Most of our work happens long before a stone reaches the shop: hours at the sorting table, turning gems under daylight, matching parcels and setting aside the few that stop us. Here is a glimpse of what crossed that table this season.
Sorting a parcel of emeralds
Emeralds arrive in parcels, laid out in rows by size and shape. We go through them one by one, looking at colour, brightness and how the inclusions sit, and pull out stones that can be matched into pairs for earrings or stand alone as a centre stone. No two emeralds share the same inner garden, so every pick is a judgement call. Step cuts suit emerald especially well: the long, open facets show off saturated green rather than hiding it under sparkle.
Sapphire is more than blue
Sapphire comes in almost every colour except red (red corundum is ruby). Pink, lilac, violet and soft green sapphires are often called fancy sapphires, and they are some of our favourite stones to work with.
Pink, purple and green sapphires in emerald, oval, cushion, pear and round cuts, sorted into one box. Seen together, the subtle colour shifts between them become obvious.
Pastel sapphires in fancy geometric cuts: kites, shields, hexagons and elongated portrait shapes. Flat, open cuts like these are made for modern and stacked designs, and each one is a single, unrepeatable piece.
From loose stone to jewel
A pink heart-cut stone set in a yellow gold bezel on a fine chain. A coloured stone like this is where every piece starts: we choose the gem first, then design the setting around it.
The royal blue oval
And then there is classic blue. This oval sapphire has the deep, velvety royal blue most people picture when they hear the word sapphire, with bright flashes across the table as it moves in the light.
Blue cabochons, polished smooth instead of faceted, being sorted with tweezers. Cabochons show colour in a softer, glowing way and make beautiful bezel-set rings and pendants.
Ask us about any stone
Many of the stones in these photos are not listed yet. If something catches your eye, get in touch and we will send more photos, video and full details, including any treatment, before you decide. You can also browse what is available now in our sapphire and emerald collections.
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