Two gemstones.
Side by side.

GEMSTONE ONE

Bismuthinite

Bismuthinite is known for long metallic grey blades and needle-like crystals, frequently on ore matrix. Read the identification, handling and collector-use guide.

Colour & appearance

Steel grey to tin-white

Mineral family

Bismuth sulphide

Mohs hardness

2–2.5

Representative source regions

Bolivia; China; Peru

Bolivia China Peru

Jewellery & care

Collector display only; soft cleavable crystals are unsuitable for daily jewellery.

GreyWhite

Read the Bismuthinite 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.