FAQs

We specialise in fine coloured gemstones — principally rubies, sapphires and emeralds, alongside spinel, alexandrite, tsavorite, tourmaline, tanzanite, padparadscha and other rarities as they come to us. Our focus is the upper end of the market: stones chosen for colour, life and character rather than volume. We also create finished high jewellery, and hold a selection of vintage and antique pieces.

The great majority of our stones are accompanied by a report from an independent, internationally recognised gemmological laboratory — typically GRS, GIA, SSEF, Gübelin or AIGS, depending on the stone. Where a certificate exists it is shown on the stone's own page and travels with the stone when it is sold.

Smaller stones, calibrated goods and some lots are not always certified, as the cost of a report can be disproportionate to the stone. If a stone you are looking at has no certificate listed and you would like one, tell us — we can usually arrange lab submission before purchase, at cost.

Most rubies and sapphires on the world market have been heat treated — a permanent, long-accepted process that improves colour and clarity. A stone described as unheated has never been treated at all. Unheated stones of good colour are considerably rarer, and are priced accordingly.

Emeralds are graded differently again: they are almost always clarity-enhanced with oil, and the accepted scale runs from no oil and insignificant through minor, moderate and beyond. The less enhancement, the rarer and more valuable the stone.

We state the treatment of every stone we sell, exactly as the laboratory reports it. Treatment is not a flaw — a beautifully heated stone can outshine a mediocre unheated one — but it is central to value, so we never leave it ambiguous.

We photograph and film every stone ourselves, in consistent lighting, and we do not colour-correct to flatter. That said, no screen reproduces a gemstone perfectly — colour shifts with light source, and the life and brilliance of a stone are things a still image cannot really carry. This is why we include video wherever we can, and why we would always rather you saw an important stone in person.

If you would like additional images, video under a particular light, or a specific measurement, just ask. We are happy to shoot a stone to order.

Pieces marked Buy Online can be purchased directly through the website. Pieces marked By Appointment are available, but we ask that you speak with us first — usually because the stone is significant enough that we would rather walk you through it properly, discuss the certificate, and let you see it before committing.

Nothing is being withheld from you. You can book an appointment or contact us about any piece on the site.

Yes, and we would encourage it for any significant purchase. We hold stock in Bangkok and Dubai and can arrange a private viewing at either. If you cannot travel to us, we can often arrange a video call where you can see the stone moved under different lighting in real time, which is far more informative than photographs alone.

Book an appointment and tell us which pieces you would like brought out.

Online orders are processed securely by Stripe, which accepts all major credit and debit cards. Your card details are entered directly with Stripe and are never stored on our servers.

For larger purchases we also accept bank transfer, which is often the more practical route internationally. Please get in touch and we will issue a proforma invoice with our banking details.

All prices are set and charged in US dollars, the standard currency of the international coloured stone trade. If your browser is set to another region you may see an approximate converted figure for guidance — the amount actually charged to your card will be the US dollar price. Your bank may apply its own conversion rate and, in some cases, a foreign transaction fee.

Yes. We ship worldwide from Bangkok and Dubai, fully insured for the value of the stone, via secure specialist courier. Shipments are tracked door to door and require a signature on delivery.

Delivery timescales depend on the destination and on any export documentation the stone requires. We will confirm the expected timeline with you once your order is placed. Please see our shipping policy for full details.

Import duties, customs charges and local taxes are set by the destination country and are the responsibility of the buyer. They are not included in the price shown or in the shipping cost. Rates vary widely by country, so if you would like an indication before ordering, ask us and we will tell you what we have seen for your destination.

Yes. If a stone is not what you expected, you may return it within 7 days of delivery for a refund, provided it comes back to us unworn, unaltered and in its original packaging with all certificates and documentation intact.

Return shipping must be fully insured and is arranged at the buyer's cost; we will tell you exactly how to send it. Once the stone is back with us and verified as the piece that left, we will refund it.

Bespoke and custom-made pieces, resized or altered jewellery, and stones recut or set to your specification cannot be returned, as they cannot be resold as they were. We will always make this clear before any such work begins.

Yes — this is a large part of what we do. We can design and manufacture around a stone you buy from us, or around a stone you already own. The process usually runs from an initial conversation about what you want, through sketches and CAD renders for approval, to setting and finishing.

Timescales depend on the complexity of the piece; a straightforward ring is typically several weeks, more involved work longer. Start with an appointment and we will talk it through.

We do both. If you have a fine coloured stone or a piece of period jewellery you are considering selling, we are happy to look at it. Send photographs, dimensions and any laboratory reports through our contact page and we will tell you honestly whether it is something for us and what we think it is worth.

Warm water, a drop of mild washing-up liquid and a soft brush will safely clean almost any stone. Rinse well and pat dry.

Avoid ultrasonic and steam cleaners unless we have specifically told you the piece is suitable — they can be genuinely destructive to emeralds, to oiled or fracture-filled stones, and to anything with existing inclusions reaching the surface. Keep gemstones away from household bleach and harsh chemicals, remove rings before heavy manual work, and store pieces separately so harder stones cannot scratch softer ones.

Emeralds deserve a particular note: their oil treatment is not permanent and can dry out over years. Re-oiling is routine, expected maintenance rather than a repair — we are glad to take care of it.

Please get in touch — a real person will answer. If your question is about a specific stone, include the stock code shown on its page and we can go straight to it.