THE LANGUAGE OF JEWELLERY
A guide to crafting and selecting fine pieces
These gemstones occur naturally in nature and are mined from the ground. The traditional classification of natural gemstones goes back to the ancient Greeks, who created a distinction between precious and semi-precious stones. Precious stones include emeralds, rubies, sapphires and diamonds, with all other gemstones falling into the latter category. In their purest form, natural gemstones are translucent with colour, with the exception of the colourless diamond.
NATURAL GEMSTONES
Lab - created gemstones are man-made as opposed to being mined from the ground like their natural counterparts and as a result, are free from the destructive environmental effects of mining. Lab - created synthetic gemstones have an identical composition and chemical structure to natural gemstones. They also carry the same colour, hardness and brilliance. Fine jewellery made with lab-created gemstones has less environmental impact and provides a responsible option.
LAB-CREATED GEMSTONES
Experience the allure of gemstones with a conscientious twist through our lab-grown simulated gemstones. Meticulously crafted, these gems offer a sustainable and affordable alternative, balancing beauty and durability. While they share captivating optical qualities, vibrant colors, and brilliance with their natural counterparts, they stand out with distinct gemological properties.
SIMULATED GEMSTONE
GEMSTONES
Unparalleled Quality and Durability
Our lab-created gemstones undergo a meticulous selection process, ensuring they match or exceed the optical and gemological qualities of their natural counterparts. This commitment results in stones of perfect clarity, brilliance, and durability, promising enduring quality that lasts a lifetime.
Traditional artistry and modern techniques
The use of lab-created gemstones reflects our embrace of innovation and technological precision. By leveraging advancements in gemstone synthesis, we are showcasing a blend of traditional artistry and modern techniques.
Ethical Craftsmanship and Sustainability
By opting for lab-created gemstones, we contribute to responsible practices by avoiding traditional mining. This choice aligns with our commitment to sustainability, providing customers with ethically crafted alternatives that embody the essence of responsible luxury.
Customization Possibilities
Lab-created gemstones provide the opportunity for customization, allowing us to tailor pieces according to specific preferences. This flexibility enhances our ability to cater to diverse tastes, reinforcing our brand's commitment to individuality and personalization.
Consistency and Perfection:
Lab-created gemstones offer unparalleled consistency in terms of color, clarity, and brilliance. Free from the variations found in naturally mined stones, our creations present a level of perfection that elevates the overall aesthetic and value of our jewelry.
Reduced Environmental Impact
Choosing lab-created gemstones aligns with our brand's dedication to minimising environmental impact. The avoidance of traditional mining reduces ecological disturbance, reinforcing our role as a conscientious and environmentally responsible brand.
About Lab grown and created created gemstones Our gemstones are crafted using laboratory-grown and created techniques, ensuring top-notch quality and durability. Carefully selected for their exceptional brilliance, color, clarity, hardness, and durability, each gemstone is a testament to lasting beauty. The stones' gemological composition and chemical structure may mirror their natural counterparts (synthesized) or differ from them (simulated). From the rough stone to the final cut, each gemstone undergoes a meticulous process of cutting, faceting, and polishing, Unveiling the beauty of laboratory-grown gemstones, our commitment lies in providing ethically crafted alternatives, free from traditional mining. In two captivating genres — synthesized and simulated gemstones — our creations promise not just adornment but a testament to responsible and sustainable luxury.
OUR APPROACH
Our laboratory-grown blue sapphires are crafted from synthesized corundum, mirroring the optical, chemical, and gemological properties of their natural counterparts. With a stunning deep blue hue, these gems are free from inclusions, presenting perfect color, clarity, and brilliance. The timeless elegance of blue sapphires makes them a classic and sophisticated choice for any jewelry piece, adding a touch of regal beauty to your collection.
Hardness: 9 Moh’s Scale
Our rose pink sapphires, a variant of pink sapphires, are created from synthesized corundum with optical, chemical, and gemological properties identical to natural sapphires. Devoid of inclusions, these gems showcase perfect color, clarity, and brilliance. The enchanting rose hue adds a touch of romantic elegance to these lab-grown sapphires, making them a captivating choice for your jewelry collection.
Hardness: 9 Moh’s Scale
Immerse yourself in the allure of our laboratory-grown rubies, created from synthesized corundum. Possessing identical optical, chemical, and gemological properties to natural rubies, these gems are crafted with meticulous precision. Exuding a vibrant red hue, our rubies are free from inclusions, showcasing perfect color, clarity, and brilliance. Embrace the timeless beauty and sophistication of rubies, adding a touch of glamour to your jewelry collection.
Hardness: 9 Moh’s Scale
Lab-grown spinels are synthesized spinels, possessing the same chemical and gemological properties as naturally mined spinels. These gems are free from inclusions, displaying perfect color, clarity, and brilliance.
Hardness: 7.5-8.0 Moh’s Scale
Composed of zirconium dioxide, our high quality cubic zirconia mimics the optical and aesthetic qualities of natural diamonds. these gems are free from inclusions, presenting perfect color, clarity, and brilliance. by an impressive hardness on the Moh’s Scale, cubic zirconia boasts durability and resilience.
Hardness: 8.5 Moh’s Scale
Uncover the beauty of moissanite, a captivating gemstone born from the stars. Composed of silicon carbide, moissanite dazzles with its extraordinary brilliance and fire. Our laboratory-grown moissanite mirrors the optical, chemical, and gemological characteristics of natural moissanite, creating a stunning alternative to traditional gemstones. With a remarkable hardness on the Moh’s Scale, moissanite is a symbol of enduring elegance, making it suitable for everyday wear. Explore the allure of moissanite and embrace the celestial radiance it brings to your jewelry collection.
Hardness: 9.25 Moh’s Scale
METALS
Precious metals are used in fine jewellery both for their rarity as well as for their structural integrity. At Helene, we use gold, sterling silver, gold plating and vermeil to create our timeless pieces. Learning the differences between these metals gives you the knowledge to understand the value of your pieces and more significantly, which you prefer for different occasions.
Sterling silver
All our silver jewelry is crafted from Sterling Silver, a composition of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% alloy. This combination not only preserves the lustrous beauty of precious metal but also imparts enhanced strength and durability. While Fine Silver, in its pure form, is too soft for fine jewelry designs, our Sterling Silver pieces ensure enduring quality and timeless beauty.Each piece undergoes meticulous craftsmanship that adds a touch of sophistication to every occasion. Sterling Silver may tarnish when exposed to various elements such as salty air, chlorine, humidity, perspiration, cosmetics, household bleach, and other strong chemicals. To preserve its brilliance, we recommend storing your fine jewelry in a safe, dry place.
Gold
In its natural form, gold is yellow in colour and mined in many different ways. Pure 24 carat gold is so soft that it is rarely used in jewellery. The process of alloying, or mixing other metals with pure gold, gives malleable gold added durability so it can be used easily when creating fine jewellery, resulting in different levels of purity. 18K gold is 18 parts gold to a total of 24 parts, with 14K, 10K and 9K gold following the same method of measurement.
18K gold-plated
In our 18k gold-plated jewellery collections, the enhanced thickness of the precious metal, 18k gold, makes our jewelry more hypoallergenic, ensuring comfortable wear. This durability factor reduces the likelihood of fading, tarnishing, or wearing off, promising enduring beauty that lasts.
Vermeil
Unlike gold-plated jewellery, vermeil is a thick layer of 18K gold that is placed on top of sterling silver. A combination of high-quality precious metals, vermeil gives you greater value without the added cost. At Helene, at least 2.5 microns of pure 18k gold is plated on top of sterling silver to create affordable high quality jewellery. Gold vermeil is five times thicker than normal gold plating. This thickness of previous metal makes our jewellery more hypoallergenic, durable and less likely to fade, tarnish or wear off.
HELENE COLOUR PALETTE
Our laboratory-grown blue sapphires are crafted from synthesized corundum, mirroring the optical, chemical, and gemological properties of their natural counterparts. With a stunning deep blue hue, these gems are free from inclusions, presenting perfect color, clarity, and brilliance. The timeless elegance of blue sapphires makes them a classic and sophisticated choice for any jewelry piece, adding a touch of regal beauty to your collection.
Diamond, moissanite, pearl, white sapphire
The colour of calmness and wisdom, blue gemstones have been used in fine jewellery for centuries. The majority of blue stones are also more durable and resistant to scratches. Sapphires are the rarest and most valuable blue-coloured natural gemstones due to their rich, vibrant hue.
Blue sapphire, aquamarine, tanzanite, blue topaz
Yellow radiates youth with its bright shade that mimics sunlight. The highest quality yellow sapphire is known to be a lemon-yellow hue that glows with joy and positivity.
Yellow sapphire, Citrine
Symbolising love and compassion, pink gemstones can be used to create a softer, more feminine look. Pink sapphires have the deepest pink hue, followed by pink tourmaline and light pink morganite.
Pink sapphire, pink tourmaline, morganite
Associated with luxury, purple has been used as a mark of royalty since antiquity. Amethyst is a violet variety of quartz that can range from gentle lilac to deep plum.
Amethyst, Purple sapphire
A symbol of happiness, orange is the colour of sunrise. The most popular of orange gemstones is citrine, the translucent tawny to rich reddish-orange variety of quartz.
Citrine, spessartite garnet, orange spinel, orange sapphire
Red gemstones are the rarest colour to find in their purest form and the only stones that offer true red hues are rubies and rubellite tourmalines. Said to bring prosperity into the lives of their wearers, red gemstones are a sign of passion and love.
Ruby, rubellite tourmaline
One of the most popular colours of gemstones in the world, green connects you to life, nature and growth. Most are familiar with emeralds, one of the most valuable precious stones in the world, but green tourmaline, peridot and tsavorite are also beautiful green stones that ground and centre you.
Emerald, green tourmaline, peridot, tsavorite, green sapphire
