Rainbow Riviera & Sapphires

• Gold version: solid 9k (375/1000), 14k (585/1000) or 18k (750/1000) gold, in white, yellow or rose gold; made to order in the length you choose
• Silver version: solid 925/1000 sterling silver, 5 layers of rhodium (white) or 18k gold plating (yellow), protecting against oxidation and corrosion, hypoallergenic
• Stones: lab-created sapphires grown by the Czochralski method, 4 × 6 mm oval cut, AAAA grade: vivid colors, transparent stones, no inclusions visible to the naked eye
• Setting: 4 prongs per stone, reinforced articulated links: the bracelet stays supple and follows the wrist
• Clasp: box clasp with a double figure-eight safety catch
• Width: about 4 mm
• Lengths: 15, 16.5, 18, 19, 20 or 21 cm
• Warranty: 2 years

The sapphires of the Rainbow Riviera are grown by the Czochralski process, the slowest and most precise growth method used for lab-created sapphire. It is named after the Polish chemist Jan Czochralski, who discovered it in 1916; it is also the method used to make the silicon crystals of electronic chips, laser crystals and the sapphire crystal glass of watches.

How does the crystal form?

1. Very pure aluminum oxide (the material sapphire is made of) is melted in a crucible, above 2,050 °C, with traces of chromium, iron or titanium that will give the color.
2. A small sapphire seed is placed on the surface of the melt, then drawn up very slowly, a few millimeters per hour, while rotating.
3. The sapphire forms layer after layer, in a controlled atmosphere, into a long, regular crystal from which the stones are then cut.

How is it different from flame-fused lab-created sapphires?

Most inexpensive lab-created sapphires on the market are made by flame fusion (the Verneuil process): an alumina powder falls through a very hot flame and the molten drops pile up in a few hours. This fast growth often leaves gas bubbles, curved growth lines and stress in the crystal. The much slower Czochralski process gives:

• purer stones: no bubbles or curved lines, clearer transparency;
• more even color, spread evenly throughout the stone: each shade of the gradient stays crisp and well matched to its neighbors;
• a crystal without internal stress: less risk of cracking during cutting and setting, sharper facets and a brighter polish;
• consistent quality from one stone to the next and from one bracelet to the next.

Tap the image below to enlarge it.

Measure your wrist just above the wrist bone with a soft tape measure (or a piece of string laid on a ruler), then add 1 to 1.5 cm for a classic fit, or 2 cm for a loose bracelet that slides over the hand.

The oval stones, set high, take up a little room inside the bracelet: if in doubt, choose the next length up. For another length, contact us.

• Take your bracelet off before swimming (pool or sea), sport and sleep, and avoid direct contact with perfume, creams and household products.
• Clean it with warm soapy water and a soft toothbrush, reaching under the stones, then dry it with a soft cloth. Avoid abrasive products, which would wear the plating of the silver version. Solid gold can be repolished by a jeweler.
• Store it flat in its box, away from moisture.
• After diamond, sapphire is one of the hardest gemstones (9 on the Mohs scale): it resists everyday scratches and its colors do not fade over time.

• Free shipping to France and Europe (home delivery or pickup point).
• Silver version, indicative delivery times in business days: France 6 to 9 days, Europe 6 to 12 days, rest of the world 6 to 22 days.
• Gold version, made to order in the length you choose: 2 to 3 weeks.
• The estimated delivery date of the version you choose is shown above the buy button.
• Piece in stock (shown above the buy button): shipped within 24 hours, delivered in 1 to 2 business days in France.
• Shipped in its gift box, with a tracking number sent by email.
• 2-year warranty.

What is a lab-created sapphire?

It is a sapphire created in a laboratory. It has the same chemical composition as natural sapphire (corundum, i.e. crystallized aluminum oxide), the same structure, the same hardness (9 on the Mohs scale) and the same luster. Only its origin is different: it is crystallized in a laboratory instead of being mined. The first industrial process was developed in 1902 by the French chemist Auguste Verneuil; the sapphires of the Rainbow Riviera are grown by the Czochralski process, a slower growth that gives purer crystals (see above).

Is a lab-created sapphire a real sapphire?

Yes, in the mineral sense: it is corundum, like natural sapphire, not an imitation in glass or cubic zirconia. A gemologist can only tell it apart from natural sapphire under a microscope or in a laboratory. We always call it a “lab-created sapphire” to state its origin clearly.

Where do the colors of sapphires come from?

Pure corundum is colorless. Traces of other elements give it color: chromium gives pink and red, iron and titanium give blue, iron alone gives yellow and orange. Sapphire therefore exists in almost every color, which makes it possible to create a full rainbow gradient on a single bracelet.

Lab-created or natural sapphire: what is the difference?

To the naked eye, none: same luster, same hardness, same durability over time. A lab-created sapphire costs much less, does not come from a mine and offers consistent colors, which makes it possible to match each shade of the gradient precisely. Gathering about thirty natural sapphires in matching colors on one bracelet would cost several thousand euros.

Do the colors fade over time? Can I wear it every day?

No, sapphire colors are stable: they fade neither in light nor over time. The bracelet can be worn every day. In solid gold, it does not oxidize or change color. In 925 silver, it is protected by 5 layers of rhodium or by 18k gold plating, which limit oxidation and suit sensitive skin; to keep the plating bright for a long time, follow the care advice above.

Is the gold Rainbow Riviera solid gold?

Yes. The gold version is solid 9k, 14k or 18k gold throughout, not plated silver or brass. It is made to order in the length and gold color you choose (white, yellow or rose), then delivered in 2 to 3 weeks.

Is the rainbow bracelet a good gift idea?

Yes. The rainbow evokes joy, optimism and diversity: the Rainbow Riviera can be worn on its own to bring color to a simple outfit, or with other, more understated bracelets. It is a much-appreciated gift for a birthday, a birth, an achievement or a celebration, and a piece often chosen to celebrate LGBT+ pride.

Are there other sapphire or moissanite bracelets?

Yes: the Mozaïque, a riviera bracelet in 925 silver with multicolored lab-created sapphires of various shapes, the French Riviera, the classic tennis bracelet in 925 silver and white moissanites, from 2 to 6.5 mm, and its French Riviera gold and lab-grown diamond version, from 1 to 10 carats.