gems
When looking at a sparkling diamond ring today, can you imagine that the stone may have been formed up to 4 billion years ago?
Gemstones are a spectacle of nature. In fact, they are minerals that have been formed naturally over millions or even billions of years. They are not only beautiful, but rare and durable.
Anaïs Cartier uses only natural gemstones as the gemmologist is not only intrigued by but also has a deep respect for the magical power of mother earth.
Conscious and responsible material sourcing is paramount. The brand collaborates with ethically selected suppliers and mines. Upon request, it is possible to ethically source many other varieties of gemstones from around the world. For any questions and special wishes, please get in touch.
Read more about precious stones and dive into the world of Anais C. gems. We strive to produce beautiful unique pieces of jewelry adorned with responsibly sourced diamonds, gemstones and pearls.
Emeralds
The first emeralds were found in Egypt 330 BC. Praised by the Egyptians, the Romans believed that emeralds symbolized the reproductive forces of nature and was dedicated to Venus.
Anais Cartier personally visited an emerald mine that acts responsibly towards nature and their employees in Brazil for the first time in 2015. She’s been exclusively collaborating with them ever since.
Photo: Rough emeralds (Brazil), 2015.
Spinels
Spinels experienced a boom recently. For centuries, though, red spinels have been mistaken for rubies. As a matter of fact, the 5cm spinel at the center of the British Imperial Crown was thought to be a ruby for over two hundred years.
Spinels are gemstones that are found in a wide range of breathtaking natural colors, from colorless to blue, red, pink, grey and an amazing variety of pastel shades. Mogok in Myanmar is the source of the finest quality spinels.
Anaïs C. spinels come from Myanmar and Tanzania. The brand closely works with respected dealers to determine the provenance of these precious stones.
Photo: Mogok Gem Market (Myanmar), 2015.
Diamonds
Even before arriving in Europe, diamonds have always been highly valued as talismans in India, as far back in time as 800 BC.
Diamonds are the hardest minerals known to humankind and often show billions of years in age.
“ Unlike other luxuries, the diamond has had immense value attached to it throughout the history of the human race, and it has never gone out of fashion“ (from the book “Rings - Jewelry of power, love and loyalty” by Diana Scarisbrick).
Anaïs Cartier ensures that no diamonds she works with are mined, cut or polished in regions that are engaged in conflict. She only selects diamonds from countries that are participants of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS), a system that was created to ensure that diamonds are free of conflict. Upon request, it’s possible to source traceable diamonds from mines in Australia or Canada for bespoke projects.
Cultured pearls
Pearls are the oldest gems known to mankind. They have been used dating back to the year 2200 BC in China. In Indian mythology, pearls were described as “ heavenly dewdrops that fell into the sea and were caught by shellfish under the first rays of the rising sun during a period of full moon. A belief that was adopted by Europeans later on “(from the book “Gems and crystals” by George E.Harlow and Anna S. Sofianides).
The shapes and colors of pearls go far beyond the commonly known “white and round”. The production of cultured pearls is a complex process that requires a thriving marine ecosystem, know-how and skill paired with several years of patience. Anais Cartier sources her pearls from sustainable pearl farms in French Polynesia and the Philippines.
Photo: Palawan (Philippines), 2016.
Gold
There are theories that gold comes from outer space; that it was formed in the hearts of dying stars, propelled across the galaxy by supernova explosions before crashing into the primordial earth almost 4 billion years ago.
The purity of gold used in jewelry today varies from 14 (about 52% of pure gold), 18 (about 75% of pure gold) and 22 carats. Gold jewelry is hallmarked to indicate its purity.
Anaïs C. usually creates 18 carats gold jewelry.