FAQ & Buying Guides

Start with colour: cornflower blue is brighter and lighter, royal blue deeper and more saturated. Neither is better, but the colour should be even, without dark zones, and lively in daylight. Then look for a stone that is clean to the eye face-up and well cut, so light returns across the whole face. Choose size and shape for the setting: ovals and cushions suit engagement rings, flatter stones suit signet rings, and rose cuts and step cuts give a vintage look.

Yes, standard heat unless the listing says unheated. Heat is a permanent, widely accepted treatment that needs no special care, and we disclose the treatment on every stone.

An unheated sapphire has only been cut and polished, so its colour is exactly as it came out of the ground. Unheated stones are rarer and often keep fine natural silk. Our unheated stones are checked in-house; where no independent lab report is included, the listing says so. If an independent lab finds a treatment we did not disclose, you get a full refund. See unheated sapphires.

Several do, from GIA or AGL, and the listing names the lab. Where a listing names a report, it travels with the stone and we can share a copy before you buy. For any other stone we can arrange a GIA, AGL or GRS report on request and tell you the cost and timing first. See certified gemstones.

“Indications of heating” means the stone has been heated, the standard treatment. “No indications of heating” means it is unheated, which is rarer. Origin, where given, is the laboratory's opinion, and we quote it as such. A report does not grade beauty, so colour and brightness in daylight still matter most.

Sapphire in any colour. Blue is traditional, and pink and yellow sapphire are September birthstones too. Sapphire is also the gemstone for the 5th and 45th wedding anniversaries.

We sell sapphires to wear and enjoy, not as investments, and we make no claims about future value.

We compare the two stones face up in daylight and neutral light and check colour (hue, tone and saturation at arm's length), size within a few tenths of a millimetre, similar weight and depth so both sit at the same height, the same cut and brightness, and similar clarity. A few pairs are deliberately organic, such as our tumbled, unheated Ceylon purple sapphires, and the listing says so.

A hand-cut sapphire with a flat base and a domed crown of triangular facets, like a closed rosebud. It has no pavilion, so it sits low and glows softly rather than flashing. Our 1930s rose cuts are Ceylon sapphires in soft cornflower and light blue, the look of vintage French and Art Deco jewellery, and suit a low bezel or flush setting.

Step cuts with long, rectangular facets that show clean flashes of colour. A bullet cut is a long step cut with one pointed end; a tapered baguette narrows from one end to the other; a French cut is a square step cut with a cross of triangular facets on the crown. In the 1920s and 1930s they framed centre stones as side stones and lined Art Deco earrings.

Yes. Our 1930s rose, bullet and baguette cut sapphires have standard heat, as stated on each listing. The antique Ceylon yellow sapphires are unheated, checked in-house.

One Ceylon blue sapphire cabochon pair is glass-filled, and it is clearly labelled that way. Glass-filled stones need gentle care: no ultrasonic or steam cleaning, no acids and no jeweller's torch.

Yes. Sapphire is corundum in every colour except red, which is ruby. Orange, purple, pink and golden sapphires are just as hard (Mohs 9) and have standard heat unless the listing says unheated.

Besides sapphires, we have matched pairs of Mozambique rubies and flower cut amethyst. Every pair is sold loose. See all matched pairs.

Yes. Jewellers and designers looking for several matched stones can see our wholesale and trade page.

The antique Ceylon stones are unheated, checked in-house; where no independent lab report is included, the listing says so. The small matched pairs have standard heat. Every listing states which.

Many Jyotish buyers look for natural, unheated Ceylon yellow sapphire, and our listings give the weight in carats and ratti. Please consult a qualified Jyotish practitioner before choosing; we make no promises about any outcome.

One ratti is about 0.91 carat, so divide the carat weight by 0.91. Or just ask and we'll work it out for you.

Yes. We can arrange a GIA, AGL or GRS report on request and tell you the cost and timing first.

Our emeralds have minor oil unless the listing says otherwise, the traditional and widely accepted treatment for emerald. Untreated, no-oil Colombian stones are labelled as such, and if an independent lab finds oil in a stone sold as no-oil, you get a full refund.

Colombian emeralds are often a pure, slightly warm green, while Zambian emeralds tend toward a deeper, slightly bluish green. Both are fine sources. Most emeralds have natural inclusions (jardin), so colour matters more than perfect clarity.

Yes, with a little care. Emerald rates 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale and suits bracelets and studs; avoid hard knocks, ultrasonic cleaners and steam.

No. Our rubies are heat only, the standard and permanent treatment, with no lead-glass filling. Many low-priced rubies are glass-filled, which is fragile, so always ask about treatment.

They are the same mineral, corundum, rated 9 on the Mohs scale. Red corundum is ruby; every other colour is sapphire. The most sought-after rubies are a pure to slightly purplish red.

Emerald is the May birthstone and the gem for 20th and 35th anniversaries. Ruby is the July birthstone and the gem for 15th and 40th anniversaries.

Yes. Every coloured gemstone we sell is natural and earth-mined, and every natural gemstone comes with our lifetime guarantee that it is genuine, or your money back. Lab-grown diamonds, such as our IGI-reported CVD diamond, are always clearly labelled lab-grown.

Natural stones, every treatment disclosed. We always tell you. Sapphires and rubies have standard heat unless the listing says unheated, and emeralds have minor oil unless it says no oil. Untreated stones are labelled clearly, and if an independent lab finds a treatment we did not disclose, you get a full refund.

Only when the listing names one (for example GIA, AGL or IGI). For other stones, independent testing can be arranged on request; please contact us before ordering.

No. Our loose gemstones are sold loose only; we do not offer a setting service. Message us for a free 15-minute stone consultation and we'll send exact measurements, photos and daylight video so your own jeweller can plan the setting.

Yes. Contact us with the stone you're looking at and we'll send a short daylight video, usually within a few hours.

Each listing names the origin where known, such as Sri Lanka (Ceylon), Madagascar, Thailand, Mozambique, Colombia and Zambia.

Yes: yellow sapphire (Pukhraj), blue sapphire (Neelam), emerald (Panna) and ruby (Manik). Some practitioners prefer unheated, untreated stones, and we describe every treatment clearly; we don't call heated or oiled stones Jyotish-grade and don't include glass-filled stones. Please consult a qualified Jyotish practitioner; we make no promises about any outcome. See Jyotish gemstones.

We sell gemstones for jewellery and enjoyment, not as investments, and we make no claims about future value.

Yes. Every piece is solid 925 sterling silver (92.5% silver, alloyed for strength), with nickel-free yellow gold, rose gold or rhodium plating.

The gold and rose gold finishes are plating over solid 925 silver, not solid gold. Our 18K pieces are solid 18K gold, and every product page says which metal you're buying.

The value is in the natural gemstone, not the base metal. Rising gold prices can make a gemstone piece many times more expensive because of the metal alone, so our silver line lets you pay for a real stone and good craftsmanship, not a gold markup.

Yes. The sapphires are natural and heat only, and the emerald is natural with minor oil only. The small diamonds on the zodiac necklaces are lab-grown (CVD) and labelled as such, and Gemini's stone is a genuine freshwater pearl.

No. Each bracelet holds one gemstone heart on a dainty chain, with no diamonds and no halo, so it layers well.

The chain adjusts to 6, 6.5 and 7 inch wrists, which fits most adult wrists, so you don't need her exact size.

Match the metal she already wears. Yellow gold plating is warm and classic, rose gold plating is soft (and makes pink sapphire glow), and white rhodium is bright and silvery.

September (blue or pink sapphire heart) and May (emerald heart). See our birthstone chart for every month's stone.

No. Each bracelet is sold individually, so you can choose one colour or stack two or three.

Solid 18K gold, 75% pure gold throughout, never plated, filled or vermeil. Plated, filled or vermeil pieces have only a thin gold layer that can wear through.

Yes. Mozambique rubies and Ceylon blue sapphires have standard heat, Zambian emeralds minor oil only, and the pink, yellow and orange sapphire hearts are natural sapphires. Every halo diamond is a natural diamond (most pairs VS clarity, F to G colour), never lab-grown or cubic zirconia. The Tahitian pearls are genuine, with undyed colour.

Yes. Any 18K piece can be viewed in Toronto by appointment. Email rohojewelstoronto@gmail.com to arrange a time.

Threaded posts with screw backs that lock in place, secure enough for everyday wear.

Sapphire for the 5th and 45th, ruby for the 15th and 40th, and emerald for the 20th and 35th.

Solid gold spheres set with 46 natural rubies or blue sapphires placed upside down (reverse-set), so the pointed undersides make a textured surface that catches light. The blue sapphire pair holds 4.8 ct of Madagascar sapphires.

A sphere of natural diamonds sits on the front of the lobe and a 13.4 mm genuine Tahitian pearl sits behind it, held by a screw back. The pair holds 130 natural diamonds, 1.02 ct in total.

The small pink sapphire heart studs and the simple 5 mm blue sapphire studs make a lasting first piece of fine jewellery.

No. Our 18K gold pieces are not remade once sold.

The constellation stars and glyph pavé are lab-grown CVD diamonds, which are real diamond grown in a lab, and we label them lab-grown. The birthstone at the brightest star is a natural gemstone, a genuine freshwater pearl for Gemini, and one natural earth-mined diamond for Aries.

Capricorn garnet, Aquarius amethyst, Pisces aquamarine, Aries natural diamond, Taurus emerald, Gemini genuine freshwater pearl, Cancer ruby, Leo peridot, Virgo blue sapphire, Libra opal, Scorpio topaz and Sagittarius tanzanite. See our birthstone chart.

The coin is 16.9 mm across and 2.5 mm thick, in solid 925 silver with thick yellow gold plating, rose gold plating or rhodium, all nickel-free.

Yes, a 16 inch cable chain with a 2 inch extender. The soldered bail also fits chains up to 3 mm.

The zodiac necklaces are on pre-order and ship mid-December 2026 from Toronto, with free worldwide shipping. We email you the day yours ships, and the usual returns apply.

The tropical zodiac. Sign dates can shift by a day from year to year, so double-check a birthday on the cusp.

Threaded charms fit only our snake bracelet. Screw-on stopper beads divide the chain into zones, so your charms stay in their section.

Our system for dangle charms: five to seven soldered station rings at fixed spacing on a rolo, paperclip or bangle bracelet. Each dangle charm has a small spring-gate clasp that clicks onto a station, so charms stay where you place them, don't bunch up and stay secure.

Yes. Dangle charms unclip from one station and click onto another whenever you like.

No. Nothing is charged when you save a design or reserve. Saved designs and reservations decide which charms and bracelets we make first.

Natural sapphires in several colours, rubies, emeralds and black onyx. Each charm page names the stone, any treatment and the carat weight, and every piece is stamped 925.

Birthstone charms for every month, zodiac charms for all twelve signs, initials, hearts, evil eyes, stars, moons and other symbols.

Yes. Every order is gift-wrapped free and comes with a handwritten card. Add your message in the cart note or at checkout, or reply to your order confirmation email with your message.

Find her month (or her child's) on our birthstone chart. Sapphire (September) and emerald (May) heart bracelets are the easiest gifts; ruby (July) is available in 18K gold studs.

Please order by November 30 for international addresses, December 10 for the USA and December 14 within Canada. If you have a deadline, contact us and we'll help.

Yes. Orders placed from November 1 to December 31 can be returned until January 31, so gifts are safe to buy early. The usual return conditions apply.

Yes, from 10 pieces, each in a gift box with a card. See corporate gifts or contact us for a quote.

Yes. Message us with the piece you're looking at and we'll send a short video of it on a hand and in daylight.

A first look at new stones, sapphire pairs, 18K gold jewelry and zodiac pre-orders before they go on the site, in about two emails a month. Join the list. Orders over CA$500 also get a free faster-shipping upgrade; see what comes with every order.

Every order ships the next business day (Monday to Friday) from Toronto, Canada, with free tracked worldwide shipping. Orders placed before 11 AM Toronto time usually ship the same day. Higher-value pieces are fully insured and need a signature on delivery.

For US orders, any duties or import taxes are collected by the carrier on delivery and paid by the buyer. Orders to other countries outside Canada may also be charged import duties or taxes on delivery, paid by the buyer. See shipping and duties.

Returns are accepted within 30 days of delivery, and orders placed from November 1 to December 31 can be returned until January 31. Items must be unworn, in their original packaging and condition (loose stones with any lab report, matched pairs together), and the buyer pays return postage. We don't offer exchanges. See our full return and refund policy.

Yes, within 24 hours of purchase. Contact us as soon as possible with your order number.

We start your refund to your original payment method as soon as we cancel an order or accept a return, and email you to confirm. Refunds usually appear within 5 to 10 business days, depending on your bank.

All major credit cards and the express payment options shown at checkout. Payments are processed securely, and we never see or store your card details.

In Toronto, Canada. Our pieces are designed in Toronto and every order is sold and shipped from Toronto.

Use the chat on this website or email rohojewelstoronto@gmail.com. We usually reply within a few hours.

Put it on after lotion and perfume, remove it before swimming or showering, wipe it with a soft or polishing cloth and store it in its pouch, away from other pieces.

Wipe it with a soft cloth. Avoid ultrasonic and steam cleaners and harsh chemicals, which can affect an oiled emerald and the plating.

No. Heat treatment is permanent. Sapphire and ruby rate 9 on the Mohs scale and handle daily wear well.

Gently: no ultrasonic or steam cleaning, no acids and no jeweller's torch. Tell your jeweller it is glass-filled before any work.

Put pearls on after perfume and hairspray, and wipe them with a soft cloth after wearing.