours

Mineral family

Corundum (Al₂O₃)

Mohs hardness

9

Representative source regions

Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Myanmar, Australia, Thailand and Montana in the United States are recognised sources. The Kashmir region is historically famous for highly valued blue sapphires.

Sri Lanka Madagascar Myanmar Australia Thailand United States

Jewellery & care

Choose the style and setting to suit the specific stone, treatment information and intended use.

Blue

Read the Sapphire guide

Hardness measures scratch resistance, not breakage. Source regions are educational examples, not claims about the provenance of an individual GEMHOOD product. Images may be digital gemstone illustrations.