The Curator's Journal

An Overview of Belle Epoch Jewellery

            The Belle Epoch (Original French: “La Belle Époque”; English: “The Beautiful Era” or “The Beautiful Age”) was a historical period that stretched from the end of the Franco-Prussian war ...

Origins of Ametrine, Part 2: The Legend of Bolivianite

There are a number of locations where ametrine has been known to occur naturally, but the stone is somewhat rare and there is only one place where a significant quantity of gem-grade ametrine can b...

Female Jewellery Designers who Pavéd the Way: Marianne Ostier (1902-1976)

Marianne Ostier. Image: Macklowe Gallery Already an accomplished painter and sculptor who attended the Vienna Academy of Arts and Crafts (now the University of Applied Arts Vienna), Marianne Ostier...

Female Jewellery Designers who Pavéd the Way: Charlotte Isabella Newman (1836-1920)

At a time when women were virtually unheard of in the jewellery design business, talented goldsmith Charlotte Newman was bravely stamping her trademark “Mrs. N” into her coveted designs that ranged...

Black History Month Spotlight: Ancient African Jewellery

As jewellery continues to evolve across cultures and generations, one thing remains a constant truth: it will always be an important part of society. In honour of Black History Month, we are excite...

Which Sapphire is Right for Me?

A Comprehensive Guide By Ella Masciulli     Blue Sapphire Blue is the most well-known and widely recognized variation of sapphire. After all, these gems are named after the Greek word sappheiros...

The Colours of Garnet, Part 5: Hybrid Garnets

By Yaĝé Enigmus   Due to the high degree of similarity between the chemical structures of various garnet minerals, there exist garnet gemstones which owe their beauty to a mixing of different garn...

The Colours of Garnet, Part 3: Uvarovite and Grossular Garnet

By Yaĝé Enigmus   The second series of major gem garnets is more diversely coloured and somewhat less common than the pyralspite garnets. This series is known as the “ugrandite” garnets, and it co...

The Colours of Garnet, Part 2: Pyralspite Garnets

By Yaĝé Enigmus   In the jewellery trade, six nesosilicate garnet minerals are valued as gemstones. These minerals each display their own ranges of colour, and some species also occur as distinct v...

The Colours of Garnet, Part 1: What is Garnet?

By Yaĝé Enigmus   For most people, the word “garnet” is synonymous with the colour red. In truth, red is merely one colour that garnet gemstones are known for. Now the contemporary Western birthsto...