The inspiration:
This limited collection of two-stone necklaces was designed to symbolize your own inextinguishable light: the light you see as yourself and the light that you show to the world.

The materials:
A radiant pink tourmaline and rose-cut red garnet sing together in a simple, organic setting made from gleaming recycled silver.

The history:
Tourmaline has been adored as a gemstone for centuries, but was often mistaken for other coloured gems like emerald and ruby because of its vast colour range. The ancient Egyptians believed that tourmalines were fragments of a rainbow that the crystals broke through as they grew up from the earth. Historically (when not mistaken for another gemstone!) tourmaline was worn to strengthen insight and awareness, and was thought to have a strong calming and balancing effect against the stresses of everyday life. It is now celebrated as a birthstone for October.

Garnets comprise their own mineral classification, with distinct varieties in yellow, orange, red, brown and even vibrant green. Red garnets were one of the most common gemstones used throughout the Roman Empire and by those predominantly northern peoples who then took over the territory of the Western Roman Empire. Throughout history, garnets have symbolized passion, power and creativity. It was historically considered a warrior's stone, often worn for protection and expanded awareness. It is now celebrated as the birthstone of January babies and as loved as a beautiful, durable gemstone and for its myriad industrial and technological uses.

The process:
I have recycled almost all of the silver used to make this pendant; melting sterling scrap down to form silver ingots, flattening and drawing the silver down to plate (and sometimes wire) using hammers and my rolling mill, and then using this newly reclaimed silver to create my work. This simple, striking design sets the glowing pink tourmaline, haloed with tiny silver beads, atop the rose-cut almandine garnet in this gentle, organically shaped pendant. The stones are neatly set in clean-edge bezels on a solid, polished backplate to enhance their beautiful color, and the silver throughout has been polished and pantinaed for dramatic contrast and shine. A tiny sterling ring connects the pendant to its delicate chain, which is finished with a light-weight sterling silver spring-ring clasp and faceted pink tourmaline and garnet beaded links at 16” (41 cm), 18” (46 cm) and 20” (51 cm) for an customizable fit.

The details:

• Pendant height: 22 mm

• Pendant width: 10 mm

• Stone cut & size: tourmaline cabochon, 4×6 mm; rose-cut almandine garnet, 6×13 mm

• Chain length: 20” (51 cm) total, with adjustability at 18” (46 cm) and 16” (41 cm)

• Recycled components: silver pendant construction

• Stone source: Tourmaline - this has been in my collection for many years, but I believe it came from a company called New Age gems in Victoria, British Columbia. Garnet - Little Rock Jewellery, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

My promise:
All of my jewelry is made by me, by hand, in my little home studio and will be shipped to you as shown, beautifully packaged and ready for gift-giving to someone special (like yourself!) I am a life-long artist and designer, and I take great care and pride in creating one of a kind jewels that evolve from my own design, emotion and inspiration, rather than trend, imitation or artifice. It means the world to me that you've witnessed my work - thank you for being here, and for shopping and supporting handmade!