From the moment I first encountered them, I’ve admired Australian sapphires.

An Australian sapphire can come in the most unexpected colourways across the spectrum, from the well known royal blue, to pastel sky blue, shades of pink, green, yellow and orange. Then there are the parti sapphires, also known as polychrome sapphires, which show more than one colour in a single stone.

Personally, I love a light green sapphire, kind of a mix between a seafoam green and a mint green, and I had the pleasure of sourcing these and exploring their versatility for my most recent collection, Neptune.

In particular, the Seagrass Meadow ring really celebrates the impact these stones can have. Inspired by blades of seagrass in underwater meadows, dark and light sapphires interact with diamonds and turquoise cabochons to reflect the journey of moving underwater and swimming through cool waters, with dappled light and shade on the sea meadow floor.

I love having the opportunity to work with clients on a bespoke Australian sapphire engagement ring. Australian sapphires are more rare than diamonds and I find clients are interested in knowing where their gemstones came from. With Australian sapphires, I am able to tell them exactly where they are from and whether or not they have been cut locally or overseas. Australian Sapphires are ethically sourced, too, discovered by miners and fossickers working independently, from whom I often source gemstones directly. The relationships I forge with these people are critical. They are passionate and hard working, spending long days digging underground in search of these precious treasures. Through these relationships I not only have access to the stones themselves, but their stories: the facts about the rough and where and how each stone was found.

I once had a beautiful emerald cut Australian parti sapphire, cut by the miner who found it. The information he was able to give me added to the stone’s appeal: “this parti was hand-mined early this year in the Divide Fossicking area, on Central Queensland Gemfields. From surface mining about 2-4 feet deep. It is unheated, untreated, and has no visible inclusions. It was cut locally on the fields from a 35ct rough”.

I always share these stories with my clients, who generally love to learn the provenance behind the stone they’ll wear. As a jeweller, I’m deeply committed to working with Australian gemstones, and the ethereal beauty of Australian sapphires will always have a place on my bench and in my heart.