The eye-catching, deep blue gemstone is the center of attention in Birks Splash®’s newest assortment. The days are longer and warmer, the trees are in full bloom, and—to make this year’s seasonal transition especially memorable—Birks is adding 10 new pieces to its Birks Splash® collection.
Just like their predecessors, the new Birks Splash® designs carry on the same source of inspiration—the magic suddenness of a rain shower. This time, however, one additional eye-catching and significant detail was added to capture the essence of water: the blue sapphire. Although the precious stone has been coveted for millennia, within the last year, its prominence has reached new dazzling heights. By looking at Bijoux Birks Splash®’s freshest offering, from a blue sapphire pendant to sapphire diamond earrings, one thing is clear: the ocean-blue gemstone isn’t done making waves.
Flowing, playful, and delicate, the Birks Splash® collection brings a new dimension to its rainy homage by using themed-cut blue sapphires. “We chose pear-shaped sapphire stones because they reminded us of beautiful rain droplets,” says Bijoux Birks’ Senior Product Design Manager. Whether it’s set on a diamond bangle bracelet or diamond hoops, its presence brings a refreshing touch of colour to an assortment that shines bright with joie de vivre.
What is the most important factor when comparing and evaluating different types of blue sapphire stones? The colour. “With sapphires, it’s very important to pay attention to their colour and make sure we choose one that is of high quality and that our clients will love,” explains the expert. “Generally speaking, the more vivid and deep the blue, the more valuable the sapphire. And that's exactly the blue we picked for Birks Splash®.”
Birks Splash
The Mohs hardness scale is used to measure a mineral’s resistance to scratching. Ranging from 1 to 10, sapphire hardness ranks 9, only second to the diamond. In other words, whether you opt for a blue sapphire pendant necklace or sapphire stud earrings, you can go about your day, from running errands to cocktail hour, worry-free. From a stylistic standpoint, Birks Splash® pieces are not only beautifully crafted, they’re also incredibly versatile. Thanks to their clean lines, they can easily be mixed and matched with all the contents of your jewellery box.
One of blue sapphire’s most fascinating facets is undoubtedly its captivating background. The stone—whose name derives from Greek sappherios and Latin sapphirius, both synonyms for “blue”—was a favourite of medieval kings as they thought it protected them from their enemies. Later on, during the 19th century, Marie-Amélie, Queen of France and Marie-Antoinette's niece, was given a seven-piece jewellery set by her husband Louis-Philippe. The parure, which counted more than 25 blue sapphires, many larger than 20 carats, now sits at the Louvre Museum in Paris.
We know it as the September birthstone and as the traditional 5th and 45th wedding anniversary gift, but blue sapphire symbolism goes beyond months and numbers. “Sapphire is the stone of wisdom and royalty,” says our Senior Product Design Manager. “To the ancient and medieval worlds, it was believed to bring protection, good fortune and spiritual insight.”
From a blue sapphire chevron ring to earrings decked in diamond raindrops, Birks Splash® celebrates the cheerful sense of wonder we all feel at the sight of a sudden summer rain shower.
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