At STVDIO, our love for sapphires runs deep. Though diamonds may now be the default symbol of engagement, it wasn’t always so. Long before De Beers coined their iconic slogan in the early 20th century, it was sapphires—as well as rubies and emeralds—that were chosen to mark life and love's most sacred promises.
So it begs the question: which stone is truly the classic? Have we simply forgotten the quiet majesty of sapphire, a gem with a history as rich and varied as love itself?
Below, we explore a few of our favorite expressions of sapphire and the qualities that make each one a compelling, meaningful choice for a center stone.
The Classic Blue Sapphire: A Love Letter in Deep Hues
There is perhaps no Sapphire more evocative, more storied, than the blue sapphire. With its lush, velvety depth—often described as cornflower or royal blue—this stone has long captured the hearts of poets, monarchs, and lovers alike. Once worn by medieval kings as a talisman of protection and power, and later adored by Victorian nobility as a symbol of fidelity and truth, the blue sapphire has remained a timeless emblem of enduring love. Its modern renaissance, sparked by Princess Diana’s now-iconic Ceylon sapphire engagement ring has reintroduced a new generation to its romantic legacy. Prized for its rarity, durability, and mesmerizing color, the blue sapphire is not only rarer than diamonds, but far more classic in its expression than one would think. To choose a blue sapphire is to choose elegance with beauty with history. It is a quiet statement of individuality—timeless yet unique, a modern heirloom rich in history.
Montana Sapphire: The Ethical Classic with a Wild Soul
Mined beneath the wide skies and winding rivers of the American West, Montana sapphires are as storied as the land they come from. First discovered by gold rush prospectors in 1865, they were mistaken for something ordinary, then later revealed to be the first gem-quality sapphires unearthed in the United States. Today, more than 150 years later, these stones are still ethically mined with deep respect for the environment and a commitment to restoring the earth they’re drawn from. Their colors echo the raw beauty of Montana’s landscape: moody teals, silvery blues, soft greens, and, from the famed Yogo Gulch, cornflower blues with a clarity as crisp as mountain air. Whether you’re drawn to the romantic pastels of Rock Creek or the bolder, more dramatic hues of the Missouri River mines, each Montana sapphire is utterly one of a kind—rich in color, heirloom-worthy in quality, and grounded in an American legacy of craft, conservation, and character. To choose one is to wear a piece of wild beauty, responsibly captured and lovingly shaped close to home.
Parti Sapphires: Painterly, Rare, and One of a Kind
Like a minuature watercolor painting captured in stone, Parti sapphires are nature’s most expressive gemstones, each one a spontaneous, unrepeatable composition of color. These rare sapphires display two or more distinct hues within a single gem, often blue, green, and gold, separated not by blending but by bold, natural partitioning that creates a striking, abstract landscaping within the stone. Once overlooked in favor of uniform tones, Parti sapphires have come into their own, celebrated for their individuality and expressive depth. With modern cutting techniques that highlight their painterly zoning, they now speak directly to those who desire something truly unique, a gem that defies colorful symmetry, yet feel deeply intentional. Ethically mined, often in Australia and occasionally in Montana or Madagascar, these sapphires offer more than just visual intrigue: they symbolize harmony in contrast, duality in unity. What could be more poetic for an engagement ring than a stone that brings two colors, and two souls, together into one? Uncommon, artful, and emotionally resonant, Parti sapphires are the perfect canvas for a love story that doesn’t follow a script.
Color Change Sapphire: A Tale of Two Lights
Color change sapphires are nature’s most enchanting sleight of hand, a single gem that shift hues as the light around them changes, revealing two distinct personalities in a single stone. By day, they often appear a serene blue or greenish-teal, only to transform under incandescent light into rich purples or velvety rose tones. This rare phenomenon is owed to trace elements like chromium and vanadium within the stone, creating a magical duality that feels alive and ever-evolving. Sourced from Sri Lanka, Madagascar, and Tanzania, these captivating sapphires are beloved by collectors and romantics alike for their rarity, drama, and undeniable mystique. No two are exactly alike, and the intensity of their color shift, visible to the naked eye, making each one a truly singular expression of beauty. Their chameleon-like nature makes them especially meaningful in jewelry meant to capture life’s many dimensions—an engagement, an anniversary, or simply a reminder that love, like light, is always changing, always deepening.
Padparadscha: The Rarest of Them All
Few gemstones possess the mystique of the Padparadscha sapphire. Named after the lotus blossom, this sapphire’s delicate balance of pink and orange is one of nature’s rarest color phenomena. Neither entirely warm nor cool, the Padparadscha exists in a liminal space, a hue so elusive that even gemologists debate its boundaries. True specimens are exceedingly scarce, making them one of the most coveted and collectible colored stones in the world. For those drawn to something truly exceptional, the Padparadscha offers not just beauty, but the rarity of a perfectly balanced sunset, captured in a single stone.
