Amethyst Gemstones
As I was sifting through this packet of purple gems in the back streets of Jaipur, on the hunt for something else, this packet of oval, faceted, African amethyst gemstones...
A Day in the life of a Gem Hunter
That’s a wrap on my last gem hunt in the Pink City, Jaipur. Six full weeks of sourcing, designing, making. More designing, more sourcing, more making. Tweaking. Worrying. Scrapping. Starting again. Thinking. Visioning. Forecasting. Hoping. Dreaming. Calculating. Ahhh, the creative cycle goes on and on and then back around. I must remember to be more in the moment, that is where it is at and where sanity lies.
It is ‘eyeball-hot’ heat here in the city today. Almost too hot to be here now which makes the end of my gem hunt an easier, happy close. I will miss the madness of North Indian culture and how much my gem hunts here bring me and my passion so alive. I have had my magpie fill, until next year my Pink City friend.
Jaipur Factory Lapidary Cutters
This is where it happens people. Look at these awesome lapidary craftsmen, hand cutting ruby, sapphire, emerald and green onyx on their spinning wheels. Such skill is involved in hand...
Butterflies
My latest swoon – hand carved, multicoloured tourmaline butterfly wings. I have got to stop sourcing more treasure! These are true 'one off' pieces of treasure. The craftsmanship and beauty of...
Sun Stone
Sun Stone. I am so happy I finally found some! And such great quality too. Just look at that fire! Sun stone is one of my favourite gemstones - I...
Sian's Blue Sapphires
Today I have been cycling around the Pink City - much quicker to hunt on a bike, and yes - ever so slightly dangerous too. Well. It's crazy dangerous -...
Rutile Quartz
Look at these stunningly attractive rutile quartz, in black and gold. With a nice little rainbow moonstone number at the bottom. Just when I think I've had my fill, and...
Rough Watermelon Tourmaline
Just holding a thousand carats of rough, watermelon tourmaline out of the gem factory window. They handled it pretty well. Love the element of trust here, or rather their trust...
Rough Pink Tourmaline
Struck gold. I have been on the hunt for baguette cut, pink tourmaline. Couldn't find any. But I have just found this bad girl, rubellite pink tourmaline in the rough. Ready...
Rough Labradorite
Killer quality, rough labradorite. Just look at the fire on it! I am in heaven. Not even cut or polished and that peacock blue is insane. I love labradorite -...
Rose Cut Diamonds
Sat in 40°C degree heat, in Jaipur, sifting through these stunning packets of rose cut diamonds, my eyes popping, my heart feeling, my mind ticking away about what this design...
Pink Tourmaline Pendant
Here is my pink tourmaline pendant that I made for myself. Hanging off thousands of carats of rough tourmaline straight from the ground. Brazilian tourmaline, watermelon tourmaline and congo tourmaline....
Phoenix Wings
I love pretty and beautiful things... particularly unique, one-off pieces. I came across these beauties in the gem cutting factory and had to snap them up. Hand carved, bi-colour, pink,...
Peridot Empress
I am experimenting with different coloured gemstones for the Peridot Empress Ring. Here, I am holding the first samples of these exquisite, hand cut blue topaz gemstones. I absolutely adore this...
Sea Green Tourmaline
A very sweet and exquisite 4.95 carats of sea green tourmaline. It is on the cusp of being a paraiba, a rare type of tourmaline. My dealer is sending her...
Ethiopian Opals
Ethiopian Opals. What absolute corkers. Total whoppers. I didn't ask how many carats, I was too sucked in to their incredible display of Northern Lights. This is what I love...
Me and Raj
Myself and Raj hitting the Pink City on a Saturday night to look for my special signature chain. He made me wear this ridiculous pink helmet so I made him...
Gem Factory Boys
Me, geeking it up in my glasses on my gem hunt, stood on top of a family run gem cutting factory, in Jaipur. Three brothers run this place. I met...
Kyanite
And so it starts. After three weeks gem hunting, getting straight to the source on my whoppa magpie hunt, it's finally time to sit and play with what I have...
Jaipur Princess Necklace
Here I am sketching the Jaipur Princess Necklace on the very gem dealer's pad where I hand selected each gemstone for the design. I decided on a lovely colour combination...
Bi-Colour Green Tourmaline
What inspires me most in my job? Well, I think that's obvious, it is gemstone. I just love them. Just look at this bi-colour green tourmaline which is a whopping...
Congo Pink Tourmaline
Look at this utter beauty. Yes, I'm back in the gem factory perving on pink tourmaline... again! This beauty is from The Congo. She is a bi-colour beaut of a...
Champagne Diamonds & Pink Tourmaline
Hand selecting champagne diamonds and champagne pink tourmaline, for our very special limited edition Rosie Odette engagement ring. I am so excited about this design. Only three will be available....
Champagne Diamonds
These pair of champagne diamond beauties are a whopping 4 carats. Just look at them sparkle. I know the industry favour the sparkling VVS1 diamonds for clarity, cut, colour and...
Canary Queen
Here I am matching rough, yellow quartz rocks against my Canary Queen ring to get the perfect colour match. I am in lemon yellow heaven. This is the first ring...
Black Opal
This exquisite black opal is a real find. Black opals are hard to come by, especially this size. So when I do, I scoop them up. This stunning piece is 14...
Freshwater Pearls
Here I am hand-selecting each pearl for our Bridal collection coming soon. I am such a perfectionist when it comes to selecting gemstones. It is seriously work-intensive on the eyes...
Green Tourmaline
Cor blimey Mother Nature is so kick-ass. I love her. Bi-colour green tourmaline - and yellow! 😍 I love that you can mine these corkers out of the ground – stunning,...
Aquamarine
Here I am in my happy place, stood among a huge pile of rough, uncut aquamarine. It is a bit like a scene from Breaking Bad, but instead of crack,...
Antique Diamond Ring
I found a wonderful diamond dealer in the Pink City, who presented me with these four exquisite 70 points of a carat, champagne diamonds. Three of them will be transformed...