Two gemstones.
Side by side.

GEMSTONE ONE

Bornite

Bornite is known for coppery metallic body with an iridescent surface sometimes called peacock ore. Read the identification, handling and collector-use guide.

Colour & appearance

Copper-brown with purple, blue and gold tarnish

Mineral family

Copper iron sulphide

Mohs hardness

3

Representative source regions

Chile; Peru; United States

Chile Peru United States

Jewellery & care

Ornamental specimen and geology collection material rather than a durable gem for exposed settings.

PurpleBlue

Read the Bornite 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.