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Two gemstones.
Side by side.

Look beyond the sparkle. Explore the colours, origins, mineral families and everyday-care differences that make every gemstone unique.

Illustration or example specimen of Glaucophane
GEMSTONE ONE

Glaucophane

Glaucophane: sodium amphibole, Mohs 5–6. Explore identification, origins, buying, safe handling and care.

Colour & appearance
Lavender blue, slate blue, blue-grey
Mineral family
Sodium amphibole
Mohs hardness
5–6
Representative source regions
Greece; Italy; United States; Japan
Greece Italy United States Japan
Jewellery & care
Generally not suitable for jewellery, especially fibrous collector material. The illustrative image is not an authenticated mineral specimen or product photograph.
Blue
Read the Glaucophane guide
Illustration or example specimen of Sapphire
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.

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