An ambitious, lavishly illustrated survey of a prized precious gem, sapphires. 

 This is the most ambitious book ever published on the sapphire. From Emperors and Empresses, Kings and Queens, Tzars and Tzarinas, Maharanis to Hollywood royalty, a stunning array of style icons are shown wearing their favorite sapphire jewelry, alongside classic images of sapphires in art, advertising, and fashion. The book also showcases sixty of the world’s most significant and renowned pieces of sapphire jewelry, including many previously unseen designs from royal collections, and exclusive insight into three major private collections. Historic creations—from Catherine the Great’s snuff box to Queen Victoria’s wedding brooch from Albert and Elizabeth Taylor’s Bulgari sugarloaf sapphire necklace—are represented alongside pieces from major modern jewelry houses, among them Cartier, Boucheron, Van Cleef & Arpels, Chaumet, Harry Winston, and Graff. Additionally, Sapphire offers practical guidance on what to look for in a quality gem.