L E G E N D A R Y  B E A U T Y

We recently created a custom piece—which we are always happy to do—that featured one secret ruby, for protection, on the inside of a Galaxy Ring. 

Many of our pieces are pavé set with precious, colored gemstones—diamonds, rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and tanzanites. We love the forest green of emeralds and the fiery crimson of rubies, and the ethereal beauty of light bouncing off of a stone's facets. Gemstones are prized for their beauty—and have been for eons—but they're also intellectually fascinating. Gemstones appear in the oldest texts, in religious ceremonies, and in mythology with frequency. Here, some information on the histories and lore of the stones that we use in SK jewelry!

R U B I E S

Rubies are considered to be the “king of precious stones," now some of the most sought after of all gemstones. They appear in the Bible, where they're depicted as providers of beauty and wisdom. Ancient Hindus believed that if they offered rubies to their god Krishna, they'd be reborn as emperors, and in cultures around the world, rubies were believed to represent life—for their likeness to the color of blood. They represent good health, wealth, wisdom, and success in love. 

Shop a few of our favorite ruby SK pieces here, here, and here!

 S A P P H I R E S

Sapphires symbolize nobility, truth, sincerity, and faithfulness, long worn by royalty and clergy members. In ancient Greece and Rome, sapphires were thought to protect their owners envy and harm. During the Middle Ages, the clergy wore blue sapphires to symbolize Heaven, and ordinary folks thought the gem attracted heavenly blessings. In other times and places, people instilled sapphires with the power to guard chastity, make peace between enemies, influence spirits, and reveal the secrets of oracles.

Shop a few of our favorite sapphire SK pieces here, here, and here!

D I A M O N D S

Many of our pieces are pavé set with diamonds, which represent power, strength, innocence, incorruptibility, longevity, constancy, and good fortune. They're a symbol of spiritual, physical, and psychic sight, clairvoyance, and telepathic communication. Diamonds are also said to increase the power of other stones. Diamonds are also, as you well know, often symbolic of love—and so they're frequently used in ceremony and weddings bands. Our Amor ring, a fixture of our Wedding Collection, refers to the Greek god of love. The ring has two bands set with pavé diamonds and a solitaire stone diamond on the middle band. 

 Shop a few of our favorite diamond SK pieces here, here, and here!

E M E R A L D S

Emeralds hold an immense amount of power, perhaps first demonstrated by a story in which King Solomon was given an emerald that gave him power over everything. Emeralds reveal truth in all situations, and are especially believed to do so in love: emeralds allow people to detect truth or lies in the words of their lovers. They are also said, if placed under the tongue, to allow a person to see into the future.

T A N Z A N I T E S

Tanzanite was discovered in 1967 by a Masai tribesman, who stumbled upon the gem. Although the discovery of the stone was fairly recent, it's quickly become one of the most popular gemstones in the world. Tanzanite it said to enhance spiritual awareness, relieve stress and depression, and enhance composure and harmony. Tanzanite is also said to transmute negativity. The Atlas Bleu combines tanzanites and sapphires with 18k golds of yellow and gold. 

Did you know that most of the information that we have on the lore and storied histories of gemstones come from texts on the subject that were written, well, when the first books were written? Many of most ancient of all books and scripts that we have access to describe the importance of stones—and over time the stories have stayed in place. 

Jewelry and gemstones—whether wedding rings, protective totems, or gifts, appear in most mythological and ancient stories. 

If there is a specific myth, story, or stone that is important to you (a birthstone, perhaps?) head to our Custom page—we'd be honored to work with you to create a piece that features this stone, or to create a gift that has a certain stone (or set of stone) for a person that you love. 

Want to learn more? Head to Vogue.com to read an article by one of our SK writers, titled Rubies for Blood, Emeralds for Truth: The Hidden Meanings and Histories of Your Favorite Gemstones!