Gemstones
Why Burmese Rubies Command a Premium
The Mogok Valley has produced rubies for over a thousand years. Understanding what makes them different, and why the difference matters, is the first step to buying one wisely.
October 20266 min read
Continental Jewellers · The Journal
The Continental Journal
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Occasional notes on rare stones, the art of collecting, and the stories that make jewellery worth keeping.
Written for Those Who Care
The Continental Journal is not a newsletter in the conventional sense. We write when we have something worth saying, a stone with an unusual provenance, a question we are asked often enough to answer properly, a piece of history that illuminates the present. We hope you find it worth your time.
Education
The Truth About Emerald Treatments
Almost every emerald in the world has been treated with oil or resin. This is not deception, it is industry practice. What matters is disclosure, degree and durability.
September 20265 min read
Collecting
On Buying Jewellery as an Investment
Jewellery can hold and appreciate in value, but only if you understand what you are buying and why. A guide to collecting with both the heart and the head.
August 20268 min read
Heritage
The Padparadscha: Sri Lanka's Most Elusive Stone
Named for the lotus blossom, the padparadscha sapphire occupies a category of its own. What defines it, why it is so rare, and what to look for when you find one.
July 20267 min read
Craft
What Makes a Commission Different from a Purchase
When you commission a piece, you are not choosing from what exists. You are deciding what should exist. The process is slower, more personal, and entirely different in result.
June 20265 min read
Education
Alexandrite: The Stone That Changes Its Mind
Alexandrite shifts from green in daylight to red under incandescent light. It is one of the rarest colour-change phenomena in the natural world, and one of the most misunderstood.
May 20266 min read
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