Two gemstones.
Side by side.

GEMSTONE ONE

Brochantite

Brochantite is known for dense emerald green needles, sheaves and coatings in oxidised copper deposits. Read the identification, handling and collector-use guide.

Colour & appearance

Bright green to deep emerald green

Mineral family

Basic copper sulphate

Mohs hardness

3.5–4

Representative source regions

Namibia; Russia; Chile

Namibia Russia Chile

Jewellery & care

Collector mineral, best in a protected specimen rather than ordinary jewellery.

Green

Read the Brochantite 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.