2.25 CT Oval Sapphire Necklace in 14kt Yellow Gold

This sapphire flower necklace is a one-of-a-kind piece in 14kt yellow gold, built around eight oval blue sapphires set as the petals of a flower. A round diamond sits at the heart of the bloom, baguette diamonds fan out above and below it, and sweeping leaves of pavé diamonds reach out to either side. It hangs on a yellow gold box chain, and what follows describes the exact piece you will see in our Boca Raton showroom.

Eight oval sapphires set as a flower

The center of the design is a ring of eight oval sapphires, each about 0.25 carats, for roughly 2 carats of sapphire in total. They are set with their long axis pointing outward, so together they read as the petals of a flower opening around a single diamond.

The color is a deep, saturated blue, the shade most people picture when they think of sapphire. The Gemological Institute of America describes the most valued sapphires as a strong, pure blue that is neither too light nor so dark that it turns inky. Matching eight stones to the same tone is harder than finding one good one, and it is what makes this sapphire flower necklace look calm and even rather than patchy.

Sapphire is corundum, and it sits at 9 on the Mohs hardness scale, second only to diamond. That makes it one of the most practical colored gems for jewelry you intend to wear often. A pendant takes knocks from desks, seatbelts and countertops, and sapphire shrugs them off far better than most colored stones.

Each oval is faceted, not cabochon, so the stones return light instead of simply glowing. Because the eight ovals face slightly different directions, the flower flashes blue from almost any angle as you move.

A sapphire and diamond flower pendant, piece by piece

What turns a ring of blue stones into a sapphire and diamond flower pendant is the diamond work around it. A round brilliant diamond sits at the center of the bloom, where it catches the eye first and makes the blue around it look deeper.

Above and below the flower, ten baguette diamonds of about 0.05 carats each are set in fanned rows. Their long, step-cut facets give a flash of light that is different from the sparkle of a round stone, and they frame the flower top and bottom like a pair of brackets.

To either side, curving leaves are set with small pavé diamonds, sixty-four round diamonds of about 0.012 carats each in our records. Together the diamonds come to approximately 1.25 carats and are recorded as SI1 clarity, which means any inclusions are small and not something you would notice when the piece is worn.

The overall effect is a sapphire and diamond flower pendant with real movement: blue at the center, white light radiating outward, and warm gold behind everything. Up close it reads as a single designed piece, not a stone with accessories added.

Why a yellow gold sapphire necklace works

The mounting is 14kt yellow gold, which is 58.5 percent pure gold alloyed for strength. Blue and yellow sit opposite each other on the color wheel, so a yellow gold sapphire necklace makes the sapphires look bluer and the gold look richer. It is a combination with a long history in fine jewelry for exactly that reason.

14kt gold is also a sensible choice for a detailed piece like this. It is harder than 18kt, which matters for the many small prongs and settings holding the petals, baguettes and pavé leaves. Yellow gold needs no rhodium plating, so its color never wears away.

The chain is a yellow gold box chain, made of small square links that lie flat and resist kinking. It suits a pendant with some width, because the flat links keep the pendant sitting square rather than twisting.

A yellow gold sapphire necklace also pairs easily with what you already own. It layers with yellow gold chains and sits comfortably beside gold earrings, watches and bracelets.

How this sapphire flower necklace wears

This sapphire and diamond flower pendant is wider than it is tall, so it sits flat across the base of the throat rather than dangling. That makes this sapphire flower necklace a natural match for crew necks, open collars and scooped necklines, where it fills the space without overwhelming it.

It works for evening wear, but it is not only an evening piece. Because sapphire is so durable and the design is compact, it is equally at home with a blouse at the office or a simple dress at lunch.

We will fit it on you in the showroom so you can see exactly where the pendant sits against your neckline. If you are unsure about chain length, ask us to measure it with you; a small change moves the flower from the collarbone to just above a neckline.

An oval sapphire cluster necklace, and why clusters work

Technically this is an oval sapphire cluster necklace: several smaller stones grouped to create the impression of one larger shape. Clusters have been a favorite of fine jewelers for generations because they deliver more color and more sparkle for the budget than a single stone of the same overall size.

A single fine blue sapphire of 2 carats costs considerably more than eight well-matched quarter-carat stones, and it gives you one point of light rather than eight. An oval sapphire cluster necklace like this spreads the blue across a wider area, which is why it reads so strongly from across a room.

Clusters also forgive more in wear. If a single stone in a solitaire is chipped, the whole piece suffers. In a cluster, any one stone can be checked, tightened or replaced at the bench without changing the design.

A September birthstone necklace with meaning

Sapphire is the birthstone for September, and GIA's guide to the September birthstone covers its long association with loyalty, wisdom and royalty. That makes this a natural September birthstone necklace for someone who would like more than a small single stone on a chain.

Sapphire is also a traditional gift for the forty-fifth wedding anniversary, and for many couples it stands for faithfulness. A flower of eight sapphires is a meaningful way to mark a milestone.

Because the color is so classic, a September birthstone necklace in sapphire does not date. It is the kind of piece that is worn for decades and then handed down.

How to judge a sapphire necklace in person

Start with color. In an oval sapphire cluster necklace, look for all eight stones to match: the same depth of blue, with none noticeably lighter, darker or greener than the rest. Even color across the petals is the sign of careful matching.

Next, look at the stones in more than one light. Good blue sapphire stays blue in daylight, warm indoor light and cool store lighting. Some material turns grayish or overly dark under warm bulbs. We are happy to take the piece to the window so you can see it in daylight.

Then look at the diamonds. The center diamond and baguettes should be bright and clean to the eye, and the pavé leaves should sparkle evenly without dark patches where stones are missing or loose.

Finally, look at the workmanship. Check that every petal is held by even prongs, that the baguettes sit level in their rows and that the back of the pendant is finished as carefully as the front. That is where a well-made yellow gold sapphire necklace separates itself from a mass-produced one.

Sapphire compared with other blue gemstones

Sapphire is not the only blue gem, and it helps to know where it sits. Tanzanite is a violet-blue and softer, at around 6.5 on the Mohs scale, so it needs more care. Blue topaz is inexpensive and bright but lighter in tone and softer. Aquamarine is a pale, sea blue rather than a deep one.

Sapphire gives you the deepest, most classic blue with the durability to wear it every day. The International Gem Society gives a good overview of how sapphire compares with other blue stones.

Choosing a sapphire flower necklace as a gift

A sapphire flower necklace is one of the easier fine jewelry gifts to get right. It does not depend on a ring size, blue suits almost every skin tone, and a flower motif is feminine without being fussy. The questions worth asking are simple: does the person wear yellow gold, and do they prefer a piece that sits close to the neck or one that hangs lower?

If they already wear yellow gold, a yellow gold sapphire necklace will sit naturally with the rest of their jewelry. If it is a September birthday, the stone carries its own meaning, and a September birthstone necklace at this level will not be mistaken for an afterthought.

We are glad to help you decide. Bring a photo of what they usually wear, and we will tell you honestly whether this piece suits them or whether something else from the case would be the better choice.

Flower motifs in fine jewelry

Flowers are among the oldest designs in jewelry, and the cluster flower in particular has been made by fine jewelers for well over a century. Set in gold with a colored center or colored petals, it was a favorite in the mid twentieth century and has never really gone out of style.

The appeal is easy to see. A flower gives a group of small stones a clear shape, so the eye reads one bloom rather than a scatter of gems. In a sapphire and diamond flower pendant like this one, the blue petals, white diamond center and diamond leaves each play a role, and the design holds together from across a room.

Flower designs also age well. Because they are not tied to one decade's fashion, a piece like this looks as right with modern clothes as it would have fifty years ago, which is a large part of why they are passed down.

Caring for a sapphire flower necklace

Clean your sapphire flower necklace with warm water, a drop of mild soap and a soft brush, working gently into the pavé leaves where dust collects. Rinse and dry with a lint-free cloth. Our jewelry care guide goes through the process step by step.

Store the necklace on its own, ideally flat in a lined box or pouch. A box chain should be laid straight rather than coiled tightly, and keeping it apart from other pieces stops the diamonds from scratching softer jewelry.

Put it on last and take it off first. Perfume, hairspray and lotion leave a film that dulls both the sapphires and the diamonds, and a necklace worn after getting dressed stays brighter for longer.

Bring it in once a year and we will clean it professionally and check every prong at no charge. On a piece with this many small stones, a loose setting is something you want found at the bench rather than discovered at home.

Appraisal, documentation and what you receive

Every sapphire necklace at this level leaves with a written appraisal describing the metal, the stones, the measurements and a stated replacement value for insurance. That document is what your insurer will ask for, and it is worth updating every few years as gold and gem prices move. Our jewelry appraisals page explains how we do it.

You can see our full range of necklaces alongside this one, and our diamond and gemstone education pages set out how grading actually works. If you would like a piece altered, or something built around a stone you already own, we do that too through our design service.

See this sapphire flower necklace in Boca Raton

Photographs of blue stones are unreliable. Screens push blue toward purple or black, and a cluster of eight sapphires looks different in daylight than under a display lamp. A piece like this is worth seeing in person, which is why we would rather you came in and looked at it than bought it sight unseen.

David Stern Jewelers has been in business for over 40 years, family owned since 1970, and the showroom is at 21073 Powerline Rd #37, Boca Raton. We are open Monday to Friday from 9:30am to 5:30pm and Saturday from 10:30am to 4:30pm. Call 561-994-3330 and we will have the piece waiting, or book an appointment for a quieter time.

If this particular piece is not quite right, tell us why. A single larger sapphire, white gold instead of yellow, a longer chain: with a piece like this the specification is a starting point, and we would rather find you the right thing than sell you the nearest thing.

Common questions about this sapphire flower necklace

One last practical note. Because this is a single piece rather than stock, it can sell on any given day, and we do not hold items without a deposit. If you have seen this sapphire flower necklace here and intend to come in, a phone call first will confirm it is still in the case and save you the trip if it is not.