Two gemstones.
Side by side.

GEMSTONE ONE

Gypsum

Gypsum: Clear tabular selenite crystals, fibrous satin-spar and massive alabaster are all varieties of gypsum. Discover properties, identification, care and buying consid...

Colour & appearance

Colourless, white, pale grey or impurity-tinted

Mineral family

Hydrated calcium sulphate

Mohs hardness

2

Representative source regions

Mexico; Morocco; Spain; United States

Mexico Morocco Spain United States

Jewellery & care

Best for display and delicate carvings; it scratches very easily and is unsuitable for most exposed jewellery settings.

ColourlessWhiteGrey

Read the Gypsum 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.