Wearing the same staple pieces every day is a wonderful way to honour your favourite jewellery. From the luxurious look of white gold to vintage tones of yellow gold, gemstones elevate your look to new levels of sparkle and beauty. The secret to ensuring your jewellery remains radiant lies not only in proper care and maintenance, but also in the choices you make at the very beginning of your journey when selecting a new addition to your collection.
In this article, we highlight some of our favourite gemstones that are ideal for daily wear, along with a selection of some of our cherished pieces that we love.
Brilliant Diamond Gemstones
One of the most popular gemstones that is incorporated into jewellery are diamonds, and, for good reason. With a hardness of 10 on the Mohs scale, diamonds are the more resilient gemstone there is, making them a wonderful highlighting piece for every outfit.
Diamonds became popular as the “engagement ring” stone thanks to the 1950s De Beers campaign Diamonds are Forever, fronted by Hollywood star, Marilyn Monroe. The campaign launched and within weeks diamonds became the symbol of everlasting love and a promise between partners.
Today, the timeless allure of diamonds continues to be captured in exquisite creations such as diamond necklaces, cascading drop earrings, and the now-iconic tennis bracelet. The bracelet itself owes its name to a memorable moment at the 1987 U.S. Open, when legendary tennis champion Chris Evert’s diamond bracelet snapped mid-match as she swung her racket. The game was paused while she carefully retrieved the scattered stones from the court. Though the bracelet was damaged, the diamonds remained unharmed, and from that moment on, the "tennis bracelet" became synonymous with elegance, endurance, and a touch of sporting history.
Diamonds are a perfect way to encapsulate a touch of luxury, whether you are looking for a sparkling diamond necklace to elevate your casual everyday, or perhaps a set of diamond cuff earrings that can transcend your look from day to evening in a single outfit change.
The Diamond Edit
Stunning Sapphires
Sapphires are great precious gemstone to include in your daily jewellery. Their varieties of colours and hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale enables a versatility and durability that other gemstones do not, as well as a beautiful sparkle that is reminiscent of diamonds. While most commonly associated with a deep royal blue, sapphires occur in a stunning array of colours, each offering its own unique charm.
Their popularity soared through centuries of royal and cultural admiration, symbolising wisdom, loyalty, and nobility. In modern times, sapphires gained renewed global attention when Catherine, Princess of Wales, began wearing a pair of elegant sapphire earrings once belonging to Princess Diana. These heirloom pieces, paired with her iconic sapphire engagement ring, have redefined the gemstone’s place in contemporary elegance, making sapphires a timeless choice for those seeking beauty, heritage, and enduring sophistication.
Whether you are desiring a subtle addition to your look, or to truly make a statement with a stunning Diamond and Sapphire engagement ring, these gemstones have the versatility to embrace a multitude of outfits and styles.
The Sapphire Edit
Radiant Rubies
Renowned for their captivating crimson hue, rubies are among the most sought-after gemstones in the world. Composed of corundum, rubies possess an impressive hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale, making them second to diamonds in durability and on the same level as sapphires. Their deep red colour, caused by trace amounts of chromium, has long symbolised passion, power, and protection.
Most notably worn throughout the Tudor era, rubies held great significance in identifying royalty and the court. Jewellery was given intentionally to lovers from admirers to confirm a relationship, and rubies were known to be some of the most popular choice of gifts. One of the most famous ruby jewellery pieces was worn by film star, Elizabeth Taylor. Taylor was gifted a stunning, festoon-style diamond and ruby necklace by her husband, Mike Todd on their trip to the French Rivera in 1957.
These precious gemstones work effortlessly into many different styles, and add a layer of warm tones into your autumnal look. Pairing elegant ruby earrings with a simple necklace offers balanced, subtle touch of luxury while Ruby rings offer a dazzling addition your outfit.
The Ruby Edit
Related: The Radiance of Rubies
Discover your Everyday Statement piece at Michael Spiers
It is important to remember that no matter the strength of the precious stone, as with any jewellery, taking good care of them is key to keeping their brilliance and shine. A regular polish from Michael Spiers can bring them back their sparkle. Our expert jewellers can also spot any potential risks like broken clasps or lose precious gemstones and help fix your pieces if you so wish.
When choosing the perfect pieces to add to your Autumn wardrobe, discover pieces that elevate your look for both day and evening events at our Showrooms in Truro, Plymouth, Exeter and Taunton.
