Journal

From the deep blues of sapphires to the vivid greens of emeralds, gemstones are admired for their beauty, symbolism, and cultural meaning. Yet behind the sparkle lies a complex story… Approximately 80% of the world’s coloured gemstones are mined by artisanal and small-scale miners. [1] Unlike industrial-scale operations, these mines often have lower environmental impact and, when managed responsibly, can benefit the local communities that...

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The discovery of the Kimberley diamond fields of South Africa in 1871, [1] named after an English earl, marked the shift from artisanal digging to industrial-scale mining. Indigenous communities were dispossessed of their land, forced into low-wage labour, and diamonds suddenly flooded global markets. Seizing the opportunity, Cecil John Rhodes consolidated these now white-owned mines into the De Beers Company, which grew into a near-global...

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Gold is a messy business. Mining destroys ecosystems, generates toxic waste and emits huge amounts of carbon, exploits workers, and fuels the “growth at all costs” model of capitalism. Because of its high value per gram, gold is easily smuggled, illicitly traded, and used to fund conflict. See Al Jazeera’s exposé for gold's dirty secrets. But it is beautiful! And it is the backbone of...

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The 4 C’s, established by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), has become the globally recognized grading system for rating a diamond’s quality. Each diamond, just like each person, has a unique combination of characteristics that make it what it is (and unlike people, play a significant role in determining the diamond's value). The 4 C’s are: Colour Clarity Cut Carat These are important factors to...

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Engraving is an enduring love note, a way to mark keepsakes with stories of people, places and moments of connection. At AuTerra we offer two distinct engraving options, the traditional craftsmanship of hand engraving and the modern precision of laser engraving. Each one suited to creating a specific style and feeling. Tinsley James Jewellery HAND ENGRAVING Hand engraving’s allure lies in the intricacies of the...

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Diamond engagement rings are synonymous with love and commitment. But their rise to popularity isn’t without its more sombre details. In today’s journal entry we take a look at the history of engagement rings as well as current trends and ways to update the tradition for 21st century values. Engagement rings can be traced all the way back to Ancient Rome. These original betrothal rings...

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Our studio is full of chatter, much of it idle, some of profound, most of it hilarious. But we decided the time was right to delve into a more intentional conversation between Ash, our founder, and Claire, the founder of Botanica Jewellery and not so coincidentally the brand with whom we share our studio. Ash: I think we should probably start at the beginning, and...

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Pure gold is also known as 24 karat gold. In its natural form it is simply too soft to be made into jewellery. In order to strengthen it, and make it suitable for jewellery, pure gold is combined with various other metals (depending on the desired colour ). The ratio of gold to alloy is what determines the karat. Think of it as a recipe,...

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Not all pieces that carry the word gold in their title are created equal. So what is the difference?  Gold plated objects have a micron thick layer of gold chemically plated onto the surface of a lower quality base metal (often brass). This layer is so thin that it will wear off quite quickly, especially if worn often or if the wearer has relatively acidic...

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