Two gemstones.
Side by side.

GEMSTONE ONE

Orthoclase

Orthoclase guide: identity, composition KAlSi₃O₈, hardness 6, origins, collecting and care.

Colour & appearance

White, pale pink, cream, grey and occasional other hues

Mineral family

potassium feldspar mineral

Mohs hardness

6

Representative source regions

Germany; Madagascar; Sri Lanka; United States

Germany Madagascar Sri Lanka United States

Jewellery & care

Gem-quality orthoclase can be used in protected jewellery, but cleavage makes rings vulnerable to sharp knocks.

WhitePinkCreamGrey

Read the Orthoclase 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.