Two gemstones.
Side by side.

GEMSTONE ONE

Vivianite

Vivianite — hydrated iron(II) phosphate mineral. Read about characteristic appearance, Mohs hardness, safety and care.

Colour & appearance

Colourless when fresh; blue-green, deep blue or nearly black with oxidation

Mineral family

hydrated iron(II) phosphate mineral

Mohs hardness

1.5–2

Representative source regions

Cornwall, United Kingdom; Bolivia, Brazil and Cameroon

United Kingdom Bolivia Brazil Cameroon

Jewellery & care

Very soft, fragile mineral best suited to a shaded specimen display, not rings or wearable crystal accessories.

ColourlessBlue-greenBlack

Read the Vivianite 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.