The Curator's Journal

A History of Sapphire Engagement Rings, Part 1: Antiquity and the Middle Ages

By Yaĝé Enigmus Many people are familiar with the image of a diamond laden engagement ring glistening as it slides on to the finger of someone’s new fianceé. The pervasiveness of this imagery often...

Why do people wear engagement rings on their left hand?

This is an interesting question because the answer might surprise you!In the video below, David explains that while it’s often said that the engagement ring is worn on the left hand because it’s cl...

Famous Sapphire Engagement Rings

By Yaĝé Enigmus When most people think of engagement rings, diamonds are the first stone that comes to mind but they are not the only option for the center stone of a bespoke engagement ring. In a ...

Amethyst: The Classic Purple Gem

By Yaĝé Enigmus The colour of amethyst indisputably makes this gemstone one of the great treasures of the mineral realm and the most valuable single-colour variety of quartz. Residing among the mos...

A Brief History of Amethyst, Part 2: From Regal Gem to Pervasive Treasure

By Yaĝé EnigmusIn Europe during the dark ages, purple was one of the most difficult pigments to make and  along with amethyst was intimately associated with European royalty. One famous example of ...

A Brief History of Amethyst, Part 1: Violet Quartz in the Ancient World

By Yaĝé EnigmusPerhaps one of the oldest and most well known gems, amethyst has been valued by human beings from countless cultures and civilizations throughout history. Amethyst was historically r...

The Mythology of the Ruby

Any discussion of rubies and the mythology surrounding them has to begin in India, an ancient source for the beautiful red gemstones. The ancient Sanskrit word for ruby translates as “king of preci...

The Mythology of the Emerald

The green colour of emeralds has often been the source of numerous myths and beliefs. Throughout history, emeralds have been believed to cure all kinds of conditions, from depression to insomnia. M...

The Mythology of the Sapphire

Sapphires are among the earliest known gemstones in history. As a result, it is no surprise that there are many legends about this wonderful stone. The blue sapphire is most prominent in mythology....

The Breastplate of Aaron Part 3 - The Twelve Jewels Row by Row

By Yaĝé Enigmus  [NOTE: Multiple sources from different eras give different translations/descriptions/orders of the twelve stones in the Priestly Breastplate that sometimes contradict one another a...