Choosing the perfect gemstone.
A beautiful piece of jewellery often begins with one extraordinary gemstone. Colour, brilliance, rarity and character all play their part, but choosing the perfect gemstone is also deeply personal. Sometimes it is a particular shade that catches your eye. Sometimes it is the story or meaning behind a stone. And occasionally, you simply know the moment you see it.
We believe the gemstone should be at the heart of the design. Whether you are creating an engagement ring, celebrating an important milestone or commissioning something entirely unique, we can help you discover a stone that feels completely right for you.
Begin with colour.
One of the joys of bespoke jewellery is the extraordinary spectrum of colour available. Sapphires extend far beyond traditional blue, appearing in beautiful shades of pink, yellow, green, peach and teal. Tourmalines offer an equally remarkable palette, while emeralds bring their unmistakable depth of green and rubies their intense red.
Then there are spinels, aquamarines, garnets and many other fascinating gemstones, each bringing a different personality to a design. Rather than beginning with what you think you should choose, we often recommend exploring different gemstones and seeing which colours naturally draw you in.
Look for character, not just perfection.
Gemstones are individual. Two stones of the same variety, weight and cut can look completely different when placed alongside one another. Subtle variations in colour, tone, inclusions and cutting give each stone its own character.
With natural gemstones in particular, these differences are part of their beauty. A gemstone doesn’t necessarily need to be technically perfect to be extraordinary.
Our approach is to look at the whole stone, its colour, proportions, brilliance and personality and find something that will become the focal point of a beautiful piece of jewellery.
Think about how you'll wear it. Beauty matters, but so does practicality.
An engagement ring worn every day has very different demands from a pendant or pair of earrings reserved for special occasions. Different gemstones have different levels of hardness and durability, and this should be considered when choosing your stone and designing its setting.
This doesn’t necessarily mean ruling out the gemstone you love. Good bespoke design can often provide additional protection while still allowing the stone to remain the star of the piece. We’ll talk you through the options and help create something appropriate for how you intend to wear and enjoy your jewellery.
Shape can transform a design.
Round, oval, pear, emerald, cushion, marquise, the cut and shape of a gemstone can completely change the personality of a piece.
A classic round diamond can create an entirely different impression from an elongated oval or architectural emerald cut. Pear and marquise cuts can introduce movement, while unusual cuts and asymmetrical arrangements can provide the starting point for something much more individual.
With bespoke jewellery, the design doesn’t have to dictate the gemstone. Sometimes we find an exceptional stone first and allow its shape to inspire everything that follows.
Consider the precious metal. The gemstone is only part of the composition.
Yellow gold can introduce warmth and beautifully complement green, red and warmer-toned gemstones. White gold and platinum can create a cooler, contemporary appearance and allow diamonds and certain coloured stones to take centre stage. Rose gold introduces another character entirely.
Sometimes an unexpected combination creates the most exciting result. Because we are designing the piece specifically for you, we can consider the gemstone, setting and precious metal together rather than treating them as separate decisions. For more information contact grown@titcombebespoke.co.uk.
