When most people picture a sapphire, they picture one shade: deep, velvety royal blue. It's a beautiful color, and a classic for good reason. But it's only the beginning of the story. Sapphire is the gem-quality form of a mineral called corundum, and depending on the trace elements present when the crystal forms, it can arrive in nearly every color imaginable — soft petal pink, icy sky blue, golden yellow, even a single stone that holds several hues at once. The only color corundum can't be called a sapphire is red; when it's red, we call it a ruby.

Summer is the season colored stones come alive, so this feels like the right moment to make the case for looking past the obvious blue.

Why jewelers love sapphires

Beyond their range of color, sapphires are wonderfully practical. On the Mohs scale of hardness they rank a 9 — second only to diamond — which means they resist scratches and stand up to daily wear far better than softer stones like opal or emerald. That durability makes a sapphire a genuinely low-maintenance choice for a ring you plan to wear often, not just tuck away for special occasions.

They also tend to offer more color for your money than a comparably sized diamond, which is part of why sapphires have quietly become one of the most requested stones in my studio.

Classic blue, reimagined

If it's the traditional blue you're after, there's a reason it endures. A rich blue sapphire reads as elegant and a little old-world, and it pairs beautifully with both white and yellow gold. The Round Cut Blue Sapphire and Diamond Dome Ring ($2,650) is a good example — the domed silhouette gives the stone real presence while keeping it comfortable and snag-free for everyday wear.

The case for pink

Pink sapphires have a softness that feels especially right in warm weather. They're romantic without tipping into sweet, and they flatter nearly every skin tone. I love them for someone who wants color but leans toward the delicate end of the spectrum. The Round Cut Pink Sapphire and Diamond Dome Ring ($2,500) is a quiet showstopper, and it stacks beautifully alongside plain gold bands.

Barely-there blue

Not every sapphire has to shout. Pale blue sapphires have a watercolor quality — think sea glass or a clear morning sky — that reads as effortless and modern. The Oval Cut Pale Blue Sapphire Dome Ring ($2,500) is the piece I reach for when someone wants something that feels light and easy to live in, the kind of ring that goes with everything from linen to a little black dress.

Or, all of the above

If you truly can't choose, you don't have to. The Turquoise & Rainbow Sapphire Halo Ring ($2,750) surrounds a turquoise center with a halo of sapphires in a full spectrum of colors — a joyful, unapologetically colorful cocktail ring that captures everything I love about this stone in a single piece.

How to choose yours

Start with the color you're naturally drawn to, then think about how you'll wear it. If it's an everyday ring, a slightly smaller, well-set stone in a protective setting will serve you for decades. If it's a statement piece for dinners and celebrations, let yourself go bolder. And remember that sapphires are as at home in an engagement ring as they are in a cocktail ring — a colored center stone is one of the most personal choices you can make.

If you're curious which shade suits you, or you'd like to build something custom around a sapphire you love, I'd be glad to help you find it. That conversation is my favorite part of the work.

— Kate