Ruby And Druzy Earrings

Small faceted rubies suspend over larger pink druzy cobalt calcite stones from 9ct gold links. All set in rich 22ct gold and backed with sterling silver, with large earrings scroll backs. These earrings are both fun and elegant, and the pink hues deliciously complement the warm yellow gold. 

Height: 3.3cm, width: 1.2cm

Ruby, the birthstone of July, is known as the “king of precious stones” for its rarity, hardness (second only to diamond), beauty and seemingly mystical powers. Long associated with the life force blood, ruby was a symbol of power and youthful energy in ancient jewellery. It is also the gem that married couples traditionally gift on their 40th wedding anniversary.

The Designer

Charmian Harris was born in Bath, Somerset in 1953 and spent much of her early childhood in Nigeria, returning to England aged 9 when her family settled in Cambridge. She trained initially in ceramics at Cambridge School of Art, later specialising in ceramics at the West Surrey School of Art, Farnham.

Charmian works in different carats and colours of gold as well as silver, precious and semiprecious stones. Sometimes she works with sea glass and dichroic glass and also unusual pebbles from rivers and beaches. She often fuses the metal before use, giving it a texture and softness that she enjoys. She uses charcoal blocks to cast the shanks of rings and to make the solid gold and silver beads which she uses as components in necklaces. Charmian uses hand tools and very simple equipment. Each piece is individually made.

She cuts and shapes her own stones, when necessary, using a diamond saw and carborundum wheels. Her stones come from all over world…sometimes she travels to choose them herself, otherwise she buys them from collectors, dealers and, in the case of Australian Opals, from the miners themselves.

Jewellery Care