About

Sapphires have few rivals in the world of gemstones. They belong to the corundum group of minerals, classified as a 9 on the Mohs scale: only diamonds are harder than sapphires. While this gem is largely cherished for its beauty today, it was often used in the making of axes and other sharp tools in China as early as 4000 BCE. Perhaps this durability has lead many to attach the sapphire to attributes such as truth, faithfulness, and permanence.

It is perhaps the blue sapphire that is the most sought-after form of corundum. Sapphires come in a range of colors, including pink, orange, yellow and even clear to black, depending on the presence of certain minerals contained in the corundum crystal. While blue sapphires have small amounts of titanium and iron, a corundum crystal with chromium is red, and is called a ruby. Blue sapphires can be found in as many shades of blue that grace the sky, from the near-black of a moonless night, to the smoky pale blue of the horizon on a summer day. In fact, the ancient Persians believed that the earth rested on a giant blue sapphire, its brilliant color reflecting up into the sky.

Artist

When Chaya Caron was growing up, she wanted to be a zoologist. Through various life adventures, Chaya found herself designing and making jewelry in her studio in South Portland, Maine, where she is kept on task by two whiskered project supervisors: Everest and Tigger. With no kids (besides the cats), Chaya loves being an aunt of two, as well as an "adopted aunt."

When she is not designing and crafting, Chaya enjoys spending time outdoors, running, biking, and hiking, though she's just as happy sharing a good bottle of wine with friends. Her favorite meal is one involving good company, and Chaya says that if she could have dinner with any famous person, it would be Bono. "His personality seems infectious," Chaya says. "I can imagine leaving dinner feeling inspired and ready to conquer the world!" Perhaps this choice of dinner date expresses one of her passions: making the world a happy place.

Details

• handmade with recycled 14k palladium white gold
• 3.5mm band
• 6mm certified fair-trade blue sapphire
• TLC for your white gold and precious gemstone jewelry