Five famous sapphires throughout history

There is no doubt that sapphire rings have become a must-have feature piece for any fashionista in today’s markets. With their intense colour, rare nature and worldwide acclaim it easy to see why they remain a must have for any bride to be. When searching for an engagement ring with help from the best jewellers in Sydney, there are many styles and settings to consider. Considering iconic and famous sapphires of the past can help you with inspiration when selecting your sapphire engagement ring. Here are five of our favourite famous sapphires:

Bismarck Sapphire

Named after Countess Mona von Bismark who donated the necklace where the sapphire is set to the Smithsonian Institute in 1967, the sapphire stands at 98.56 carats. Found in Myanmar, the sapphire is notably set within a diamond and platinum pendant and necklace that was designed by world-famous jewellery designer Cartier.

Star of Adam

The Star of Adam holds its place in history, being the most significant sapphire currently found within the world to date. The gemstone measures an impressive 1404.49 carats and carries an estimated value of over 300 million dollars. The sapphire was discovered in Ratnapura, Sri Lanka in August of 2015.

Stuart Sapphire

The history of the Stuart Sapphire is most notable within the British royal family. Said to have first belonged to King Charles II whose lineage the gemstone passed through until it reached Henry Bentinick who had come to be known as Cardinal York who bequeathed the stone to King George III. The sapphire weighed a total of 104 carats and was set initially in Queen Victoria’s State Crown. In 1937 a new crown was commissioned which stood almost identical to the old crown (which had become weathered and worn), and the gemstones from the original crown were transferred over. The only difference was that the new imperial crown now had the Stuart sapphire on the opposite side of the crown with the Black Prince ruby and Cullinan II Diamond taking precedence towards the front.

Logan Sapphire

This beautiful and stunning sapphire gets in fame due to it being the largest faceted blue sapphire within the entire world. The stunning sapphire sat at an impressive 423 carats and was discovered in Sri Lanka. The GIA has most noted that the Logan Sapphire colour is natural, with no heat treatments evident. The sapphire was donated to the Smithsonian Institute by Rebecca Pollard Guggenheim who received the sapphire as a gift from her then-husband Col. M. Robert Guggenheim in 1960. The sapphire coined its name from her new husband which at the time of donation was John A. Logan.