Navneet Gems Launches Salt-and-Pepper Sapphires
Sourced from Tanzania, the stones feature a unique hematite inclusion.

The sapphires’ color distinction comes from visible inclusions in the stone, similar to salt-and-pepper diamonds.
They are sourced globally with notable deposits in Australia and Sri Lanka, said the Thailand-based manufacturer, but those from Tanzania have a similar color profile to Montana sapphires and a clear black inclusion from hematite minerals inside the gem.
“Salt-and-pepper teal sapphires featuring eye-visible pepper inclusions are exclusively found in Tanzania,” said Navneet Agarwal, sales and marketing manager of Navneet Gems & Minerals.
The manufacturers’ offering is comprised of 100 to 150 singles stones, both calibrated and fancy shapes.
The gemstones range between 0.5 and 2 carats and are available in commercial and finer qualities. They come in various colors including yellow, green, and teal.
Agarwal sees the inclusions as unique characteristics of the stone, rather than undesirable flaws, citing copper inclusions seen in some Brazilian Paraíba tourmalines and zircon crystals that can appear in Sri Lankan spinel.
“These delicate speckles of black and gray in sapphires serve as unique markers of their growth and origin,” he said.
“Typically, inclusions weaken a stone when originating from within. However, a single stunning pepper inclusion can enhance the stone's aesthetic appeal without compromising its structural integrity.”
The manufacturer said it seeks to utilize all qualities of gemstones from a deposit.
“From a sustainability standpoint, if we go by this standard that inclusions decrease the value of the stone, most of the rough mined would be rejected. We strongly feel this is a huge waste of resources, time, and effort,” said Agarwal.
Agarwal adds, “It is precisely these imperfections that add to their striking beauty and value.”
The increasing value of ethical sourcing to modern buyers is generating an appreciation for previously overlooked gemstone variants and a shift in the conventional valuation of gemstones, said Navneet Gems & Minerals.
The company said maintaining consistent supply in Tanzania has been a challenge in the past, but it has material for now.
“In 2024, everyone is searching for something distinctive—something that can be quantified and sold in larger quantities consistently. We have sourced enough material directly from the mines, which can be sold for several years as we want to provide our clients consistent supply. What happens afterwards would not be in our hands, but depends on how much the earth is producing,” said Agarwal.
Tanzania, with its active government participation in promoting sustainability in its gemstone industry, has potential to establish an ethical mine-to-market chain, according to Navneet Gems.
The company said it is also “committed to addressing the challenge of reporting the full chain of custody, anticipating a rising demand for this transparency feature.”
Founded by Suresh Agarwal in 1993, Navneet Gems & Minerals is led today by his son Navneet Agarwal and headquartered in Bangkok.
The Latest

The company plans to raise the prices of select watches to offset the impact of tariffs.

Between tariffs and the sky-high cost of gold, designers enter this year’s Las Vegas shows with a lot of questions and few answers.

Designed by founder Renato and his daughter Serena Cipullo, it showcases a flame motif representing unity and the power of gathering.

More shoppers are walking out without buying. Here’s how smart jewelers can bring them back—and the tool they need to do it right.

However, the tariffs remain in effect in the short term, as an appeals court has stayed the U.S. Court of International Trade’s decision.


The pop icon is one step closer to launching her “B Tiny” jewelry collection, a collection she first began posting about last fall.

Sponsored by Stuller

Gain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.

GemText AI uses artificial intelligence to generate tailored product titles, descriptions, and tags with jewelry-specific language.

The 3,300-square foot location is the jeweler's largest store in North America.

Aging and with myriad health issues, none will serve time for their roles in robbing the billionaire celebrity at gunpoint in 2016.

The WNBA team received rings imbued with meaning, from leaf motifs and its Liberty torch to the number of diamonds used.

A longtime executive at RDI Diamonds, Rickard has served on the JBT board for the past five years.

The two organizations have signed an affiliation agreement that’s expected to be finalized in the coming weeks.

The platinum and diamond watch is part of Sotheby’s upcoming Important Watches sale.

Recovered in Mozambique, “The Kat Florence Lumina” was part of Bonhams’ Hong Kong jewelry auction held last week.

Get a taste of the delicious candy-like gemstones in this Amanda’s Style File.

JSA’s Scott Guginsky provided a list of nine security measures jewelers should observe while locking up for the long weekend.

From Lau’s “Love of a Kind” series, the engagement ring was inspired by the moon and holds a different meaning depending on how it is worn.

The lab has adjusted the scale it uses for nacre grading.

Sponsored by GCAL by Sarine

David Walton will serve three years’ probation after an incident in a hotel bar led to the death of West Virginia jeweler David Ettinger.

The retailer also provided an update on how the tariffs situation in the U.S. is affecting its business.

The family-owned jeweler in Great Falls, Virginia, will be celebrating its golden jubilee with a year’s worth of events.

The nonprofit elected five judges who will decide the winners of its design competition.

This year’s edition includes articles on the favorite tools of notable designers, evaluating when to outsource production, and more.

The jeweler’s high jewelry collection features extraordinary gemstones, like a 241.06-carat emerald and the world’s fourth-largest spinel.