What Makes Sapphires Special and Where Do They Come From? – PART 2

In the latest episode of ABC Radio’s Nightlife series Romancing the Stones, host Suzanne Hill continues her conversation with third-generation gem merchant Grant Hamid of Hamid Bros in Melbourne, a business established by his grandfather in 1898. A former president of the Gemmological Association of Australia, Grant blends family legacy with deep gemmological expertise to explore the allure of sapphires.

Grant describes the incredible range of sapphire colours—from the classic blue to parti, teal, orange, peach, and the rare padparadscha—and notes how their popularity can shift with fashion trends and even influences like the Pantone colour of the year, with “mocca” currently in demand. He explains that while sapphires are mined in many countries today, historically Sri Lanka, Burma, and Kashmir have been the sources of some of the most prized stones.

The conversation also turns to famous sapphires, including the 12-carat Ceylon sapphire that once adorned Princess Diana’s engagement ring, now worn by the Princess of Wales. Grant recounts the story of the Star of India, a 563-carat star sapphire whose light-catching internal needles create its signature six-pointed star; the gem is actually from Sri Lanka, despite its name, and resides in New York’s American Museum of Natural History. He discusses the Logan Sapphire, a 422-carat faceted stone of exceptional clarity, also from Sri Lanka and held in the Smithsonian Institution; the Stuart Sapphire, a 104-carat historic gem now set in the Imperial State Crown; and the Rockefeller Sapphire, a 62-carat cornflower-blue masterpiece once owned by John D. Rockefeller Jr. Each stone carries a rich story that reflects both its beauty and its journey through history.

Listeners are left with a renewed appreciation for the diversity, rarity, and romance of sapphires, and for the expertise that goes into recognising and valuing these treasures.

🎧 Listen now: What makes sapphires special and where do they come from? – PART 2

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