In the realm of fine jewellery, while diamonds are often celebrated as the quintessential symbol of luxury, they represent just the tip of the iceberg. Beyond these sparkling stones lies a captivating world filled with rare and unique gemstones, each with its distinct hues, shapes, phenomena, and narratives that distinguish them from the more common jewels. These exceptional stones offer an opportunity to craft custom jewellery pieces that not only highlight one’s individuality but also embody one’s personal flair and elegance.
At Calla Lily Fine Jewellers, our passion for uncovering and presenting these extraordinary gemstones is at the heart of our creations. We diligently source our stones from the most esteemed mines across the globe, employing our rich expertise and imaginative vision to design and forge jewellery that accentuates the natural allure and charisma of these gems. Whether you’re in search of a tailor-made item or a unique find from our exclusive in-house selection, Calla Lily is dedicated to ensuring you shine brilliantly with our exquisite offerings.
A Colour-Change Sapphire! This enchanting gem dances with a spectrum of cool purples intertwined with rich, smoky tobacco tones, transforming captivatingly with the light’s play.
In this feature, we’re excited to unveil a selection of lesser-known gemstones that hold a special place in our hearts and our craftsmanship. We’ll delve into the tales behind their scarcity and distinctive allure, illuminating how these hidden treasures are not just rare finds but also pivotal in defining the essence of luxury fashion. Moreover, we’ll give you an exclusive glimpse into how our signature creations celebrate and elevate these exquisite gems, making them the stars of the luxury jewellery scene.
Bi-Coloured Gems: Capturing a Spectrum Within a Single Stone
Among the most captivating varieties of gemstones are the bi-coloured gems, showcasing two or more hues within a single stone. These remarkable stones emerge from the earth’s artistry, where fluctuations in temperature, pressure, or mineral content during their formation paint them with vibrant, contrasting colors. This natural alchemy yields gems with extraordinary visual contrasts and dynamic effects, making each piece a unique spectacle of nature’s palette.
Tourmaline, sapphire, and ametrine stand as prime examples of bi-coloured gems, each showcasing a mesmerising array of colours within a single stone. Tourmaline, known for its incredible versatility and range of colors, can display an almost limitless combination of hues. Among its most coveted varieties is the watermelon tourmaline, celebrated for its pink centre encased by a green outer layer, mirroring the summer fruit’s allure.
Sapphire, traditionally revered for its deep blue tones, also reveals a spectrum beyond the classic hue. Certain sapphires present zones of differing colours, such as vibrant pink and green or a warm mix of yellow and orange, offering a visually captivating display.
Ametrine is a uniquely stunning gemstone, naturally marrying the qualities of amethyst and citrine, both quartz variants, into a single stone. It features a striking combination of purple and yellow, often blending seamlessly from one colour to the other, creating a breathtaking gradient effect.
At Calla Lily, our fascination with bi-coloured gems fuels our creative process, providing a vast palette for innovation and design. These gems enable us to craft jewellery pieces that are not only colourful and playful but also distinctly eye-catching, embodying the essence of uniqueness and artistic expression.
Gemstones with Unique Effects: A Spectacle of Light and Enchantment
Imagine a stunning ring design that pairs a vibrant rubellite with an exceptionally rare star sapphire.
We’re captivated by gemstones that showcase extraordinary optical effects! These phenomena arise from the interplay between light and the gemstone’s internal structure or surface, creating visual displays that are both enchanting and mesmerising.
One renowned effect is the cat’s eye, characterised by a slender beam of light that glides across the gemstone’s surface, echoing the piercing gaze of a feline. This effect is attributed to needle-like inclusions or fibres within the gemstone, orienting light in a specific direction. Gemstones such as chrysoberyl, quartz, tourmaline, and apatite are known to exhibit this captivating effect, with chrysoberyl being the most prized for its sharply defined and luminous eye, visible under any lighting condition.
Quartz offers an accessible and versatile option, displaying the cat’s eye effect in an array of colours like green, brown, yellow, or grey.
Tourmaline, known for its vivid colours, can also feature the cat’s eye effect across its spectrum, including shades of pink, green, blue, or even black.
Another wondrous optical illusion we cherish is “Asterism”, which manifests as a star-like luminescence on the gemstone’s surface, typically forming four or six rays. This stellar pattern is produced by symmetrically aligned needle-like inclusions or fibres within the gemstone. Sapphires, rubies, garnets, and diopsides can all display this mesmerising effect. Sapphires and rubies, with their intense and defined stars, alongside their deep, rich hues of blue and red respectively, are among the most celebrated star gemstones. Garnets and diopsides offer more affordable yet equally captivating alternatives, showcasing a softer, more diffuse star under direct light, complemented by their subtle, earthy tones.
Lastly, we must highlight the phenomenon known as “adularescence”, with moonstone being the quintessential bearer of this magical glow.
This gem, known for its milky or translucent appearance, radiates a soft glow or a captivating flash of light that traverses its surface, reminiscent of the moon’s ethereal shimmer. This enchanting effect, known as adularescence, arises from the interplay of light with the fine, layered composition of different minerals within the gem, creating a mesmerising spectacle. Orthoclase moonstone, with its classic white or cream base and a luminous blue or silver sheen, stands as the quintessential example. Meanwhile, the Rainbow moonstone enchants with its clear or white backdrop, embellished by a spectrum of colours that dance across the surface, mirroring a celestial rainbow.
And then there’s a gem that embodies a marvel in itself, transforming from day to night. This remarkable trait has captivated hearts worldwide, earning Alexandrite the nickname “emerald by day, ruby by night”. Alexandrite boasts unique colour-changing abilities, displaying deep, emerald-like greens that can rival the vibrancy of rubies under different lighting conditions. Commonly found with warmer, brownish-green tones, this gem undergoes a dramatic transformation under artificial or candlelight, shifting from green to a rich red or reddish hue. By day, it flaunts a bluish-green colour, evoking the majestic hues of a peacock’s feathers. As evening falls, it morphs into a purplish-red spectacle, dazzling with a fiery intensity. This phenomenon, known as “Pleochroism”, is a testament to Alexandrite’s unique interaction with light.
Choosing an Alexandrite engagement ring is a sublime declaration of love, celebrating the unique bond it represents with a stone as dynamic and evolving as the relationship it symbolises.
We are utterly enchanted by gemstones that exhibit these unique effects, for they introduce an element of light and magic into our jewellery designs. Incorporating these natural wonders allows us to create pieces that exude elegance, sophistication, and intrigue, each bearing a hint of mysterious allure.
Finding Your Dream Gemstone: Our Expertise, Your Vision
Embarking on the journey to craft a bespoke jewellery piece adorned with a rare or exotic gemstone can lead to questions about how to uncover the perfect stone for your unique design. Whether you have a precise vision regarding colour, shape, size, or a specific optical effect, or if you’re open to exploring a range of captivating options, our team is here to turn your dream into reality.
Within our studio lies a treasure trove of gemstones, collected from the farthest reaches of the globe, each radiating in the most striking and unimaginable hues. We’re excited to showcase a diverse selection for you, including those with mesmerising effects, allowing you to envision how they might complement various settings and styles.
Our knowledgeable team is on hand to demystify the characteristics, provenance, and symbolism behind each gemstone, assisting you in choosing the one that resonates with your personality and aesthetic preferences.
Should your vision encompass a particularly unique or elusive stone, our mission extends to embarking on a dedicated search on your behalf. Leveraging our extensive network of trusted and esteemed suppliers, we’re committed to sourcing the exact gemstone you desire.
We warmly invite you to visit our atelier in Tiong Bahru for an up-close experience with our exquisite gemstone collection and a personal consultation about your bespoke jewellery aspirations. Let us guide you through the creative process, ensuring the final piece is an authentic reflection of your individuality and style.
