In the West and in the East, in spirituality and in the lab, the cosmos is within us.  Here, Cartier and Van Cleef, Edmond Halley and Jodie Foster (yes, Jodie Foster) come together as we remember: "We are made of star-stuff. We are a way for the universe to know itself".  So come and star gaze. Watch as the cosmos reaches down to us and reemerges transformed into precious adornments, each one a story about our place in that awesome and humbling night sky. Enjoy the finale of Season 1 of the Starstuff Stories. Enjoy the Celestial Collection.

"Gold is the most precious of all commodities; gold constitutes treasure, and he who possesses it has all he needs in this world, has also the means of rescuing souls from purgatory, and restoring them to the enjoyment of paradise", said Christopher Columbus in a letter to the Catholic Monarchs of Spain. Let us follow Columbus, and others who came after him, deep into a blue-green world of legend and half-forgotten gods. But gold meant very different things to very different people: to the Europeans, what was scarce was valuable, gold was scarce, so gold was valuable. But to the Mesoamericans, what was scarce was meaningful; gold was scarce; so gold was meaningful. The Gold Collection is a search for meaning. The sun god follows, around the circle of the universe, the eternal serpent’s path through the cosmos. In this ancient world, meanings abound…

Cartier, Fabergé, Tiffany & Co; Spanish Monarchs, Napoleon Bonaparte, and British Colonies in southern Africa; and galaxy-sized fireworks displays in deep space... The first collection in "The Starstuff Stories" tells the tale of how an unremarkable discovery in a river in Colombia, not only inspired some of the most extraordinary jewellery-making in the last 150 years, but even led to profound questions about the universe itself...    The astronomer Carl Sagan famously said “The cosmos is within us. We are made of star-stuff. We are a way for the universe to know itself”.    Is jewellery, perhaps, one of the most elegant expressions of this knowing, of Sagan's 'cosmic introspection'? 

The word ‘diamond’ comes from the ancient Greek word ‘adamas’, meaning unconquerable or invincible, a meaning that it has gained due to the stones' sheer strength. It is the birthstone for April, as well as the commonly given gift for the 60th and 75th wedding anniversaries, symbolising an unbreakable bond and the shared will to move through time together.

The garnet appears to have multiple sources vying to take credit for the origins of its name, however in ancient times it was called something else entirely. The Romans, and most notably Pliny the Younger, used the term ‘carbunculus’, and the Greeks ‘anthrax’, both referring to the burnt coals and glowing embers which the red stones resembled. “The Garnet is a red gem, but not like the Ruby, its red is much more like that of a flame… If correctly cut and polished, it will reveal all its beauty and perfection.” - Aristotle, circa 322 B.C.

‘Whenever you touch a Topaz, it touches you. It awakens a gentle fire, like wine awakens in grapes.’ - Pablo Neruda. Topaz is a stone whose story crosses geology, myth, opulence, and imagination. Whether prized for its brilliance or admired fir its supposed powers, topaz continues to captivate collectors, storytellers, and wearers alike. 

A gemstone as versatile and changeable as the month it represents, tourmaline acts as a powerful reminder that balance can be found in conflict, beauty can be multi-faceted, and that strength can come in many forms. From rich reds to pastel pinks and peach colours, intense emeralds to vivid yellows and deep blues, the breadth of this gemstone's colour is unmatched. And it's not just aesthetically impressive, but scientifically too...

Known to Christians as the ‘Stone of Destiny’, believed by the Persians to be the reason why the sky is blue, and cherished by royalty from Charlemagne to Queen Elizabeth II, it seems the sapphire is a gemstone full to the brim with significance that that endures both in historical lore and contemporary symbolism. And if science is more your bag, we’ve got plenty of that to explore too…

“No matter what anyone says or does, my task is to be emerald, my colour undiminished.” Traced all the way back to 4000 BC where they were traded in the markets of Babylon, the emerald is a gemstone full of science, history, and (we’d argue most importantly) legend. Adored by Cleopatra, treasured by the Spaniards discovering the New World, and credited with inspiring quite possibly the most iconic gem cut there is, there’s a whole lot that we don’t know about these these little natural beauties. Let’s learn more together…

First documented by Chinese historians in 2206 BC, pearls have captivated humanity for thousands of years with their natural perfection and beauty. Relished by royalty from Cleopatra to Queen Victoria, these glorious little wonders of nature are unique in the respect that they are created by a living organism, rather than formed beneath the earth’s surface. However, just like other treasured gemstones, pearls are filled with science, history and curious lore which you can explore with us here...

The March birthstone derives its name from two Latin words: aqua, meaning 'water', and marina meaning 'of the sea'. The Romas believed these prized bright blue-green gems were the work of Neptune, that they fell from the treasure chests of mermaids... and the Greeks attributed them to Aphrodite herself. Continuing our Gemstones series, Anna investigates the science, history and lore of aquamarine.

The February birthstone was long believed to protect against drunkenness, and worn by a famous Christian martyr to advertise illegal marriages. Whether you're a gemstone enthusiast or new to the world of precious stones, this post explores the science, history, and very peculiar lores of amethyst - the Queen of Purple gems.

A short guide to paste gemstones including: what they actually are, the history behind their development, and their use in jewellery. From ancient times to modern, imitation gemstones have been fashioned from glass and similar materials. Whether designed to deceive or impress, they certainly never fail to delight.

Opals come in myriad colours and forms, and have a strange and fascinating history stretching back to antiquity. But are they, as legend has it, 'cursed'? We explore the history, lore, and science behind these most 'precious of stones'.