Gemstones & Care

 

Choosing a gemstone is deeply personal, but it can also be bewildering. With so much choice, where to start?

Here’s our primer on choosing and caring for some of our most well-loved gemstones.

Coloured gemstone jewellery is beautiful, characterful and joyful! Coloured gemstones are categorised into either precious and semi-precious stones. Precious stones are considered the most rare, and therefore most valuable. In practice there are some semi-precious stones that can be as or more expensive than precious gems, such as aquamarine or tourmaline, but the distinction is generally accurate.

The three precious stones are ruby, emerald, and sapphire, and these are the coloured gems you’ll find most in our jewellery.

Rubies

Rubes are the stone of passion and love, thanks to their rich red hue. Rubies are durable, making them perfect for everyday wear and even engagement jewellery. They’re also the birthstone for July.

Emeralds

Emeralds are May’s birthstone, and known for their lush green colour. Symbolising loyalty and new beginnings, emeralds are slightly softer than other precious stones, so they require a little more care. For everyday and engagement jewellery they’re usually set in flush or demi-flush settings to protect their corners. An emerald’s inclusions, known as jardin (French for garden) are considered part of its charm.

Sapphires

Sapphires come in a spectrum of colours, the most popular and famous of these being blue. Blue sapphires come in a range of shades from cornflour to navy, all of which are popular choices for engagement rings. September’s birthstone is a symbol of sincerity and truth, and durable enough for everyday wear.

Most sapphires undergo heat treatment to enhance their colour, which is a standard and accepted industry practice. This permanent treatment is not affected by wearing or cleaning your jewellery, and does not detract from the stone’s value. Unheated sapphires are rare, and where a piece contains one we will supply certification.

Provenance

All our coloured gemstones are either antique/vintage or sourced from sustainable and ethical sources, thanks to our close relationships with trusted partners. You can find more details on our Ethics Page.

Caring for your gemstone jewellery

With the right care, your gemstone jewellery will last a lifetime or beyond.

Cleaning

Most gemstones can be cleaned using warm water, mild soap and a soft cloth. A soft toothbrush, such as a baby toothbrush, can be used to gently clean around settings and stones.

Always be gentle with your jewellery, and avoid harsh chemicals and ultrasonic cleaners, even those marketed for jewellery. Soft or brittle stones like opals and emeralds should never be cleaned with chemicals, heat or ultrasonic – they are delicate and could be damaged. Instead, clean with a mild soap solution and dry thoroughly afterwards.

Storage

Store your jewellery in a soft-lined box or pouch to prevent scratches. The box your piece comes in is perfect – we’ve carefully designed them to be luxurious homes for your jewellery!

Pearls should be stored flat and away from other jewellery, and necklaces should be laid out or hung to avoid tangles.

If you are putting your jewellery away for a longer period of time, clean them first to remove any oils that can cause discolouration.

Wearing

Remove your jewellery when doing activities that could damage the stones, such as gardening, cleaning, or exercise. Avoid contact with perfume and make-up, particularly with pearls, opals, turquoise and emeralds.

Choosing a diamond or coloured gemstone is all about discovering what resonates with you. We hand select all our coloured stones and only source from our trusted network of suppliers, so you can be assured of both their quality and provenance. Sourcing coloured stones is a great joy of ours. We love making discoveries, whether it's a trove of antique gems or a new supplier exploring sustainable and ethical mining. 

Wherever we have specific information to share about a gemstone, including treatment, origin and care, you’ll find it all detailed in the product description. From there, it’s a simple case of deciding what makes your heart beat faster. Is it a beautifully cut diamond, a characterful antique stone, or a vibrant coloured gem?

As always, if you need any help deciding we’re here to step in. Please get in touch with any questions and we’ll be on hand with expert intel and advice!