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What is this bicolor blue gem?

A

alec

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jul 12, 2024
Messages
1
Hello,

Recently, I learned that my girlfriend has always wanted a particular gem she's seen before, but doesn't actually know what it is.

This photo she found online is, according to her, the closest representation of the gem she saw with her own eyes many years ago.

Over the years, she bought 6 similar stones -- sapphires, mostly -- hoping they would have the look she wants. But they all look more uniform and less saturated in their color than her ideal gem.

The key takeaway from the photo and more importantly her description, is that the gem she wants has a coloration that is both vibrant blue and vibrant aqua (bicolor) to the extent that it reminds her of looking at a tropical sea front.

I want to find and buy her this gem. Where should I start?

image.png
 
There are a bunch of different terms for colors of tourmaline but that will get you started.
Its better in a fun ring or pendant than an everyday ring.
 
Definitely a bicolor tourmaline
 
alec said:
This photo she found online is, according to her, the closest representation of the gem she saw with her own eyes many years ago.
Click to expand...
I think it’s key to ask where and what circumstances she saw it.

alec said:
Over the years, she bought 6 similar stones -- sapphires, mostly -- hoping they would have the look she wants. But they all look more uniform and less saturated in their color than her ideal gem.
Click to expand...
I think it’s typical for many bicolor /zoned gemstones to look more defined via a picture than to the naked eye. Natural ones, at least.

Pictures/cameras amping up colors, plus environmental lighting (latitude as well) plays a factor.
I think it’s not uncommon for blue green zoned sapphires to go muddy in certain lightings, and vendor photos to be amped up a bit, paired with photo vs naked eye on the zoning.

I think finding a saturated/vivid color natural sapphire specimen like this to the naked eye would not be the usual typical current found for sale variety.

Did coated topaz ever come in this color combo?
 
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The background of that image is Earth's Treasury, and I'm pretty sure that's a particolored sapphire, which would be a great engagement ring choice. But I agree with others: they're stunning in photos, but maybe because of binocular vision or because the photos are so highly magnified, don't tend to show such a variety of tints in person. Still, adding "parti" or "particolor" to your search terms might help.

This one was pretty and shows strongish internal color variation, plus it's large so has a better shot at visible color zones (desirable in your case). I don't know anything about the seller, though.
Screenshot_20240713-100135.png
 
Another option: you could find something similar in an Australian sapphire. Sometimes they're bicolor, but usually darker than what your gf likes
 
I too am in the bi-color/parti-color sapphire camp!! And as @LilAlex pointed out, it's best to go with a harder stone (such as sapphire vs. tourmaline) if this is indeed intended for an e-ring. I don't think you'll have too much trouble finding this coloration in a sapphire... it's one of the more common color-zoned variations in corundum. Good luck!
 
Definitely a parti Australian sapphire.
Doug from Bespoke Gems here in Sydney Australia is a fabulous cutter of these gorgeous sapphires. He has a web site to check out.
 
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