I wanted this collection to feel nautical, and to echo the beautiful, rugged textures and colours of the Cornish Coastline, like something plucked from a rock pool.
British fine jewellery designer Ruth Tomlinson celebrates unconventional beauty in her work, spotlighting the individuality of alternative gemstones. Compelled to discover what the British Isles has to offer in terms of precious materials, Ruth has created a series of capsule collections, titled DiscoveRings, using minerals from the United Kingdom. This second instalment of her collection was handcrafted at her London atelier and pays homage to the beautiful Cornish coastline in vivid blue gemstones that evoke its turquoise waters, grey diamonds that represent Cornish cliffs, and intricate gold work reminiscent of tangled seaweed, fishermen's rope, and beachcombed treasures. Each piece was created from a historic piece of Cornish Turquoise, acquired from the collection of noted Cornish scholar and collector Dr. Maurice G. Weller, which came into Ruth's possession as part of a selection of 100 geological specimens. A note that came with the stone indicates that it was mined from the Gunheath China Clay pit near St Austell, which is now no longer in operation. The turquoise was raw and rough, with areas of quartz, porcelain and iron on its surface: keen to embrace these natural features in her jewellery, Ruth worked with local lapidarist Alaa Hindia to produce smaller, organic shapes that celebrate the natural finish of the stone, so that each handcut gemstone is totally unique in shape and character.
This rock that was unearthed over 100 years ago had the most beautiful patina of age and a dusting of porcelain. I was keen to embrace the uniqueness and character that nature gave this stone, and saw the beauty in the rough surface of the rock, choosing not to polish or treat it but to try and embrace and preserve it as it was discovered. It was the beautiful, undulating textured surface that was so alluring and interesting to work with, and in the process of cutting I was led by what the stone gave me and what it revealed.
Ruth Tomlinson