One of the big leaps forward for any #jewelryartist is working with significant #gemstones which occupy an eco-system of their own. One of the most economical ways to do that is to buy direct from the mine or miners if you know what you’re doing. The first step is to develop a long standing relationship with a gem dealer who can source unusual stones but the great thing about Instagram is its encyclopaedia type proliferation of #jewelry suppliers just waiting to make contact. Goldsmith and #lapidary artist @mark_nuell connected with a miner from #abuja , the capital of #nigeria on Insta and purchased a large bag of #amethysts which he cut to create this necklace. His father had owned a mine in #rubyvale for 30 years and he still goes back to #queensland to buy rough sapphires which he cuts and polishes in his London studio so he knew a thing or two about buying stones. There are 256cts in this necklace and the #aquamarine rings in the second slide are also a bit of a specialty of his. I met Mark and his shards of treasure at @goldsmithsfair last week and I’ll be going back to meet an entirely new set of designers for week 2, tomorrow. I rarely meet designers who cut and polish their own stones and I don’t think I’ve ever seen this many Nigerian amethysts in one jewel before. Their depth of velvety colour was a sight to behold. I’ll be sharing more highlights from the fair in the coming weeks. Thanks to Mark for showcasing his remarkable talents. #goldsmithsfair @thegoldsmithscompany #nigerianamethyst #roughstones #purpleismycolor #marknuell