The Inimitable Sapphires of Bayco, Kings of Corundums:

March 16, 2016

By Katerina Perez

3 min read

The sapphire is one of the most desirable precious stones in the world; it isn’t just everyday people like you and I but the stateliest of royals too who never fail to fall prey to its charms. I remember when I first truly felt the magic of these stones back in my gemmology classes, when I came to understand that there are sapphires and there are SAPPHIRES.

Even though you can find this stone in pretty much every brand’s jewellery, there are only a few companies in the world who can boast truly top quality sapphires. Bayco is one such brand, and you are now able to see the whole of their incredible sapphire collection at Baselworld.

The Inimitable Sapphires of Bayco

The Inimitable Sapphires of Bayco

Every year I visit the Hadjibay family’s salon at the Swiss exhibition and I am always surprised by just how many never-before-seen miracle sapphires they have in their collection. One year, Marco Hadhjibay, part of the third generation of the jewellery family, presents an arsenal including a tennis bracelet composed of same unusual colour green corundums, another year an impressive ring with a blue-grey stone that changes colour in different light or very rare large sapphire almost other-worldly in beauty. It seems like it is hardly an exaggeration to call Bayco the Kings of Sapphires.

Giacomo and Moris, part of the second generation, seem more like collectors of precious stones than owners of a jeweller business. Their unending love for gems and their expert knowledge of diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds has led to them constantly discovering new stones, each one rarer and of better quality than the ones they already own. I imagine they would keep all these new bejewelled finds for themselves if they didn’t have to sell what they already have in their inventory to pay for their new acquisitions. With their steadily growing selection of new sapphires, Giacomo and Moris, along with Moris’s sons, Marco and Manuel, who help to run the business, have continued to amaze their clients with spectacular new treasures.

The Inimitable Sapphires of Bayco - Monochrome collection ring with a 39.12 cts Ceylon sapphire

The Inimitable Sapphires of Bayco - Monochrome collection ring with a 39.12 cts Ceylon sapphire

At Baselworld last year, for example, they unveiled an inimitable diamond necklace with a 55cts oval Burmese sapphire in the centre, a stone which, with its size and the depth and uniformity of its colour, was truly one in a million. Bayco previously had a necklace with an even bigger oval sapphire, 66 cts, but since that was sold it has proven impossible to find anything of this size again; sapphires of superior quality upwards of 30 cts are an increasingly endangered species.

This year Bayco once again have something truly intriguing to present to us at Basel: sapphire jewels (among other stones of course) in a new artistic vein. Eschewing the classic approach, the Hadjibay family have created something more modern and elaborate; for example, a Clover ring with a natural, 8cts cushion-cut Ceylon sapphire and 5 cts of diamonds. The central stone in this ring is nestled above 11 cts of  blue sapphires paving precious metal.

The Inimitable Sapphires of Bayco - Monochrome collection ring with a 3.18 cts Ceylon sapphire

The Inimitable Sapphires of Bayco - Monochrome collection ring with a 3.18 cts Ceylon sapphire

Another design new to Bayco is a ring with a monochrome pattern of 14 cts Ceylon sapphire, whose central stone is fixed to the fine shank by four claws studded with royal blue corundum, the effect of which is to make the keynote sapphire look even larger. Exploring new design directions does not mean that Bayco have completely forgotten about timeless classics, however. Clients whose tastes are more traditional will be awed by the beauty of a platinum ring with a natural, unheated, 15 cts Ceylon sapphire whose charming deep blue hue is emphasised by the snow-white sparkle of two rows of pear and marquise-cut diamonds.

That is the last piece I am going to tell you about – we don’t want to reveal all our cards. Instead, I recommend you come see Bayco’s new jewels for yourself at Baselworld.

Bayco necklace with diamonds and a 55 cts sapphire that was presented at Baselworld in 2015

Bayco necklace with diamonds and a 55 cts sapphire that was presented at Baselworld in 2015

Photos are courtesy of Bayco. The one below is by Saira McLeod for katerinaperez.com

Devotion Collection by Fabergé: Jewellery Art in Bright Colours

continue reading

Couture Show 2025: The Top 10 Debutants Heading to Las Vegas 

The much anticipated Couture Show will return to Wynn Las Vegas from June 4-8, 2025, shining a spotlight on established design talent, new creatives, and international brands that are vying for attention on the global stage. Just like in previous years, I am focusing my attention on the debutants

by Katerina Perez

Designing the Future: Revealing the Winners of the Katerina Perez x Osmium Institute Design Contest

What a ride it has been, witnessing such pure creative energy and original thinking, especially with a material as rare and futuristic as osmium

by Katerina Perez

New Icons: The Latest Collections by Italian Micromosaic Master SICIS 

I was presented with two striking new collections – Icon and Colibrì – that offer different interpretations of the SICIS aesthetic. Below, I want to give you a closer look at these capsule suites and tell you more about the inspirations behind them

by Katerina Perez

Fabulous Fabrications: TAOS Presents a Trio of Watches Inspired by Couture Fashion

Occasionally, beautiful timepieces demonstrating exceptional Métiers d’Art will land on our virtual desks and result in a round-robin series of emails. In the hours after we received insights into the emerging Swiss brand TAOS, almost the entire team had seen the fabric-inspired dials of its latest creations, and we all agreed that an article was […]

by Sarah Jordan

A Century of Sparkle: Celebrating 100 Years of Art Deco at GemGenève

From May 8-11, 2025, visitors to GemGenève can immerse themselves in a showcase of antique and modern jewellery while also experiencing the innovative spirit of the 1920s and 1930s through a photographic lens. Here, I'd like to tell you more about this creative collaboration and introduce you to the brands taking part…

by Katerina Perez

Tailored Perfection: The Best Jewellery Looks of the Met Gala 2025

Not since 2003 has a Met Gala theme focused exclusively on menswear, so we had high hopes for this year’s attendees demonstrating the best of tailored suiting adorned with high jewels. Let’s take a closer look at some of the best ensembles of the evening…

by Sarah Jordan

Legacy of Love: The Dreamlike Jewels of Emirati Designer Mariyeh Ghelichkhani

Jewellery is a transmitter of memories and emotions through time, which is something that Dubai-based designer Mariyeh Ghelichkhani knows all too well. During our meeting in Dubai, we spoke about the importance of family, the sweetness of finding joy through creativity, and the ability to translate dreamy visions and deep feelings into wearable pieces…

by Katerina Perez

Celebrating Colour: 20 Uplifting Jewellery Creations by Lisa Nik

Whether you're craving a juicy mandarin garnet or an eye-catching bi-colour tourmaline, here are 20 joyful pieces that exemplify the Lisa Nik approach, as well as the inspiration behind them…

by Sarah Jordan

Watches and Wonders 2025: The Coolest Watch Novelties

With pastel pops, Pop Art influences, and playful twists on time itself, Watches and Wonders 2025 delivered a vibrant feast of creativity. Discover the fun new watches setting trends in Geneva this spring

by Rachael Taylor

White Hot: Achromatic Jewellery is Having a Moment

Let’s explore the revival of all white jewellery and discover why this look is universally complementary – and a great investment.  

by Rachael Taylor

Reinventing Royalty: The European-Inspired Luxury Behind Isabel Gemology 

I started 2025 with a series of articles titled ‘Jeweller of the Month’ to highlight the true talent among niche designers in the jewellery industry. For May, it is Isabel Delgado, the founder of Isabel Gemology, who I would like to shine the spotlight on.

by Katerina Perez

Watches and Wonders 2025: Eight of the Most Artful Dials 

From lovers kissing on a bridge to precious animals painted in enamel or gems, this year’s watch launches included timepieces with extraordinary dials that blur the line between watchmaking and wearable art.

by Rachael Taylor

Latest Stories

Add articles and images to your favourites. Just

Reinventing Royalty:The European-Inspired Luxury Behind Isabel Gemology

I started 2025 with a series of articles titled ‘Jeweller of the Month’ to highlight the true talent among niche designers in the jewellery industry. For May, it is Isabel Delgado, the founder of Isabel Gemology, who I would like to shine the spotlight on.

by Katerina Perez

Jewels Katerina Perez Loves

Continue Reading

Writing Adventures:Co-Authoring the Book

Paraiba: The Legacy of a Color

by Katerina Perez

Jewellery Insights straight to your inbox

Style Guide

By using this website, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. View our Privacy Policy for more information.