I would love a dollar for every time I’ve been asked for a pink sapphire as a substitute for exorbitantly priced pink diamonds. I have compassion for the sapphires because they are truly magnificent gemstones and should not be reduced to a second choice. If you want to think pink, think sapphire!
Pink Sapphires symbolise love, truth, romance, and elegance. With a nod to all the associations with their delicate pink colour, their durability and their high hardness rating, pink sapphires are perfect for engagement rings. They are easy to care for and keep looking their best and are a sheer delight to wear.
Pink is one of the rarest sapphire colours, caused by chromium trace elements inside the corundum crystal. The deeper the pink, the more chromium, iron, and titanium are present in the crystal structure. The intensity of the pink colour varies depending on the concentration of these elements. Most of the pink sapphires available to us are mined in Thailand. Thailand sapphires are conflict-free, and the majority of the world’s supply of gemstones is traded, bought and exported through Bangkok. Large flawless pink sapphires are extremely rare and carry a premium price per carat, and yet beautifully clear stones of around one-carat size are reasonably priced and look stunning.
Look for vivid vibrant colour whether your preference is pale pink, magenta or fuchsia, and look for colour that is enhanced by high clarity and excellent cutting.
Pink is a colour of power. In the 1700s, Madame Pompadour introduced the colour to the French courts and the aristocrats saw pink as a class symbol of status. It has significant associations throughout history. Did you know pink was the colour that boys were dressed in from 18th – 19th century? The English military uniform was red and small boys were small soldiers in the paler version of red, pink! People dressed their children in sailor suits and as the naval uniforms slowly became dominated by blue, sailor suits changed to blue and began the ’blue for boys’ tradition. Meanwhile, pink for girls came in the 19th century from a marketing slogan “Think pink!” attempting to encourage women to leave the workforce and return home after WWII, by burning the black (mourning attire) and banishing the blue (denim workwear).
Notable women who have contributed to making pink a high fashion statement of identity include, Elsa Schiaparelli, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Marilyn Monroe, Mamie Eisenhower, Jacqueline Kennedy, and Grace Kelly.
In spiritual relationships, pink is the colour for agape, the highest form of love, and pink is described as selfless, all-embracing, and unconditional. The beautiful pink sapphire gemstone represents compassion, kindness, and nurturing. It is believed to be the gemstone of forgiveness and healing and emotional balance. It provides sensitivity and strength, and it brings balance and harmony to the heart. It has been revered as ‘the gemstone of joy’ and attributed with promoting feelings of love, joy, and peace. Pink Sapphire is exceptional for nurturing intuition.
The immaculate unheated Pink Sapphire pictured is a fine example of the depth of fuchsia colour – exquisite! This Fuchsia-Pink Sapphire ring is handmade in Platinum, set with one oval-cut Sapphire, weight 2.08ct, and priced at $9,927 (Ring $1,600 plus gemstone $8,327 as at March 2023.)
