The colourful world of sapphires

Sapphires, fascinating gemstones of timeless beauty, have enchanted mankind for centuries. With their brilliant colour and unparalleled clarity, sapphires have exerted a special attraction on jewellers, collectors and lovers of jewellery worldwide. From their history in ancient civilisations to their modern significance as a symbol of fidelity and wisdom, sapphires provide a rich source of inspiration and admiration.

“Let’s dive into the fascinating world of sapphires and their timeless beauty”

Origin

Sapphires were traded on the island of Sri Lanka as early as 480 BC. Over time, other sites in this region of the world have also been discovered. Today, sapphires can be found in India, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam and now even in the USA and Nigeria.

However, Kashmir sapphires (region in the Himalayas) are among the rarest and most rarely mined gemstones in the world. They have an intense blue colour, which is bright and saturated at the same time.

The most sought-after colour of a sapphire is called:

“cornflower blue”

"Not everything is as it seems"

Not every corundum offered in the shops has a natural colour. They are often treated to deepen and improve the colour. The optimum colour is enhanced by means of blowpipe heating, a traditional art that has been perfected over centuries. Around 90% of commercially available sapphires undergo such treatments.
However, there are also brands such as A. Odenwald that only use untreated stones.

Corundum Group

Sapphire is a member of the corundum group. With an exceptional hardness of 9 out of 10 on the Mohs hardness scale, it is extremely resistant to scratches and wear. This property makes it ideal for jewellery such as rings, earrings and pendants that are worn on a daily basis. Sapphire is also often produced synthetically and used for watch crystals.

A. Odenwald

The company A. Odenwald was founded in the same year as Galli (1882). At the site in Pforzheim, goldsmiths have been trained in the company since its foundation. This means that the majority of production processes are still carried out by hand. These aspects enable the company to guarantee the greatest possible flexibility and excellent value for money. When selecting materials, A. Odenwald attaches great importance to absolute transparency and the origin of conflict-free gemstones. For this reason, they work exclusively with companies that fulfil the strict criteria and are committed to fair wage and working conditions.