Stittgen Fine Jewelry proprietor Selina Ladak put a twinkle in the eyes of attendees, who got a glimpse at some of the world’s rarest gemstones at the special event.
Ladak handpicked the brilliant bracelets, rings, earrings and necklaces herself – each encrusted with extraordinary jewels. Stittgen has exclusively partnered with a luxury purveyor of diamond and coloured gemstone jewelry.
“The quality of the gemstones is outstanding,” says Ladak. “Each piece showcases a rare collection of incredible and rare gemstones of the finest quality – truly one-of-a-kind gems found nowhere else.”
Picture rare pigeon blood rubies – the most vibrant colour and natural red fluorescence possible for this gemstone – and a dazzling diamond necklace studded with two-carat, flawless stones.
“They are the ultimate,” describes Ladak of the baubles Stittgen had on display for one day only.
While wowed by them all, it was some stunning natural blue sapphire gemstones that took Ladak’s breath away – definitely jewelry you don’t see every day.
“When you are looking at a 10-carat sapphire that is not heat treated and the incredible brilliance that comes out – it literally takes your breath away,” says Ladak.
And these sapphire stones are the real deal. Did you know close to 90 per cent of sapphires purchased are colour enhanced or heat treated?
“We don’t talk about it because it’s just the norm now,” explains Ladak.
Only a precious few sapphire crystals naturally have a vibrant colour. The rest catch up through heat treatment which can improve the clarity of a sapphire by removing or reducing inclusions. A sure-fire way to tell if a sapphire is pure is if it comes with a certificate of authenticity, says Ladak.
Stittgen will now have access to these rare jewels through this luxury gemstone purveyor, which flies under the radar for security reasons. This partnership puts Stittgen in the same company as some of the big-name jewelry houses of the world.
“We are just very excited that they partnered with us,” says Ladak. “It’s a big feather in our cap as well.”
Clients interested in a ruby or sapphire that’s a cut above the rest can make an appointment at Stittgen to view the sparklers and create a unique piece of jewelry.
“We shy away from trends, but our designs are still fashion forward,” explains Ladak. “These are pieces that one would hand down from generation to generation, therefore we strive for timeless elegance.”
While round brilliant cut diamonds are always popular, says Ladak, each client’s taste is unique. Some may opt for a unique or unusual coloured stone, or a more complex design with no centre stone at all. “Having said that, it’s nice to see oval diamonds gaining some interest,” adds Ladak.
The Christmas season has a way of making us sentimental. Stittgen sees clients this time of the year, says Ladak, who want to present a loved one with a highly personalized piece of jewelry.
Last Christmas a gentleman came to Stittgen with an idea to honour his wife and etch their story into a gold ring. The couple owns a tree company and a special cottage, where they love to watch sunsets.
A Stittgen goldsmith was able to create a ring with miniature art to tell the story. Tiny trees symbolized the couple’s livelihood, while the sunset was depicted by a diamond.
“Christmas is a time to reflect back on our lives over the previous year, a time to be thankful for those who are most important to us,” says Ladak. “Their Christmas gifts become the family heirlooms passed on to following generations, and as such their choices are usually meaningful and significant.”
