Tag: heritage gems

When a blue sapphire ring is not an engagement ring

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A sapphire ring does not necessarily always have to be an engagement ring.

And so a client of ours decide to pamper herself with an unheated sapphire ring. She was looking for a nice medium vibrant blue. After viewing our selection of unheated sapphires, she set her heart on a particular piece of cushion shape, 2.16ct blue sapphire. It really is very pretty both under natural daylight and artificial shop lighting.

Not quite sure of the design she wanted, we provided her some design options that would complement both herself and something that would work for the gemstone itself. (i.e.: not all designs are suitable for every gemstone as it depends on the shape and colour of the gem).

She wanted something suitable for more regular wear but nothing too ostentatious – yet still sparkly and pretty. Somewhat like a cocktail ring or dressier, but nothing too chunky.

After discussions and measurements, she had finally decided on the design of her ring.

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Come meet us at Marina Bay Sands Expo from 3rd – 6th July 2014

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Nature-inspired Aquamarine & Phosphophyllite Floral Earrings

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Part II of of our nature-inspired cocktail jewellery is a pair of Floral Aquamarine Cocktail Earrings.

Aquamarines come in a a few shades of blue. From near colourless to strong medium blue and also light green-blue. The term Aquamarine stems from its Latin counterpart Aqua-marina which means marine colour or colour of the sea.

This design features a pair of diamond flowers flanked by a pair of trillant cut green-blue Aquamarines and long drop Phosphophyllite. Never heard of a Phosphophyllite? That’s because it is an extremely rare gem, almost unheard of in most common jewellery shops. Phosphophyllite can be found in Germany and Bolivia, while it’s finer specimen comes from Bolivia.

During the designing of this pair of earrings, we wanted to feature Aquamarines alongside the diamond flowers. The colour objective of this pair of earrings was to search for a gem that had colour which complements that of diamonds, not compete with it. However, it cannot be too pale as it would result in the earrings looking too bland. We then decided that we could find the right colour with Aquamarines. Other gemstones that were considered but did not qualify were: Morganites, Yellow Beryls and Kunzites. Quite clearly, we were in search of pastel-like gemstones but one that had the right hue and shade of colour.

The next step came when we had to find a gem to complement the Aquamarines as the design was intended to be a pair of long, drop earrings. The colour we were looking for had to match and complement our trilliant-cut Aquamarines. Some colour choices were: Blue Zircons, Apatites and Paraiba Tourmaline. However, these gemstones are typically very saturated in colour and would draw too much attention away from the diamond flowers and Aquamarines. The key-words for this particular design was Complementary Colours.

We then decided on a very rare mineral called the Phosphophyllite. If one ever chances upon it, it would normally be seen in blue-green  colours (sounds similar to Aquamarines, no?) This design was shelved for quite a long time (close to a year) as we were unable to find the correct gem. Till recently, we chanced upon a pair of long drop Phosphophyllite. Right away, our craftsmen began work on this piece.

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Lo and behold, the above pair of earrings, fully completed.

“There is a story behind every piece created by Heritage Gems Fine Jewellery” – Germaine Woo

 

 

Nature-inspired Rubellite Butterfly Cocktail Ring

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We draw inspiration from nature for this particular ring which features butterflies. Butterflies typically flutter and hover above the flowers and the leaves.

Part I of our nature-inspired cocktail jewellery is a Rubellite gemstone Butterfly cocktail ring.

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The design stage had gone through several revisions until we came to what was to be the final drawings that had gone from drawing board to our crafting bench.

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Not only is this particular design different from what is commonly seen in high street jewellers, the overall style is unique in that:

  • the oval gemstone is actually aligned horizontally. Most oval shape rings are aligned vertically.
  • when the ring is viewed from top-down, its owner sees only the gemstone. The details of the design comes alive when the ring is viewed from its side profile. Which makes quite abit of sense, doesn’t it? As we wear our rings and look down at our hands, be it engagement ring or cocktail rings, do we not normally see the 45 degree side view first as opposed to the top down view?

Excluding designing hours, this piece required a total of 36 consecutive man hours to craft. This cocktail ring is relatively chunky in size.

Unless it is a design intention or requirement, Heritage Gems Fine Jewellery does not scrimp on its gold work. In the process of crafting jewellery (though not all jewellers do this), it is common practice that jewellery pieces are crafted with very thin gold work with the main objective of lowering costs, at the expense of functionality or appearance. 

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 Side Profile 1

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 Side Profile 2

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Top View 1

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The gemstone chosen for this ring is a Rubellite Tourmaline for several reasons. The inspiration of this ring was drawn from nature. We were in search of a richly coloured gemstone that is not only beautiful but one that comes in a colour no other gemstone offers.

What makes the Rubellite Tourmaline special? Tourmalines come in a variety of shades and colours. Generally the colour of Tourmaline is described by placing the colour in front of the word Tourmaline. Meaning, a tourmaline with pink hues would be called: Pink Tourmaline. A tourmaline with blue colour and hues would be called: Blue Tourmaline. A tourmaline with green colour would be called: Green Tourmaline and so forth.

However, a tourmaline with both pink and red hues is called a Rubellite Tourmaline. With red mixed in with pink, the result is a mesmerising raspberry colour distinct and special only to the Rubellite Tourmaline.

It took us several months to search for a Rubellite that was of the right size. It could not be too big nor too small as this ring is designed to fit an Asian lady. At Heritage Gems, we have several in-house criteria that needs to be met before a gemstone can be used in our jewellery.

Rubellites are typically not eye-clean. Alongside with Emeralds, even the “cleanest” of Rubellites generally have at least an inclusion or two.

This Rubellite Tourmaline featured in this butterfly ring is extremely eye-clean. Almost flawless. Rubellites are also typically 100% natural, void of an heating or treatment of any sort. On these 2 points, this Rubellite has already met with 2 out of 5 of the in-house criteria.

The final result is an eye-catching, rich pinkish-red nature-inspired butterfly cocktail ring. & definitely unique both in design and gemstone.

Vivid Blue Sapphire Ring (Unheat)

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For blue sapphire purists, below is a ring that should catch your eye. **Pls note that unheated blue sapphires of this colour quality is very difficult to come by. 

While our client was not quite sure what to expect prior to meeting us, she knew she was looking for an unheat sapphire of exceptional colour. Apart from this, she also had other requirements for the design of her ring. She did not want any diamonds, “just the blue sapphire” she said. During out meeting, she pre-empted us that she had specific design requirements that other jewellers either could not or did not want to assist with. Either way, they were not able to provide her what she was looking for.

Below is her blue sapphire ring. Unheated, vivid blue, 2.34ct ceylon sapphire ring. Most brilliant colour. & definitely very difficult to chance upon this colour.

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In The Press – Indonesia Tatler Society 2014

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It is an honour for Heritage Gems to appear in the front pages of the annual Indonesia Tatler Society magazine.

Grab your 2014 copy now!

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Rubellite Tourmaline Ring

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Just what lengths would Heritage Gems go to, to ensure your piece of bespoke jewellery is truly fine quality? No matter big or small, our aim is to provide the best quality for your dollar.

Featured below is a small rubellite ring. Though small, it is of exceptional colour and extremely eye-clean – i.e.: fine quality. For those who are unaware, rubellite tourmaline is generally heavily included. About as heavily included as emeralds.

This piece however, is 100% eye-clean.

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Nice colours for Rubellites should include the raspberry overtones, making it special and differentiating it from the mainstream pink tourmaline. As seen in the above photo, this piece has a captivating raspberry hue. “Raspberry” colour has indicated by Pantone.

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Commercial Quality Rubellite Tourmaline

 

Above is an example of commercial quality Rubellite Tourmaline. Colour and lustre is not quite spectacular and also notice the large inclusion across the middle of the gemstone.

 

Beautiful Unheated blue sapphires are rarer than you think

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Colour-matching service is exclusive only for our special VIP clients.

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Our client had informed us he was looking for a unheated sapphire ring to match his wife’s existing earrings. Colour matching in 100% natural unheated gemstones is extremely difficult, especially when sourced at different times. Simply because no two natural colours are the same. Similarly, no twins are exactly the same, – there’s always a slight difference.

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This ring is special in its colour. 100% eye-clean, this 2.12ct sapphire is almost electric blue under natural gentle morning sun. One of our most remarkable pieces by far. Unheated, of course.

Our client has a keen eye for fine quality gems. His “budget” allowed for even dark, royal blue sapphires. However, he simply insisted on a medium, almost electric-blue sapphire ring for his wife, to match her existing earrings. We needed some time.

After much sourcing and hunting, we found this that thankfully met his requirements.

When you need to propose with a gem possibly rarer than diamonds…

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Why propose with a boring colourless diamond when you can mark that special occasion with a gem that is possibly more rare than a diamond?

Frankly, is one diamond that is D colour, IF clarity that much different from another D colour, IF clarity? At most jewellers, you would have at least 2 of the same “D, IF” quality to choose from. Main difference is possibly only in size/shape.

True to Heritage Gems quality, this piece features a 5.04ct unheated blue sapphire. Our client wanted to propose with no less than an unheated blue sapphire. He found his answer with us. After some deliberation on the choice of sapphire and design, our client decided that the sapphire he had chosen was stunning on its own. Hence, he picked a timeless and elegant design, as seen below.

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In a nice deep royal blue with such stunning lustre, set in 18K white gold, flanked by icy-white diamonds that is eye-catching even from a distance.

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Fine Quality Unheated Blue Sapphire Engagement Ring

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Blue Sapphire Engagement Rings are fast gaining popularity, especially since Kate Middleton was proposed to with one.

Requesting for a blue sapphire sounds relatively simple enough. And how hard can it be to customise that special, ideal engagement ring? But there are actually several considerations to be thought through before settling on that ideal piece.

  • Shade of blue: Light blue? Medium Blue? Deep? Inky Blue? Royal Blue?
  • Fine quality should be evenly-toned and well-saturated colour.
  • When viewing the loose gem, pay attention that as the gem is tilted/rocked from side-to-side, that there is colour throughout the entire gem. Commercial quality sapphires tend to have colour-banding/colour-zones whereby certain parts of the gem are colourless.
  • Why are sapphires with colour-bands/colour-zones considered commercial quality? It is common for sapphires to exhibit these streaks of blue, due to the way the rock is formed. While this does not affect the integrity of the gem, it certainly does not enhance the aesthetic beauty of the gem. Hence, a market premium is paid for well-saturated and evenly coloured gems.
  • Unheat or Heat?: Again, this is entirely a matter of personal preference. However, heated sapphires are easily found and beautiful heated sapphires are plenty abound. So, if one is able to chance upon a aesthetically beautiful gem that is 100% untreated and unheated, it would add to the value of the gem. 
  • What is your choice of metal?
  • What style of ring? What sort of design? This will affect budget too.

Featured below is a custom-made, eye-catching medium-blue unheated sapphire ring set in 950 pure platinum, with E-F diamonds. Notice how the sapphire seems to glow from within! Very good lustre and brilliancy, evenly-toned with a strong medium blue hue. This eye-catching piece is a stunner even without the aid of direct light source.

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*Photo above taken indoors with incandescent light.

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All photos and videos have been taken under natural daylight (unless otherwise specified). No filters or artificial photoshop or enhancement done to the photos and videos.