our precious gemstone varieties
New Zealand's largest
Precious Gemstone Collection
The Sapphire Merchant is New Zealand's premier natural precious gemstone retailer and custom jewellery house. Our gemstone varieties include sapphire, emerald, ruby and diamonds.
Sapphire
Formed from the mineral corundum and coloured by traces of iron and titanium, sapphire dazzles with hues that mirror the sky and the Earth. Celebrated for its hardness and clarity, sapphire has long been a symbol of love, loyalty, and divine favour. Its bright vitreous facets capture and reflect light, creating a captivating brilliance that speaks of Earth's hidden wonders and the timeless beauty forged in its core.
Shop Our CollectionEmerald
From the depths of Earth, the emerald emerges, a gem of verdant green splendour. Formed from beryl and kissed by traces of chromium and vanadium, it gleams with a vibrant hue that echoes the depths of the rainforests in which itis found. This precious stone, steeped in lore, has been a symbol of rebirth, harmony, and eternal youth throughout the ages. Its vivid colour and beguiling clarity reveal a jewel where nature's artistry and geological time converge.
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Emerald
From the depths of Earth, the emerald emerges, a gem of verdant green splendour. Formed from beryl and kissed by traces of chromium and vanadium, it gleams with a vibrant hue that echoes the depths of the rainforests in which itis found. This precious stone, steeped in lore, has been a symbol of rebirth, harmony, and eternal youth throughout the ages. Its vivid colour and beguiling clarity reveal a jewel where nature's artistry and geological time converge.
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Ruby
Forged from the mineral corundum and infused with chromium's fiery touch, ruby gleams with the intensity of the pigeon's eye. Long revered as the stone of kings, ruby symbolises love, courage, and vitality, its rich red hue echoing the essence of luxury itself. With its incomparable brilliance and deep, resonant colour, the ruby is a testament to the timeless beauty and strength found within the heart of Earth.
Shop Our CollectionTourmaline & Paraiba
Deep within the Earth's mosaic of minerals, tourmaline emerges, a gem of wondrous variety. This stone, whose name means mixed gems in Sinhalese, dazzles with an array of colours from lush greens to neon blues and blushing pinks, each hue dictated by the presence of different elements. Formed in the crystalline embrace of granite and marble, tourmaline is celebrated for its striking beauty and piezoelectric properties, which have enamoured gem enthusiasts and scientists alike.
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Tourmaline & Paraiba
Deep within the Earth's mosaic of minerals, tourmaline emerges, a gem of wondrous variety. This stone, whose name means mixed gems in Sinhalese, dazzles with an array of colours from lush greens to neon blues and blushing pinks, each hue dictated by the presence of different elements. Formed in the crystalline embrace of granite and marble, tourmaline is celebrated for its striking beauty and piezoelectric properties, which have enamoured gem enthusiasts and scientists alike.
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Aquamarine
This precious stone, a member of the beryl family, gleams with hues ranging from pale blue to deep sea green, coloured by traces of iron. Celebrated for its clarity and serene beauty, aquamarine has long symbolised calm, courage, and communication. Its crystalline form, reminiscent of clear waters and infinite horizons, tells a tale of geological wonder, where the Earth’s hidden forces conjure a jewel that embodiesboththe serenity and strength of the sea.
Shop Our CollectionSpinel
With colours spanning from passionate reds and strong blues to metallic greys, spinel is often mistaken for other precious stones, yet it stands unique with its own tale. Formed from magnesium aluminum oxide, this crystal dazzles with brilliance that rivals the finest gems. Celebrated for its hardness and vibrant hues, spinel symbolises hope, revitalisation, and inner strength, reflecting the silent artistry of nature's hand in creating a jewel that is as enduring as it is enchanting.
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With colours spanning from passionate reds and strong blues to metallic greys, spinel is often mistaken for other precious stones, yet it stands unique with its own tale. Formed from magnesium aluminum oxide, this crystal dazzles with brilliance that rivals the finest gems. Celebrated for its hardness and vibrant hues, spinel symbolises hope, revitalisation, and inner strength, reflecting the silent artistry of nature's hand in creating a jewel that is as enduring as it is enchanting.
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Tanzanite Zosite
In the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro, where the Earth's secrets are held in sacred trust, tanzanite emerges, a gem of extraordinary beauty and rarity. A striking variety of the mineral zoisite, tanzanite reveals a captivating spectrum of blues and violets, its colours shifting in the light. Born from vanadium-rich soils, this gem is found only in the foothills of Tanzania, making it a true geological marvel. Celebrated for its pleochroism and vivid hues, tanzanite embodies the enchanting dance between light and mineral.
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Often mistaken for diamond, zircon's enticement lies in its radiant sparkle and array of colours, from earthy hues to celestial blues. Formed from zirconium silicate, it is the oldest mineral on Earth, bearing witness to the planet's primordial history. Celebrated for its exceptional lustre and fire, zircon is also revered for its clarity and durability.
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Zircon
Often mistaken for diamond, zircon's enticement lies in its radiant sparkle and array of colours, from earthy hues to celestial blues. Formed from zirconium silicate, it is the oldest mineral on Earth, bearing witness to the planet's primordial history. Celebrated for its exceptional lustre and fire, zircon is also revered for its clarity and durability.
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Peridot
This gemstone, composed of the mineral olivine, captures the essence of summer with its vibrant, lime-green hue. Often found in volcanic rocks and meteorites, peridot's formation is as dramatic as its colour, symbolising renewal and growth. Known as the evening emerald for its captivating glow under moonlight, this gem has been cherished since ancient times. Peridot's enchanting brilliance and storied journey from fiery depths to the surface encapsulate the Earth's dynamic beauty and power.
Shop Our CollectionFeldspar
This abundant group of silicate minerals graces the landscape with an array of colours, from the rainbow adularescence of moonstone to the bright orange flashes of sunstone. Feldspar's crystalline structure is the scaffold of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks, weaving a geological tapestry that underpins much of the Earth's surface. Celebrated for its use in ceramics and glassmaking, feldspar tells a tale of Earth's elemental artistry, its varied forms capturing the essence of natural beauty and endurance.
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Feldspar
This abundant group of silicate minerals graces the landscape with an array of colours, from the rainbow adularescence of moonstone to the bright orange flashes of sunstone. Feldspar's crystalline structure is the scaffold of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks, weaving a geological tapestry that underpins much of the Earth's surface. Celebrated for its use in ceramics and glassmaking, feldspar tells a tale of Earth's elemental artistry, its varied forms capturing the essence of natural beauty and endurance.
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Morganite
A member of the beryl family, this feminine gemstone derives its delicate colour from traces of manganese, radiating a warmth that evokes the first light of dawn. Cherished for its clarity and brilliance, morganite symbolises love and compassion, capturing the essence of romance and serenity. Its ethereal glow and graceful presence tell a story of natural beauty, inviting those who behold it to celebrate the tender emotions and joyful moments woven into the fabric of life.
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