Two gemstones.
Side by side.

GEMSTONE ONE

Larvikite

Larvikite: feldspar-rich intrusive igneous rock (not one mineral species); Dark grey to nearly black with blue or silver feldspar flashes. Learn geological properties, id...

Colour & appearance

Dark grey to nearly black with blue or silver feldspar flashes

Mineral family

feldspar-rich intrusive igneous rock (not one mineral species)

Mohs hardness

~6 on feldspar-rich surfaces (varies by constituent)

Representative source regions

Larvik area, Vestfold, Norway (namesake stone)

Norway

Jewellery & care

Excellent for slabs, decor, beads and larger cabochons; use care around edges and polished surfaces.

GreyBlack

Read the Larvikite 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.