Celebrating 10 years of Harlequin Jewellers

This time 10 years ago, I was finishing up the first handmade ring for my very first Harlequin Jewellers client.

What an adventure that very first ring sparked.

I’ve now spent a whole 10 years bringing to life jewellery for some of the most memorable moments in Canberrans’ lives. On one hand, it has gone by in the blink of an eye. On the other, it feels like our “before Harlequin” era is such a distant memory, it must have been a lifetime ago.

The first ring I made for my very first Harlequin Jewellers client.

Thank you to my very first Harlequin clients.

I’m forever grateful for those first clients who had the trust in me to create my very first Harlequin pieces. What they met with on surface was a guy, with no office, with no jewellery, just a sheet of paper and a pen, who can’t draw. What they saw beneath that my unwavering passion to create the very best piece of jewellery that could be made, to mark their most significant moments in life.

Not much has changed (including that I still can’t draw).

The decade has brought some changes to the exterior. A studio. More tools. More experience up my sleeve. Though the underlying essence of what those first clients said ‘yes’ to, is exactly the same now as it was then.

A whole 10 years later, and I’m still that guy with the unwavering passion to make sure every single piece of jewellery that goes out my doors is worthy of the milestones they celebrate. Engagements, weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, memorial pieces, every occasion that is so special to consider a custom made piece of jewellery, deserves the utmost care in making sure the piece is designed meticulously, and made with great care.

Our very first teeny tiny but very much loved office, back in 2015.

Early days meeting new clients at wedding fairs in 2015, with no idea what was ahead of us.

Our jewellery studio in Braddon we now adore in 2025.

Thank you for every piece of jewellery you’ve commissioned at my workshop.

It took a mix of insanity, bravery, and a good dash of naivety to take that first step. Especially in an industry that most people don’t enter these days unless they’re born into it. While I went into this hoping that clients would connect with the difference I was trying to bring to life for engagement ring options in Canberra, I had no idea just how much my way of doing things would resonate with the clients I’ve been so lucky to worth with.

Reminiscing through my gallery of custom made jewellery, I’m floored by the pieces I’ve had the privilege of bringing to life. Delving into the world of speciality coloured gemstones and diamonds to celebrate your stories has been an absolute delight, every step of the way.

Does your Harlequin ring need a checkup?

If it’s been a while since you’ve been into the studio, do drop in for a clean and polish (book your time here). It would be a wonderful trip down memory lane to check in on my decades’ creations in person - always, but especially this year - and hear how the stories that they celebrate have unfolded over the years.

Thank you for being part of this decade long chapter.

I can’t wait to see what pieces I get to bring to life as the next decade of Harlequin Jewellers unfolds.

5 Engagement Ring Remodels

If you’ve thought about remodelling your engagement ring, you’re in the right place for your design inspiration. It can be tricky to imagine what’s possible to redesign with your current ring in a way that maintains its sentimental meaning, while giving you a beautifully fresh ring to enjoy.

Whether you’re looking for a subtle change to reflect your evolving style, or a complete refresh, it can help to see some real life before and afters. Here are 5 engagement remodels that show what’s possible with an engagement ring redesign.

1. A halo design to a solitaire design

When a ring has worn down settings that need repair, it’s a great opportunity to revisit the design. Rearranging the gems you already have into a new layout can change the whole look and feel of your engagement and wedding ring set, while keeping your sentimental piece yours.

In the remodel below, we’ve reworked the original engagement ring to a beautiful solitaire design, and shifted the original diamonds from the halo into a diamond band to wear alongside it. The result is unmistakeably the same set, but with a fresh new look.

A floral style halo engagement ring, before remodelling, with weakened outer claws.

The remodelled engagement ring, now in a solitaire design, with the halo diamonds in a wedding ring.

2. A change of metal colour

We all tend to have a preference for what metal colours we choose for our accessories. Sometimes our tastes simply change. Other times, we find that a metal colour we thought worked for us isn’t what suits us best (especially if this advice wasn’t given when we bought an engagement ring in the first place).

Remodelling an engagement ring to a new metal is very common. The original gems that have been part of your life chapter are reworked into a new ring, with a metal colour that you’re more excited to wear. In the remodel below, we’ve remade a white gold engagement ring, into a rose gold one.

A white gold engagement ring, before it was remodelled to a new metal colour.

The new engagement ring, with its band now in 18ct rose gold.

3. A change of setting style

The way that diamonds are set into a ring plays a huge role in the style of the ring, and how strong and sturdy the ring will be. Changing this one aspect, while keeping the rest of the design the same, can change the feel of a ring entirely.

Here, an original ring had series of claw set clusters which is a lovely layout for the diamonds. Though the way the claws were done meant the diamonds were at risk of falling out. A remodel to change the setting style more secure not only strengthened the design, but gave it a more modern uplift too.

An engagement ring with weakened cluster claw settings, before remodelling.

The remodelled engagement ring, now with bead set diamonds.

4. Creating a practical ring structure

There are many ways to structure an engagement ring setting. Some allow for a wedding ring to be worn flush beside the engagement ring. Other structures have settings reaching low down on the band, that need a fitted ring (curved, v shape, or custom) to be able to sit well beside the engagement ring.

In the set below, we’ve remodelled the original engagement ring to a fresh new structure that no longer needs a curved wedding ring to wear beside it, along with some other changes to the style. The new engagement ring is much more practical to wear, and allows for the remodelled wedding ring to sit beautifully alongside it. Further bands can also be added to the set without the need for curves in their design.

The original wedding ring of this set needed a curve to sit flush with the engagement ring.

The remodelled set has a fresh new style, and a practical structure, without needing a curve.

5. Modernising an engagement and wedding ring set

While engagement rings and wedding rings don’t see trends change with quite the same speed as other fashion items like clothing, styles do change with the times. Setting styles in particular evolve as time passes, which can leave those with an engagement ring they’ve worn for decades feeling differently about it, depending on the type of ring they have.

Sometimes after years of wear, we still love our engagement ring, but just want the style updated to look a little more modern. It’s possible to keep the overall structure and design the same, while refreshing the style to be a more modern version of the set that means so much to you. In the remodel below, a remake to modernise the setting style made all the difference to how it feels to wear.

A loved engagement and wedding ring set, with worn down settings.

The remodelled engagement and wedding ring set, with more modern settings.

These 5 engagement ring remodels are just the beginning of what’s possible for a redesign. To explore what’s possible for your own engagement ring redesign, book an appointment directly with a jeweller.

What you need to know when measuring your ring size

Choosing a ring size for an engagement ring seems like the simplest part of the process. It should be as easy as taking a measurement, and reading the size, right?

Not quite.

Getting the right size for your new ring takes some thought, judgement and planning to make sure it’s comfortable and secure on your finger. This can be trickier than it seems, especially if you’ve never worn a ring day-to-day before. Here are 3 key things to know to help make your decision with confidence.

1. Your ring size changes season to season.

How hot or cold you are changes your ring size. In warmer weather, your hands will swell a little, making your ring size a little larger than in colder weather. When you consider that a ring sizes are only around 0.5mm apart in diameter, these changes in finger swelling from the seasons do impact how well a ring feels like it fits.

The challenge is in finding a ring size that will be great for you all year round. You’ll need to find a happy medium where your ring isn’t too tight in summer, nor too big in winter.

2. Your ring size changes throughout the day.

Aside from seasonal fluctuations, your finger size also changes throughout the day depending on your environment, your activities, and your unique body. For example, you may wake with puffier fingers in the morning which settle in the afternoon. Your fingers will be larger when you exercise, and smaller when you’re restful.

Choosing a size that will be comfortable most of the time takes some judgement. Being aware of your own fluctuations in finger sizes throughout the day will also help to gauge when is best to measure your ring size.

3. The width of your ring changes the size you need.

Not all rings of the same size will feel the same. For example, an 8mm wide band will feel tighter than a dainty 3mm wide band, even if they’re exactly the same size. You’ll need a larger size in an 8mm ring compared to a 3mm wide ring in order for it to feel equally comfortable.

Take this into account when stacking rings too. A 2mm ring that feels comfortable on its own may feel a little tight when worn with another ring or two stacked with it. So when you’re choosing a ring to add to a custom ring stack, or one that will eventually be part of an engagement ring, wedding ring and eternity ring set, worn together on the same finger, be sure to consider the size you need.

4. Fingers on your dominant hand are larger than your non-dominant hand.

The hand you use for most tasks gets more of a workout in your day to day life. With that, comes more strength, more muscle, and a larger finger size than the equivalent finger on your non-dominant hand. This important if you’re basing a ring size of a ring you wear already on the opposite hand.

If you wear a ring on your right hand ring finger, for example, your left hand ring finger (where an engagement ring is most often worn) will need a slightly smaller size for it to fit comfortably.

So, which ring size should you choose?

Taking these tips into account will give you a good sense of when to measure your size, how your size may change throughout the year, and what to base your decision on. Though it’s perfectly normal to end up with a few ring sizes to decide between.

Having your ring size assessed by a professional jeweller can take much of the guess work out of the process. A jeweller will take into account these factors, and the experiences they’ve had with clients just like you, to recommend a size they think you’ll be most happy with. If you’re choosing a Harlequin ring, we’ll also happily resize your new engagement ring for a year, so you can be sure to find your perfect size while you get used to wearing it.

Looking for some help to choose the right ring size for your next piece? Book an appointment with our jeweller for advice.

How to Incorporate Colour in Your Engagement Ring Design

Coloured gemstones are a beautiful way to make your engagement ring entirely unique. While you might be sure that you want some colour in your engagement ring, it can be trickier to decide exactly how you want to incorporate coloured gems into your design.

We’ve got you covered.

From colourful statements, to subtle accents of colour, here are 5 ideas for how to include colour in your engagement ring design.

1. Solitaire coloured gemstone engagement rings

Coloured gemstones are a beautiful statement all on their own, in a ‘solitaire’ engagement ring design. Whatever its size, a single coloured gemstone makes for a personal, unique, and practical engagement ring. Solitaire engagement rings can feature coloured gemstones in claw settings, bezel settings, wraparound designs, or inset into a band.

2. Coloured gemstone engagement rings with diamond accents

Coloured gemstones pair beautifully with diamonds of all shapes, sizes and styles. Surround a centre coloured gemstone with a halo, include diamonds in the band, or choose matching side stones for a modern trilogy engagement ring design. All these options work beautifully alongside a personal coloured gemstone, keeping the colour the focus of the design.

3. Engagement rings with coloured gemstone accents

If you love the idea of colour, but want a white diamond as the main feature of your engagement ring, coloured gemstones can be incorporated as a secondary feature of the design. Use them as accent stones in your band, halo, or side stones for a diamond engagement ring that’s uniquely yours. 

4. Engagement rings with multiple coloured gemstones

You can steer away from white diamonds entirely, and incorporate multiple different coloured gemstones into an engagement ring design. Whether you’re looking to represent multiple meanings, or have multiple favourite colours to include, you can create a ring that uses multiple colours in a way that’s both beautiful and unique.

5. Engagement rings with hidden coloured gemstones

For a more subtle way of incorporating colour into an engagement ring, you can consider setting a hidden coloured gemstone into your engagement ring design. Whether embedded inside a band, or below a setting, it’s a beautiful way to incorporate a sentimental meaning that only you and your partner know about.

These 5 ideas are just the beginning of what you can design for your unique coloured gemstone engagement ring. Book a time to meet with me, to begin designing your very own design with colour.

5 Ideas for Remodelling Jewellery

Many of us end up with precious metal jewellery in our lives that we don’t wear for many reasons, both practical and emotional. Whether it’s a loved engagement ring that has been damaged over the years, or a sentimental family heirloom that’s no longer in style, remodelling is a great way to turn a treasured piece into a piece you’re excited to wear again.

Here are 5 ideas to inspire your jewellery redesign.

1. Re-create an heirloom design

Heirloom jewellery that has become too worn and fragile to wear is often banished to a drawer, from fear of damaging it if you wear it. If you love the design, and want it to be part of the jewellery collection you wear, it’s possible to re-create it so that it’s strong and sturdy once more. The existing gemstones can be reworked into a new ring frame, to the same design as the original piece. Re-creating an heirloom in this way means the piece you love so much is strong enough to wear as part of your jewellery collection, instead of stashed away.

A loved original ring with worn out settings, before it was recreated.

The recreated ring is now strong and ready to enjoy wearing, without fear of damage.

2. Modernise your heirloom jewellery

Although fine jewellery trends aren’t as season-bound as clothing, jewellery designs do shift in styles over the years. Styles that were once very common decades ago may no longer be to your taste. Perhaps the setting style or band width is no longer what you like to wear, or your tastes have shifted to prefer more minimalistic or minimalist designs. This is very common for pieces we inherit as family heirlooms - the meaning of the piece may be hugely significant, but the style of generations past may simply be nothing like what we like to wear today.

Whatever the shift, it’s possible to reimagine the gemstones into a more modern jewellery design that better suits your current taste. The new piece keeps its sentimentality by including the original gemstones, except now you find joy in wearing them.

An heirloom emerald piece before it was remodelled.

The emerald ring remodelled into a more modern design that better suits the new owner.

3. Merge multiple jewellery pieces into one

For many, we end up with multiple pieces of jewellery in our unworn jewellery collection, with no specific attachment to any given one. Perhaps you’ve acquired a jewellery box of old treasures where the story of each piece individually isn’t significant. Or, you have smaller items that are made of precious metal, but your tastes have moved on as you’ve added others to your collection. A ring here. A pendant there. And it feels like a pile of gold and gems we don’t want to simply discard, but have absolutely no idea what to do with.

Remodelling these pieces into one single piece you love to wear, can transform these items into an everyday piece that becomes a beautiful part of your collection. It can be tricky to visualise a design that could possibly incorporate all the pieces you have, which can be the biggest barrier to making this happen. Though with a bit of inspiration from a jewellery designer, you might be surprised at what beautiful pieces can be made from old jewellery that become an irreplaceable part of your life.

A collection of jewellery that was no longer worn, before it was remodelled.

The remodelled piece, incorporating all the gemstones into one now loved piece.

4. Change the metal colour of your jewellery

Many of us have a strong preference for the metal colours we like to wear. Although it’s perfectly fine to wear different metal colours together, we often lean strongly toward yellow, white, or rose gold tones in the jewellery and accessories we choose to wear.

Sometimes our fine jewellery sits unworn because it’s not the colour we prefer - either because our tastes change over the years, or because we inherit pieces from loved ones who had a different preference. If you love the design of a fine jewellery piece, but hesitate to wear it purely because of the metal colour, remodelling it into your preferred metal will get you reaching for it as part of your everyday treasures.

An original white gold engagement ring, before remodelling.

The remodelled engagement ring, now with a rose gold band.

5. Create a replica of an original piece

For some jewellery pieces in our collection, remodelling the original piece isn’t the right option. There are many times where creating a replica may far better suit your reasons for not wearing a piece in the first place.

Sometimes we have such a strong attachment to the history of the item in its original state, and want to keep it as it is. We not be wearing it because it’s damaged (or we’re scared of damaging it) but can’t bear the thought of remodelling it. If it’s a design you would otherwise love to wear, commissioning a replica allows you have a version of the piece and the story it holds that you can wear as part of your everyday life, while preserving the original.

Other times, a piece may be an heirloom that has been passed down in a family with multiple children, who all have a strong attachment to the piece, and would love to wear it. Gemstones can be sourced that match the original piece, and brought to life in a piece that matches the original design, so that they all have a version of their own to treasure in their lives.

An heirloom handed down to two sisters, who both love the ring and memories it holds.

A replica of the heirloom, incorporating coloured gems, and shaped the way the original would have looked when new.

That wraps up 5 ways to remodel jewellery, to inspire you. If it’s time to get those heirlooms out of the drawer, book an appointment to explore your options for making you excited to wear them.

Jewellery Trends to Watch in 2025

Fine jewellery sees trends in a different way to fast fashion. High end gemstone jewellery, gold jewellery, and platinum jewellery, are pieces we enjoy in our collections for years, decades, and even generations. So trends are less of a chop-and-change passing fad. Instead, trends add to the memories and stories the piece is all about. They’re trends that we’ll love in our collections for the long haul.

We’ve covered the trends in engagement rings we’re watching in 2025. Now, let’s look at trends of dress pieces entering your collections at the moment. Here are the 4 trends we’re seeing at our Canberra jewellery studio to watch in 2025.

1. Luxury Signet Rings

There’s a strong, growing love of signet rings for all occasions. In the luxury jewellery space, signet rings are a representation of who we are, what we value, and what we love. It’s this sentiment that’s soaring in popularity, with designs incorporating the nuances of the important things we want to be conscious of as we go about our days.

As well, there’s a growing trend of signet-like ring profiles for diamond rings, with bezel settings that flow seamlessly to a wide look band. Either as an engagement ring, or a dress ring, this style is both modern, and practical to wear.

2. Pink Diamond Jewellery

Australia’s Argyle diamond mine - the most significant source of pink diamonds in the world since the 1980s - closed its operations in 2020. So, for the last few years, collectors have taken the chance to include this gemstone in everything from engagement rings, to wedding rings, to pendants and remodels.

Knowing they’ll be harder and harder to get hold of makes these pieces true treasures for gemstone lovers. Whether it’s as a feature gem, or a minor accent, each piece featuring Australian pink diamonds are a tangible piece of Australia’s (and the world’s) history of gemstones.

3. Inset Gemstone Rings

Rings with gemstones set flush with the band are becoming a highly sought after ring style, for all occasions. This style has been a favourite for remodelling multiple jewellery pieces into one cohesive band, though it’s now extending far further into designing new one of pieces as dress rings, wedding band, and milestone celebrations.

These wider style bands are comfortable to wear, durable, and are a modern way to incorporate colour into a ring style you’ll wear day to day, with the bonus that the gemstone is protected within the ring. Blue gemstones in particular - in all shades and gemstone varieties - are seeing the spotlight in a big way for this style of ring, with meaning and personality showing through in gemstone selections.

4. Heirloom Remodelling

While heirlooms have always been a loved treasure, there’s a growing interest in remodelling family jewellery and pieces from former chapters in our lives, into new pieces we can wear all the time - rather than stashing them in a safe place, to never see the light of day.

We’re seeing more and more people redesigning meaningful gemstones and design elements into fresh and sturdy new designs that allow them to keep the memories their heirlooms hold as part of their everyday life through jewellery. Each treasure is an honour to help recapture.

Emerging trends are a great way of finding fresh inspiration for a unique jewellery design, and adding to the time capsule that fine jewellery represents in your life-long collection. For help designing a piece that’s uniquely yours in 2025, book your complimentary appointment to delve into the process.

The Australian Engagement Ring Trends to Watch in 2025

Like all things we wear, jewellery has trends that come and go with the times. While engagement rings are more resistant to the fashions of clothing (after all, they’re an item we wear for a very long time, not just one season), there are still shifts in styles that flow through engagement ring designs as times and generations change.

While you don’t want to choose an engagement ring based solely on a “trend”, new designs and styles are great inspiration for finding fresh ideas you haven’t thought of, to find something that is uniquely yours to love for many years to come. Here are the 4 engagement ring trends I’ve seen emerge in Australia, to keep your eye on if you’re designing your ring this year.

1. Asymmetrical Engagement Rings

While engagement rings are typically thought of as a straight band with a centre gemstone in the middle, there are so many ways to design an engagement ring that challenge classic profiles.

Fluid shapes in gemstones and band shapes have shaken up what has historically been thought of as an engagement ring in a way that’s fresh, elegant, yet still timeless and wearable. Asymmetrical designs are growing in popularity with freeform gemstone cuts, angled settings, and flowing wraparound bands, to create engagement ring designs that feel very different to those of generations past.

2. East-West Set Engagement Rings

Traditionally, engagement rings with longer diamond shapes are set with the gemstone vertically, with their longest side angled up-to-down on the band. Recent years have seen more and more gemstones set horizontally, or east-to-west, on the band.

This style is particularly great for oval cut diamonds and emerald cut diamonds, and allows you to have the simplicity and practicality of a solitaire engagement ring, with a profile that feels modern too.

3. Engagement Rings with Patterns and Colours in the Band

Most trends for engagement rings revolve around the centre gemstone, or shape as a whole, though there’s growing attention to bringing a unique spin to engagement ring designs through the detail in the band, or the wedding ring alongside it. Smaller gemstones seem like a minor detail, though have a powerful impact on the style and uniqueness of a ring.

Traditionally, engagement ring bands have either been entirely plain, or had all diamonds along the band. There’s a growing interest in fresh takes on these two options for band designs, by playing with diamond arrangements, patterning, and colour, which opens up endless options. This is a beautiful way to draw in meaning and personality to your design, for example by incorporating birthstones, favourite colours, or reminders of important moments together for your unique engagement ring.

4. Solitaire Engagement Rings

It feels like cheating to include a ‘classic’ engagement ring design in a ‘trend’ round up. However the interest in solitaire engagement rings has been so strong lately, it had to make my list. Many couples are opting for a single, beautiful gemstone for their engagement ring, in a classic solitaire setting to celebrate their engagement.

With such a classic design, the gemstone becomes the all important detail. Choosing your solitaire ring brings the focus to choosing just one wonderful gemstone that you love. While the classic round brilliant cut diamond is always a favourite for engagement rings, they’re not the only shape being sought for solitaire ring designs. Brilliant cut diamonds of all shapes, sizes, and proportions are making their mark as a subtle but beautiful way to make solitaire engagement rings unique.

There’s an art to bringing these trends to an engagement ring design that feels modern, timeless, and perfectly suited to the person who wears it. Looking at these 4 trends is a great starting point to finding your perfect design.

For help designing an engagement ring that’s both fresh, and uniquely yours, book your complimentary appointment to chat directly with a jeweller.

6 Colours of the Spinel Gemstone

The gemstone Spinel has been use in jewellery for centuries - including in many famous pieces - yet has remained under the radar of fame. Red Spinels in particular were once used interchangeably with Ruby, and appear in many famous historical jewels. With growing knowledge of gemstones and gemmology, more is now known about this incredible gemstones and its characteristics.

Found naturally in almost any colour you can dream up, and strong and durable in composition, Spinels are a beautiful choice for a custom jewellery design. Here are 6 of many beautiful colours in this gemstone family.

1. Red Spinel

Just like the historically world famous Ruby, a fine quality Red Spinel is beautifully captivating. Found in all sorts of tones from sparkly bright reds, through to deep rich earthy reds, if red is your colour, you're bound to find a shade you love in this gem variety.

Beautiful Red Spinels have historically been mistaken as Rubies.

2. Blue Spinel

Although Blue Sapphire is the long standing famous blue coloured gem, Blue Spinel is a stunning blue variety for a unique custom jewellery piece. Colours can be found in rich blue shades normally associated with Sapphire, paler blues, greyish sleepy tones, and unique vibrant blue tones coloured by the element Cobalt. Their colours are also typically entirely natural, unlike other blue gemstones that often undergo heat treatment to achieve a beautiful hue.

Blue Spinel is a beautiful alternative to the more commonly known Blue Sapphire.

3. Pink Spinel

With colours that rival the ever popular Pink Sapphire, Pink Spinel is a gemstone that offers a unique option for those who love the colour pink in jewellery. Vibrant pink tones in particular are a specialty within this gemstone, with colours so captivating they glow - quite literally, in the case of ‘Neon Spinels’ or ‘Jedi Spinels’, which exhibit fluorescence in UV light. The unique optical properties of this gemstone make for a beautiful statement piece of jewellery.

Pink Spinels are beautiful for statement jewellery pieces.

4. Grey Spinel

If you're looking for a gemstone that isn't a diamond, but also want a neutral colour that will match everything you wear, Grey Spinel is a wonderful option - and one of few coloured gemstone varieties where Grey can be found. Grey Spinels are strong enough to be designed into an engagement ring for an alternative to a traditional diamond ring, and are beautiful worked into other jewellery designs like earrings and pendants.

Grey Spinel makes for a beautiful neutral coloured gemstone piece.

5. Orange Spinel

The colour orange is rarely seen in a retail jewellery display case, making it an excellent choice for jewellery wearers wanting something out of the ordinary. Orange Spinel, particularly in a vibrant hot orange, is a beautiful option to make a unique design a reality.

Orange gemstones, like this Hot Orange Spinel, are a unique choice for bespoke jewellery.

6. Purple Spinel

Spinels are found in purple shades from deep violet right through to pastel lavender finds. It’s one of the few gemstone varieties that offer purple as a colour choice strong enough for an every day piece of jewellery.

Purple Spinels are one of few purple gemstone varieties that are strong enough for engagement rings.

With its huge array of colours, and excellent strength, Spinel is an incredible gemstone variety for coloured gemstone jewellery. From deep, rich shades, to pastel colours, there is a huge variety of colours to be explored and enjoyed.

To explore this unique family of gemstones, book an appointment directly with our jeweller.

5 Blue Gemstone Varieties

An ever popular and versatile colour, blue gemstones are the most desired colour of gem for heirloom fine jewellery. Gemstones can be found in any blue shade you can dream into existence, from dreamy pastels, to vivid deep blues. Here are 5 of my favourite blue gemstone varieties to work with.

1. Sapphire

An excellent choice for engagement rings, and frequently worn in dress pieces, Sapphires have been loved in jewellery for centuries. It’s no surprise that Blue Sapphire holds a solid place in the ‘big 3’ most popular coloured gemstone varieties of all time. Blue Sapphires are found worldwide, including right here in Australia, which is home to some exceptional Blue Sapphire discoveries.

2. Aquamarine

A beautiful pastel variety, the Aquamarine is a familiar variety on the gemstone scene. Aquamarine occurs naturally in very large sizes, making them a popular choice for big statement pieces - plus, for this particular gem, a bigger size means a richer colour, making larger stones that much more appealing.

3. Spinel

A lesser known gemstone variety, the Spinel (spi-NEL if you’re wondering how to pronounce it) is one of the jewellery industry’s best kept secrets. Strong and durable, Spinels are perfect for a wide range of jewellery pieces, including engagement rings which call for hard wearing gems. Blue Spinels can be found in rich deep blue colours through to vibrant blue shades thanks to the element Cobalt that colours some of these gems.

4. Tourmaline

While better known for its green and pink varieties, Tourmaline is also found in magnificent blues. With rich blue colours, and vibrant flashes as they catch the light, Blue Tourmaline is a lesser known yet beautiful choice for a blue gemstone piece.

A special type of Tourmaline, ‘Paraiba Tourmaline’ is a candidate for the most refined of gem connoisseurs. Their colour is other worldly, reminiscent of vibrant azure waters, with an almost neon blue glow that draws you right in. Best suited for pendants and earrings, a Paraiba Tourmaline is sure to become a conversation starter for any wearer.

5. Tanzanite

Found in only one location in the world, Tanzanite is a relatively recent gem to appear in jewellery history. Tanzanites are found in vivid blue shades, and beautiful violetish blue shades, with personality unlike any other gemstone around. Best suited to pendants and earrings, Tanzanites are stunning both on their own and paired with diamonds.

Looking to bring a blue gemstone into your very own fine jewellery collection? Book an appointment to explore these and many more beautiful gemstone varieties for your next piece.

4 Coloured Gemstones for Engagement Rings

While white diamonds have been the dominant choice of gemstones for engagement rings for many years, there are many more gemstone options out there if you’re looking for an engagement ring with colour.

Engagement rings are often a piece of jewellery that’s worn every day, so it makes sense to choose a gemstone variety that’s durable. Luckily, there are durable gemstone varieties that are found in a stunningly diverse range of colours. Here are my 4 go-to coloured gemstone varieties for including in an engagement ring design.

1. Coloured Diamond Engagement Rings

White diamonds are the most well known of all diamonds, but they aren’t the only colour that diamonds can be. Coloured diamonds are just as strong and durable as their white counterparts, so are an excellent choice for a coloured engagement ring.

The range of colours, and the subtle variations within them make each coloured diamond stunningly unique. We often reach for Pink Diamonds and Yellow Diamonds as both feature gemstones, or secondary accents in engagement ring designs. Blue diamonds make for beautiful icy blue additions, and there are even diamond colours so unique that they defy conversational colour descriptions.

Coloured Diamonds also allow a choice of local Australian mined gemstones, with Pink, Cognac, and Champagne diamonds found locally.

2. Sapphire Engagement Rings

One of the most famous blue coloured gemstones for very good reason, Sapphires make for beautiful features in engagement rings. They’re one of the strongest coloured gemstone varieties, making them a sensible and stunning choice for an engagement ring that will be worn every day.

Blue Sapphires are found all around the world, including Australia, Sri Lanka, Montana, and Madagascar. They’re found in shades from deep rich blues, right through to pastels, and are faceted into a wide variety of shapes, giving you endless options for a unique feature gemstone in your engagement ring. Small blue sapphires are also beautiful bright additions as accents to a diamond engagement ring.

3. Fancy Sapphire Engagement Rings

While Blue Sapphires are by far the most famous, ‘Fancy Sapphire’ is the term used to describe all other colours Sapphire can be found in - and that spectrum of colour is huge. From bright yellows, to deep greens, to rare peachy pink Padparadscha sapphires, and even Parti Sapphires that feature multiple colours in one gems, there’s a colour for every taste in this magnificent gemstone family.

If you’re looking for a statement gemstone in an engagement ring, in a very specific colour, or one so unique that no one else will have, Fancy Sapphire is an excellent rabbit hole to explore for your perfect coloured gemstone.

4. Spinel Engagement Rings

If you haven’t heard of Spinel (pronounced spi-NEL), get ready to be in awe. It’s a lesser known, yet exquisite gemstone that’s perfect for a unique engagement ring.

Spinels are especially beautiful in big bold colours that make an incredible statement in a coloured engagement ring. Our favourite spinel colours include neon pink, rich red, peachy tones, and bright cobalt blues, though they are also found in a huge range of other colours.

There’s something about the way Spinels play with colour and light that makes them intriguing from the second you see one in real life. Plus, their relative obscurity in common gemstone knowledge makes them an excellent conversation starter every day that engagement ring is on your finger.

Looking to bring to life your very own coloured gemstone engagement ring? Book your complimentary appointment to begin exploring your ideas and the wonderful world of gemstones with our colour-loving jeweller.