Month: March 2021

Categories
Diamonds

Unusual Alternative Diamond Cuts The April Birthstone

Unusual Alternative Diamond Cuts

When most people imagine a diamond they summon up an image of a traditional round brilliant cut diamond, colourless and sparkly. We work we these remarkable stones everyday and whilst these may be very familiar to you, there are many unusual alternative diamond cuts that you may be less familiar with. Here are a selection of our favourites…

Polki Diamonds

Polki diamonds are an ancient style of uncut diamond originating in India in the Mughal Era. These beautiful stones are flatter like slices of diamond and have a wonderful elegant, delicate feel to them. They are often unique irregular shapes and can have beautiful inclusions reminiscent of nebulae or tree bark.

rough cut Polki diamond pendant
Polki diamonds, each 8mm across.
Unusual Alternative Diamond Cuts
Two-tone slices of diamond, each 20mm across.

Unusual Alternative Diamond Cuts: Old Cuts

Old Cut diamonds, also known as Old Mine Cut diamonds or Old European Cut diamonds, are an older style of diamond cut found in vintage and antique jewellery. These diamonds were often set in a way that attempted to make them look as round as possible. Once unset from their original mount, their true character is revealed. They are often in fact more cushion-shaped than round. We love to make the most of their fabulous rocky shapes in our organic carved rings, highlighting rather than concealing their unique characteristics. These designs are carved from a single piece of gold, for which we often use client’s own sentimental metal. If you have any old vintage diamond jewellery that you don’t wear anymore or is broken, why not make an appointment with our designer Rebecca to discuss remodelling them. Book an appointment here.

old cut diamond eternity ring Unusual Alternative Diamond Cuts: Carved Old Cut Diamond Ring Old Cut Diamond Curved Cluster earstuds

Uncut Diamonds and Rough Diamond Stacking Rings

We love to use all kinds of unusual diamonds in our stacking rings, from rose cut diamonds, to completely raw uncut diamonds, and old cut diamonds. Because of the organic nature of these stones they can even be mix and matched for a truly unique stack!

rough hammered diamond ring rough diamond and uncut diamond stacking rings Unusual Alternative Diamond Cuts rough diamond stacking rings Old Cut Diamond Carved Stacking Ring

Categories
Aquamarine jewellery

Aquamarine Jewellery The March Birthstone

Aquamarine Jewellery The March Birthstone

Aquamarine hues can range from blueish green, blue-green, greenish blue, to deep blue, and its tones can vary from very light to moderately dark. In Western cultures, due to its colour and name, it has a folklore strongly connected to the sea. Here’s a selection of the many varied looks of Aquamarine Jewellery The March Birthstone.

 

 

Stunning as a solitaire contemporary engagement or dress ring:

Aquamarine Jewellery March BirthstoneAquamarine and platinum birthstone ringContemporary unusual Aquamarine Birthstone Ring

Mixed with diamonds in platinum for a classic multi stone ring or eternity

 

Aquamarine Diamond Art Deco Inspired Engagement RingUnusual Diamond and Aquamarine Eternity RingSquare Aquamarine Diamond bubbles engagement ringAquamarine in Jewellery

 

Mixed with multi coloured gemstones in fun stacking rings and pendants

Edged diamond aquamarine bubbles cluster ringMulti Coloured Sapphire Stacking Ringbespoke unusual aquamarine zavorite bubbles cluster ringrecycled old cut diamond aquamarine sapphire bubbles pendant

 

Giant included aquamarine cabochons make fabulous cocktail rings

gold aquamarine wrap dressGiant Aquamarine RingAquamarine Pebble cairn Dress ring

 

Blue Topaz is a less expensive gemstone with some shades resembling aquamarine. Some shades are more electric than you would expect of aquamarine like this swiss blue topaz stacking ring. Blue topaz tends to be heat treated where as Aquamarine is not. Pale shades or included material is less expensive than the stronger colours.

Redesigned Aquamarine Diamond Giant Cocktail Ring

Contact our designer to select you a beautiful aquamarine to view as a starting point to creating your own handmade bespoke Aquamarine Jewellery The March Birthstone. Book your appointment here

A little history:

Aquamarine has been used as jewellery for at least 3000 years and is referenced in Sumerian, Egyptian, Greek and Roman writings. The Greeks called it the sailor’s stone and The Roman philosopher Pliny suggested ‘the lovely aquamarine . . . . seems to have come from some mermaid’s treasure house’. In those days it was not called aquamarine but ‘sea-green beryl’ and in some ancient texts it was one of the seven sacred stones taken to sea to ensure a safe return.

Pricing and origin:

Aquamarine can be found in fairly large sizes but it is color and clarity that make the price. Cutters remove the blemished or impure parts of the stone to create a smaller, strongly coloured stone. A small transparent stone of saturated deep blue will be worth a stone twice its size if it is pale with inclusions.

Although Brazil was once the prime source of the valuable Santa Maria aquamarine those mines have been exhausted and now it is only colour that really determines the value not where the gemstones come from. So long as they possess that strong blue colour they can be mined in Madagascar, Burma or Colorado! Original documented gems with good colour from Siberia or Brazil are highly valued.