Sapphire

Responsibly sourced sapphires from Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Australia and Malawi. Nineteen48 works directly with a trusted network of miners and suppliers to ensure all sapphires are sourced through a fair and transparent supply chain.

Sapphires are a popular gemstone due to the spectrum of colours they come in. From traditional rich blue to pale azure, you can also find violet, yellow, green, teal, orange, pink... any colour except red.

Sapphires are part of the corundum family.

Red corundum is ruby, however there is no official classification for this. If you are looking for a red ruby or a pink sapphire, do broaden your search to look for both.

Nineteen48 sapphires are responsibly sourced from Sri Lanka and Tanzania. Many of Nineteen48's sapphires come directly from their own artisanal mine near Kuruwita. Others are sourced through a long-established network of local Sri Lankan miners, with whom strong and trusted relationships have been developed over the years.

Australian sapphires are supplied by Capricorn Gems and Malawi sapphires are provided by Fair Trade Gemstones.

Nineteen48, Capricorn Gems and Fair Trade Gemstones are members of the Ethical Gem Suppliers.

Queensland is the second-largest state in Australia, located in the north-east of the country. Most of the gemstone mining is either artisanal or small-scale (ASM), run by individuals or partnerships.

Queensland is known to produce sapphire, zircon, chrysoprase, topaz and boulder opal.

The mining operations adhere to all the relevant laws and regulations as set out by the Queensland Government Department of Mines.

Nineteen48 offers a selection of beautiful Australian gemstones through its trusted partner, Capricorn Gems, led by Ian Bone.

Specialising in responsibly sourced stones from Queensland, Capricorn Gems focuses on four main varieties: sapphire, opal, zircon, and chrysoprase.

The gemstones are typically cut and polished at a dedicated workshop in Thailand to ensure exceptional quality.

Capricorn Gems sapphires come mainly from Central Queensland, west of the town of Emerald, in a remote region that includes the small communities of Anakie, Rubyvale, and Sapphire. This area is sparsely populated, and most of the mining is carried out by individual miners, families, or small partnerships. All operations are regulated by the Queensland Government’s Department of Mines, ensuring responsible and safe practices.