Gemstones have been desirable since ancient times, and are as appealing to us today as they were to our ancestors generations ago.
Our suppliers uses both precious and some other suppliers uses both precious and semi-precious stones throughout the jewellery designs, with each stone set-by-hand in in workshop. We carefully source gemstones for their quality and colour ensuring you receive the best quality stones. All gemstones offered by Sophy Geneva are natural with no exceptions.
Since our stones are set by hand, it is possible that alternative stones can be set into your chosen design. For example, if you see a ring or a piece of jewellery with one type of gemstone, but would prefer another, it may be possible for us to do this for you. Find out more about jewellery made just for you.
Please check also our Gemstones care tips.
The Four Precious Gemstones
Diamond
Blue Sapphires are the most common and popular colored stone choice for Engagement Rings. For more reasons than just the beautiful blue color it possesses, it is also very high on the hardness scale. You want to wear an Engagement Ring everyday and with everyday wear, Sapphires and any other colored stone will scratch. The Sapphire gemstone, also known scientifically as Corundum, is on the top of gemstone hardness scale. There are also many different colors of Sapphires to choose from including Pink, Peach, Yellow, Green and White Sapphires!
Sapphire
Blue Sapphires are the most common and popular colored stone choice for Engagement Rings. For more reasons than just the beautiful blue color it possesses, it is also very high on the hardness scale. You want to wear an Engagement Ring everyday and with everyday wear, Sapphires and any other colored stone will scratch. The Sapphire gemstone, also known scientifically as Corundum, is on the top of gemstone hardness scale. There are also many different colors of Sapphires to choose from including Pink, Peach, Yellow, Green and White Sapphires!
Ruby
The beautiful and rare red Ruby is another much loved colored stone for rings and other jewelry. The fine quality Ruby will have a vibrant crimson color with less inclusions. Ruby is also part of the Corundum family, with trace elements of Chromium to produce its red color. Variations will include orangey red to purplish red. The most sought after color is called “pigeon’s blood.”
Emerald
The exquisite green Emerald is a sight to see! These highly sought after precious gemstones date back almost 3 billion years ago. The degree of color will determine the price, as well as the inclusions. With most Emeralds, however, the inclusions will be visible with the naked eye. Otherwise they can get extremely expensive. Even with the beauty and allure of the green Emeralds, it is important to know that they are soft and fragile gemstones that should be worn occasionally and best shown on pendants or earrings.
High Value Semi-Precious Gemstones
Pink Sapphire
Like the blue sapphire, pink sapphires belong to the corundum family. While blue sapphires and red rubies have traditionally been recognised as the most desirable gems, the pink sapphire is rapidly gaining in popularity and demand. It is sometimes described as a “Pink Ruby” and the classification depends on how the colour is rated. If defined as a red rather than a pink it will be classified as a ruby rather than a pink sapphire. It is a beautiful stone and its lower profile means it is more affordable.
Tanzanite
A rare stone with a deep purple sparkle, tanzanite is one of the newest gemstones available in jewellery and was discovered as recently as 1967. All tanzanites used in jewellery come from a single mine in the Merelani Hills in Tanzania. Tanzanite isn’t quite as hard as the “big four”. This alone prevents it being classified as a precious stone, although it is as rare if not rarer, highly sought after and beautiful.
Opal
A captivating, multi-coloured stone. Both solid white opal and black triplet opal are used in Sheila’s designs. Solid opals are formed from a single opal stone and often feature a wonderful play of colour as the internal structure of the stone diffracts light. They can feature pink, red, orange, yellow, green and blue shades through to white.
Black triplet opals are not solid opal stones, but consist of three layers of stone. Our triplets have a layer of dark coloured onyx at the bottom, a middle layer of opal and a top layer of quartz. The dark onyx highlights the play of colour in the opal, and the quartz on the top protects the opal. Combinations of green-blue, red-blue or blue-red-green can often be seen. Sophy Geneva have lunches its Own Opal Silver Jewellery Collection Please check.
Semi-Precious Gemstones
Topaz
Topaz is one of the world’s most popular coloured gemstones. It’s a hard gemstone with excellent clarity offering extremely good value for money. Sheila’s designs use blue topaz of which there are three different types: Sky Topaz is a pale blue stone, Swiss Topaz is a mid bright blue and London Topaz is a darker blue. The bright Swiss Blue Topaz, reminiscent of a blue ocean.
Peridot
Peridot belongs to the olivine group of stones and, unlike most other gemstones, are an “idiochromatic” gem meaning its colour comes from the chemical composition of the mineral itself and not from contact with external materials. As a result, peridots are found in shades of one colour only: green. They refract light wonderfully and have a lively, contemporary, almost lime-green colour, which tones beautifully with yellow gold. They are becoming ever more popular.
Garnet
Garnets are widely known as a deep red gem. The name “garnet” derives from “gernet”, which is old English for “dark red” and “granum”, the Latin for “grain or seed”. This may be a reference to the pomegranate whose vivid red seeds can look similar to some garnet crystals. Garnet is also found in other colours.
Rhodalite
Rhodalites belong to the garnet group and are also known as Rhodalite Garnet. They tend to be lighter in colour than a garnet—a more pink-red or rose shade—and are often regarded as a higher-quality gemstone as it has more sparkle.
Hematite (Haematite)
A mineral form of iron oxide, this stone is red when cut or powdered, and its name comes from the Greek for “blood”. Unlike other precious and semi-precious stones, hematite is opaque and does not diffract light. Its surface has a magnificent metallic shine and it can look similar to silver when polished. Sheila has used polished hematite stones in several pieces inspired by Orkney’s history such as her Ogham cufflinks, Runic torque bangle and magnificent Celtic penannular brooch.
Moonstone
Like opals, moonstones diffract light and this visual effect gave rise to the stone’s name. Moonstone has been used in jewellery and rings since ancient times and is associated with the power and mystery of the moon. We source the top grade moonstone colour known as fine blue and this is one of Sheila’s favourite stones.
Onyx
This stone is scientifically known as banded chalcedony, which is a form of silica containing quartz. Onyx occurs in many colours, notably black, white and red, but when red it is known as sardonyx.
Amethyst
Amethyst is the purple variety of crystalline quartz, with colours ranging from pale lilac through to deep reddish purple. Unlike many gems, amethyst is readily available in larger sizes and, due to this, even larger stones are comparatively affordable. These vibrant stones have been used in jewellery throughout history.
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