Emeralds' signature is their their lush green hue, fascinating civilisations from ancient Egypt to the courts of Europe.
Their vivid tones, available in various levels of clarity depending on taste and budget, evoke images of nature, renewal, and growth.
With a Mohs Hardness Scale rating of 7.5 to 8, emeralds offer sufficient durability for various jewellery styles, yet they are heat-sensitive and prone to cracking if directly knocked, making them well-suited for pendants or earrings.
If chosen for an everyday ring, a protective setting style should be considered.
Diamonds, renowned for their unparalleled brilliance and hardness, are esteemed as the ultimate symbol of love and luxury.
With a Mohs hardness rating of 10, diamonds are the hardest natural substance on Earth, making them ideal for enduring jewellery pieces both from a practical and symbolic perspective.
Historically treasured by royalty and nobility, diamonds have adorned crowns, sceptres, and engagement rings, symbolising everlasting commitment and prestige. They come in a wide variety of sizes and cuts, as well as in colours ranging from white, to champagne, salt and pepper, yellow, pink, and blue.
What many archeologists originally believed to be ruby in Ancient Roman artefacts, was, in fact, garnet. It remains a stone prized for it's startling red hues, which are available at a more accessible price point than ruby.
With a Mohs hardness of 6.5 to 7.5, it offers sufficient toughness for everyday wear on pendants and earrings, and can also be set in rings if treated with reasonable care while worn.
Dating back to ancient civilisations, garnet has adorned royal regalia and religious artefacts, as well as everyday jewellery.
Tourmaline, from the Sinhalese word "turmali" boasts a centuries-old history. Its almost limitless range of colours, multicoloured varieties, and versatility in shaping, facilitate diverse jewellery designs.
With a Mohs Hardness Scale rating of 7.0-7.5, tourmaline offers durability suitable for everyday wear, though care should be taken to avoid direct bumps or scratches. Tourmalines often feature high clarity and comparable colours to other gems, making them attractive for price-conscious clients.
Although most commonly known for their famous blue varieties, sapphires come in a startling variety of shades, from greens, to pinks, yellows, browns, and teal. Australian Parti sapphires are particularly beautiful, featuring multiple hues within one stone.
Sapphires are associated with tradition and wisdom, having adorned royal regalia since the time of the Ancient Greeks.
These gems have a Mohs Hardness Scale rating of 9, boasting high durability. They are ideal for the central stone of engagement rings, as well as smaller adornments, with gems as small as 1mm easily sourced.
Hot hand poured enamel, a traditional jewellery technique, involves heating powdered glass to high temperatures and carefully pouring it onto metal surfaces. This creates vibrant, durable coatings with a smooth, glossy finish. The history of the technique dates back centuries.
At Cleopatra's Bling, we work with artisans in traditional centres of enamelwork, such as Istanbul and Jaipur.
Enamel is a delicate finish, that must avoid being bumped or scratched. It cannot withstand being reheated, so alterations (such as resizing) of pieces with enamel require extensive knowledge and craftsmanship.
Lapis lazuli, prized for millennia for its deep blue colour and golden flecks of pyrite, holds a special place in history as one of the oldest gemstones known to mankind. With a Mohs hardness rating of 5 to 5.5, lapis lazuli is relatively soft compared to other gemstones, making it susceptible to scratching and abrasion.
Despite this, its rich hue and distinctive appearance have made it a favoured material for jewellery and decorative objects throughout history, with ancient civilisations such as the Egyptians and Mesopotamians using it for adornment, religious rituals, and even burial masks.
Rubies exude opulence and allure, passion and vitality. They span shades from rose, to magenta, to deep red.
With a Mohs Hardness Scale rating of 9, rubies offer exceptional durability, making them ideal for a wide range of jewellery styles. Burmese rubies are renowned for their pigeon-blood red hue, while those from Mozambique tend to display a slightly purplish-red tone. Thai rubies often exhibit a pinkish undertone.
Agate is a gemstone famous for its rich variety of colours and distinctive banding patterns. Its hues span from earthy tones to vibrant shades, with each stone displaying unique patterns formed by layers of microscopic crystals.
Historically, agate has been used for millennia in jewellery, cameos, and even as seals due to its relative abundance and ease of carving.
Its Mohs hardness rating is 6.5 to 7.