All Shield Stone Jewelry items sold on this website are Authentic SHIELDSTONE CORPORATION Jewelry. Designed and Patented by David South, each Shield Stone Gem is expertly cut, faceted, and exquisitely machine and hand polished by Master Gem Cutters. Because of the incredible skill the SHIELDSTONE design takes to execute, they are quite rare. The Gemstones are cut from "Spinel". Spinel is nearly as hard as sapphire and is available in most any color. This makes it perfect to offer all the "Birthstone Colors" and nearly any color of the rainbow with consistent quality.The Gem is hard enough to take a really fine polish and the durability has proven to be quite impressive. Each SHIELDSTONE Gemstone is gauranteed.See the "Policies and Procedures" page. In no way does Shield Stone Corporation represent the Sapphire colored gemstone as a Genuine, Natural Sapphire. This same discalimer applies to every color and inference of gemstone and/or birthstone color on this website and any legitimate SHIELDSTONE CORPORATION printed materials.