Scottish Sapphire, Elie Ruby, Diamond, Cairngorm Quartz and Garnet Pendant
This gemstone pendant showcases a dark blue drop shape Scottish sapphire, housed in a 14ct Scottish gold prong setting. Accompanied by, from top to bottom, a pre-loved Diamond, Cairngorm Quartz, two Knoydart Rhodolite pink Garnets, an Elie Ruby and overlaid with Scottish Gold. The sides and reverse have a celtic design handcarved in 925 sterling silver. The pendant has been assayed and hallmarked in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Size and measurements:
The sapphire weighs 0.245ct and measures 4x6mm. The pendant comes with a complimentary 925 Sterling Silver or gold plated link chain.
Presentation:
The ring is elegantly presented in a hand-crafted, Two Skies-branded wooden gift box. It comes complete with a Scottish Sapphire and Scottish Gold Certificate of Authenticity, along with detailed information booklets.
Scottish sapphire came to the attention of the world in the 1990s. When excavations for a roadway on the remote Isle of Lewis led to a chance discovery by Ian Combe, a member of the Scottish geological Association. The Xenolithic dyke on which the outcrop sits were consequently declared a national SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest), meaning that only a few stones have ever been extracted, and any that may remain are under close protection. Therefore, Scottish sapphires are truly rare and mostly housed in museums or private collections. Very few people in the world will ever be fortunate enough to own a piece of jewellery featuring this remarkable gem!
Two Skies' Scottish sapphires have been carefully procured over the last decade by our Managing Director Adam McIntosh, for whom they hold a particular interest and fascination. With his family originating from the Isle of Lewis (his grandfather Dr Ian McIntosh was the island doctor), Adam's clan connections enabled him to secure a number of purchases from the late Ian Combe in person. The prestigious 'Scottish Sale' at Bonham's auction house in 2023 also saw him acquire rough material from the estate of renowned collector Dr J.G.Todd.
We cut and facet these stones in our own workshop. They are never heat-treated or artificially coloured; the fantastic shades of blue and teal that they display are a natural feature, which elevates Scottish sapphires above many from other parts of the world. The colours are also reminiscent of the wild seas surrounding the beautiful but rugged Outer Hebrides! Owning a Scottish sapphire provides a unique connection to Scotland's rich highland history and a geological heritage spanning millions of years.Two Skies works with a small team of licensed native gold prospectors, in keeping with our ethos of supporting low impact and ethical practices. All our Scottish gold is painstakingly collected from Highland mountain streams using environmentally-friendly methods such as 'sniping' and hand-panning. It is a true labour of love to find Scottish gold (0.5 grams per day is considered a 'fine haul'!). Scottish gold naturally ranges between 14 and 22 carats in purity, so - as we work with the material unrefined - we can guarantee all our jewellery to be a minimum of 14ct. Find out more at www.scottishgold.scot
Elie, Fife - This short stretch of coast is called Ruby Bay by the locals, thanks to the rare red gemstones known as 'Elie Rubies' that are washed out of the volcanic rock and can be found by patient searching through the sand. The stones are actually a special type of garnet coloured by chromium rather than iron, which gives them a particularly vivid shade and led to their rather grand nickname. Adam and Richard have been painstakingly collecting the gems by hand for months, and we have now had a number of them faceted and polished for setting into jewellery. Elie Rubies are so highly prized that a couple even found their way into Adam's wife's wedding ring!
Diamonds which have not been commissioned by Two Skies, but instead have come to us as salvaged from old, broken or vintage jewellery items. We recycle diamonds for much the same reasons as we recycle our gold - our 'low impact' aspirations and ethical ethos.
Introducing the official national gemstone of Scotland! A particular type of smoky quartz found exclusively in the Cairngorm mountain range, it is known as 'Cairngorm quartz', 'Cairngorm stone' or simply 'Cairngorm'! 'Morion' classed Cairngorm Quartz is of a very dark colour and rarely found, thus more desirable (and expensive!). It was extraordinarily popular during the Victorian age and was a favourite gem of the queen herself. Whole families of prospectors nicknamed 'diggers' worked on the mountains throughout the 1800s searching for this rare crystal. Nowadays the land is protected by the Cairngorms National Park Authority, making the beautiful Scottish smoky quartz even harder to come by. However, Two Skies managed to obtain rough material from a private historic collection, which when cut made such high quality faceted stones that even we were amazed. Our contemporary settings are highly unusual when most Cairngorm jewellery pieces on the market are antiques - get your own piece of Scottish history with a twist!
From the remote and rugged Knoydart Peninsula in the Scottish Highlands, this garnet carries the wild soul of the land where sea meets mountain. Its rich, wine-red hue glows with depth and warmth, often likened to the finest ruby—so much so that even a practiced eye might be momentarily fooled. Expert faceting brings out its inner fire, showcasing a natural brilliance honed by time and craft.
Garnets have adorned humanity for over 5,000 years, treasured by the ancient Egyptians and found in artefacts across the classical world. They were worn as protective amulets, carved into beads and set into intricate jewellery. Throughout history, garnet has been seen as a stone of faith, passion, and protection—a talisman of loyalty and light in dark times.
Our Knoydart garnet is a tribute to Scottish earth and history—rare, rugged, and deeply rooted.
This item of jewellery has been independently laboratory-tested at Edinburgh's assay office. It is stamped with ALBA, indicating the origin of the gold as Scottish. An Edinburgh Assay stamp of 585 guarantees the purity of the gold to be at least 14 carat, and this is accompanied by a silver stamp of 925. The jewellery also bears our company logo as a mark of pride and authenticity.
Why do silversmiths use 925%? Measured in parts per thousand, pure silver (999%) is too soft so silversmiths mix it with other metals to make it it harder. The purer the metal, the higher the polish, but it is a lot softer (thus less durable). The harder the metal is, the more hard wearing the jewellery is, but it will also tarnish easier as it has less silver content. Therefore, the silver industry set a standard percentage content for fine silver (925); what we know as "sterling silver". At Two Skies our silversmiths use 925 (sterling) silver for ring shafts and moving parts, and a very high 950% on our stones settings, which enables us to get a strong jewellery item with a beautiful and secure stone setting, without any gluing. Each piece of our jewellery is hand stamped with our Two Skies Hallmark alongside the recognised industry 925 Hallmark.
Relax - you can shop with confidence at Two Skies. If you change your mind, simply get in touch to let us know you want to return one or all of your items within 7 days of receiving your order, and we'll get a replacement/refund arranged - no quibbles!
