Unearthing Origins: The Story Behind Our New MARINE Collection

Earlier this year, I travelled to Central Queensland, tracing the origin of our Australian sapphires featured in our MARINE collection. From fossicking sites and an underground mine to the careful hands that cut each stone, this trip offered a deeper understanding of where our materials are sourced and the people connected to them throughout our supply chain.

As a gemmologist, it was an opportunity to reconnect with the full story behind the stones I work with every day. The MARINE collection is a celebration of that experience. It’s a reflection of our respect for natural beauty, our commitment to responsible sourcing, and our enduring connection to the people and places that shape the pieces we create.

“AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECONNECT WITH THE FULL STORY BEHIND THE STONES I WORK WITH EVERYDAY”

THE GEMFIELDS

In the gem fields of Central Queensland, everything slows down.

There’s a sense of quiet, the air is hot and dry, and the dust from the red earth clings to everything. This is where our Australian sapphires begin their journey. Long before they’re polished and set, they lie buried beneath layers of earth, brought to the surface by millions of years of volcanic activity and erosion. 

The team and I arrived in Rubyvale, a town known for its sapphires and the families who have dedicated their lives to finding them. At Tomahawk Creek, we met artisanal miners in search of the elusive “wash”, a thin, precious seam of earth where sapphires hide. It’s a task that demands patience. In the heat, under the open sun, there is no quick way to uncover a stone.

“THERE IS NO QUICK WAY TO UNCOVER A STONE”

THE WASH

The next morning, we witnessed the next stage of the process unfold. At an artisanal wash plant, gravel was loaded into a trommel, a rotating drum that, with the help of water, separates the heavier stones from the dirt. Its slow rotation and steady flow separates the lighter material, like sand and gravel, leaving the denser, more precious stones behind.

“I WAS FILLED WITH ANTICIPATION, WAITING TO SEE IF SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY WOULD EMERGE FROM THE EARTH”

Then it happened. A flash of colour in the pan, deep blue, a hint of gold, some subtle greens. Australian sapphires are known for their complexity and unique colouration. Rich in iron and titanium, their hues shift casting a spectrum of colour as they catch the light.

THE CUTTING

Later, we spent time with our cutter, who carefully studies each piece of sapphire rough to reveal the best possible stone within. It’s a true collaboration with nature, every facet cut by hand, with an instinctive feel for the gem’s character. 

I chose to work with our cutter because of their unique talent, a rare ability to bring out the most incredible forms from the rough. I’ve seen thousands of stones over the years, in every cut imaginable. But these are truly special.

“I’VE SEEN THOUSANDS OF STONES OVER THE YEARS, IN EVERY CUT IMAGINABLE. BUT THESE ARE TRUELY SPECIAL”

As we left Rubyvale, I saw the collection in a new light. I had always known that the stones we use, and the suppliers we partner with, are exceptional. But being there, in the place where each sapphire begins its journey, gave me a deeper appreciation for the craft, the generational knowledge, and the hands that shape every stage of the process.

This experience made the MARINE collection even more meaningful to me. Yes, it’s a celebration of Australian sapphires, but it’s also a tribute to where they come from, and to the people who bring these incredible stones to life. Here in the studio, we honour that journey by designing every ring individually to respond to the unique character of each sapphire.