Little Sister, Sweden Princess Blue Sapphire Ring

The Story Behind the Light Pastel Blue
Sweden’s Princess Sapphire Color

Many years ago we acquired a large, light, pastel blue sapphire which had been given by Sweden’s princess to one of her ladies in waiting. The color was a warm powder blue. It was a color one could never forget.

The woman who sold the gem to us had blonde hair and blue eyes and was of Swedish descent. In the mid-1970’s she was already in her 60’s. She told us about how her grandmother had been one of several young assistants to the then princess of Sweden. Dates were not given but simple math would place the story sometime just prior to the turn of the century.

The princess had a large pastel blue sapphire which had become damaged and had broken into several pieces. She gave the pieces of the sapphire to her ladies in waiting.

The gem piece as presented to us three-quarters of a century later was a small portion of the underside of a very large sapphire. It was quite clear and a very lovely shade of blue. We tested and verified natural origin, made an offer and acquired the gem. From this large piece of remaining sapphire crystal we cut a very fine 2 ½ carat pear-shaped sapphire. This we mounted with a diamond into 18K gold as a necklace. One never forgets an exceptional gem.

A Rare Blue

In the early 2000’s we discovered a source for sapphires with the same powder blue color. Women loved the airy gracefulness of these pastel gems. Many were sold. After several years this color all but disappeared. Sapphire miners and dealers had strong financial incentive to heat the light blue sapphire crystals to bring out a deeper blue color.
The Sweden princesses blue color is rare. When we see one, we buy it because they’re beautiful. If you too love this color you should consider acting quickly.