Trends I've seen in 2026, Part 2 - Who said sapphires have to be blue?

One of the trends I'm seeing this year is a noticeable increase in customers choosing coloured gemstones as an alternative to diamonds or combining them with diamonds.
For everyday wear in a ring, I tend to favour sapphires. What many people don't realise is that sapphires are found in virtually every colour of the rainbow, with beautiful shades of pink, green, apricot, purple and, of course, blue and the very popular teal blue. I really enjoy seeing a customer's reaction when they discover a colour they hadn't previously considered, and may never have imagined choosing, but suddenly can't imagine being without.
I favour sapphires over other gemstones for everyday wear because of their hardness and long-term durability. The Mohs scale measures a mineral's resistance to scratching, from 1 (softest) to 10 (hardest). Diamonds rank at 10, while sapphires rank at 9, making them an excellent choice for jewellery intended to be worn every day.
There's also the question of value for money. Compared with natural diamonds, sapphires can offer more size for the same spend, allowing customers to choose a larger gemstone without increasing their budget. Unheated sapphire with excellent colour and clarity, accompanied by a certificate from a recognised gemmological laboratory, can command a premium. Choosing a heated sapphire can offer better value, while an uncertified stone may also cost less per carat.
I only purchase from my trusted suppliers, so I can be 100% confident about the treatments and quality of the gemstones I'm offering. For me, it's about getting these stones into the studio so my customers can experience them in person as they are genuinely fascinating. It's an opportunity to explain the differences between each stone and help them choose a sapphire they genuinely love and want to wear.