STONE EDUCATION
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Sugilite owes its name to Sugi Kenichi who first discovered it in 1944. The stone was later made famous by the discovery in the 1970s at the Wessels Mine in South Africa. Sugilite is among the rarest gems in the world. With the mine now closed and supplies extremely limited, gem-quality Sugilite often competes with natural diamond prices. This manganese-rich variety from the Wessels mine is responsible for Sugilite's modern association with the color purple.
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Amethyst was first named and revered in ancient Greece, its title -amethystos, meaning “not intoxicated” - reflecting the belief that it offered clarity and composure. Found today in regions from Brazil to Zambia, its distinctive violet hue arises from trace iron within quartz, transformed by the earth’s natural heat and radiation over millions of years.
Once as coveted as ruby or sapphire, it remains a stone of composure and depth, favored for its balance of color and light. -
Aquamarine was first discovered in Siberia in 1723. While ancient Romans and Greeks likely encountered the gemstone, the modern "discovery" that led to its widespread mining and use was in Siberia. Just like emerald, it’s considered a member of the beryl family. Aquamarine means “water of the sea,” a nod to its tranquil color. Once believed to protect sailors and calm stormy seas, aquamarine now graces high jewelry pieces with its tranquil ocean-blue glow.
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Mined since ancient Egypt and prized for its saturated, rhythmic bands of green, malachite has long held a place in both ornament and protection. Its rich color derives from copper, giving each cut its own fluid topography. In jewelry, the stone’s visual movement and depth make it an architectural element — sculptural rather than purely decorative. Fine malachite from the Congo and the Urals remains sought after for its balance of polish and pattern, offering a distinctive interplay between earth-born texture and refined form.
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Recognized as its own mineral in the 1700s, tourmaline is celebrated for its spectrum — an entire chromatic language within one family of stones. From verdant greens and deep rubellites to watermelon bi-color crystals, no two tourmalines express color in quite the same way. Its complexity and tonal range have made it a favorite among high jewelers seeking individuality over uniformity. The most prized stones exhibit both saturation and clarity, producing color that feels alive in changing light.
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Discovered in the late 1960s near Kenya’s Tsavo National Park, tsavorite brought new intensity to the garnet family. Its vivid green rivals emerald, but its brilliance and durability allow for bolder, more modern settings. In high jewelry, tsavorite’s clarity and radiance lend dimension to color compositions where emerald might appear softer or more opaque. Rare in sizes above five carats, the stone is valued for its scarcity and for the electric vitality of its hue.
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First mined on Egypt’s Red Sea island of Zabargad, peridot has adorned jewelry for over three thousand years. Its distinctive golden-green tone — created by iron within the crystal — gives the gem an unmistakable glow. The best peridots, sourced from Pakistan and Burma, display exceptional clarity and color saturation. Within high jewelry, peridot’s luminous warmth introduces an unexpected vibrancy, pairing especially well with contrasting stones such as citrine, tourmaline, or diamond.
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Coveted since Roman times and brought to prominence through the great Australian finds of the 19th century, opal is revered for its iridescent play-of-color — light fractured into shifting spectral patterns within a single gem. No two opals share the same internal landscape, making each one a natural one-of-one. In high jewelry, the finest crystal and black opals are chosen for the complexity and saturation of their fire — qualities that turn light itself into ornament.