Red has an association with passion, warmth, devotion and cheerfulness which is possibly why it is one of the most frequently used colours in both antique and contemporary jewellery. So this month’s colour kaleidoscope is the colour red. If we look at our gemstone family tree, there are lots of red stones out there...
This month I am returning to the colour kaleidoscope to look at one of my favourites – pink! The colour can range from shell pinks to the hot pink tones and added into the mix this month I am including rose gold. In Japan pink is the colour of good health and life and...
This month’s colour kaleidoscope takes a look at the blues! With soft pale shades, vibrant turquoises and the watery sea blues from a whole range of gemstones, whose beautiful colours draw us towards the sunny days ahead. This month’s birthstone is Aquamarine so I have to start with this pretty aquamarine and diamond ring...
February brings a glimmer a colour, with purple crocuses scattered across the lawn and the tiny violets hidden amongst the moss. So I am going to start this year by looking at the kaleidoscope of colours available to jewellers and with that said what better way to celebrate this month by looking at the...
This month we take a look at other greatly loved motifs used in jewellery design. Every year jewellers create variations on natures theme and none more so than insects, birds and butterflies that continue to inspire artists past and present. Butterflies were by far the most popular insect; they were featured on tiny pins...
There is one gemstone that produces the most wonderful optical effects and is without doubt a miracle of nature. Prized for its play of iridescent colours which change like a kaleidoscope when the stone moves it is Opal, the birthstone for October The ancient Latin name for opal was ‘Opalus’ derived from the...
As I write this month’s article it seems fitting that I have a beautiful panoramic sky above which is reminiscent of the all the sparkling colours of sapphire, the birthstone for September. In the past sapphires were known as the gems of the soul as they represented purity and mirrored the blue of heaven....
The birthstone for July is the glorious red gemstone, ruby. With its rich red colour ruby has always been associated with, passion, warmth, red hearts and valentines. As well as being July’s birthstone we also use ruby to celebrate both the 40th and 15th wedding anniversaries. With its hardness and bright lustre...
A few years ago I visited an exhibition called the Cheapside Hoard. One particular exhibit, a 350 year old watch, stood out amongst all the others. Set into a carved Colombian emerald and cut from an emerald prism it had been discovered along with other treasure hidden under some floorboards by workmen centuries later! ...
I can remember as a little girl I was fascinated by an Amethyst however it was not a piece of jewellery but as an amethyst crystal that captured my attention. In those days my father was still running our original shop in Market Street where he used a variety of crystals as displays and...