1960s Antique finish silver plate Vintage Pin set with a 20x15mm unfoiled Sappharine oval.
The vintage glass sappharine stones were made in Germany in the 1940-1950s.
These rare and sought after Sappharines were made using toxic tin and other heavy metals in the 1950s to mimic the much older Saphirets. Due to this toxic process the production was stopped and they can never be made again.
Sappharine order stones are often mistakenly referred to as Saphirets. Saphiret glass was made in Gablonz, Czechoslovakia in the mid-19th century by mixing melted gold into sapphire-colored glass. The result was glass which looked brick red or brown, but reflected blue on the surface. Using gold eventually became too expensive to manufacture them, halting the production. This is one of the main reasons Saphirets are so desirable to collect today as there is a limited amount in circulation.
Sappharine stones were manufactured in Germany in an attempt to copy the earlier Czech Saphirets. As these different but equally exquisite stones are also no longer produced, they too have become very sought after.
Both change color and contrast in different lighting situations.
****Please note that because of the nature of these stones and how they reflect light and surroundings, they are extremely difficult to photograph. We have done our best to attempt to portray them as accurately as possible.
See the vintage glass stones here https://www.etsy.com/shop/DeLuxeVintageStones
Product code: Vintage 1960s Brooche with 20x15mm Sappharine oval order