Two gemstones.
Side by side.

GEMSTONE ONE

Diaspore

Diaspore — aluminium oxyhydroxide mineral, including some colour-change gem material. Read about characteristic appearance, Mohs hardness, safety and care.

Colour & appearance

Colourless, white, greenish, brown, lavender and rose; some gems change colour under different lighting

Mineral family

aluminium oxyhydroxide mineral, including some colour-change gem material

Mohs hardness

6.5–7

Representative source regions

Türkiye (commercial colour-change gem deposits), Russia and other metamorphic localities

Türkiye Russia

Jewellery & care

Transparent gem-quality diaspore can be used in carefully designed jewellery, but strong cleavage makes some settings prone to cracking.

ColourlessWhiteBrownLavenderRose

Read the Diaspore 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.