Isle of Lewis Sapphire & Elie Ruby in 18ct Scottish Gold & Sterling Silver Ring

Scottish Sapphire - Gemstone Provenance

Scottish sapphire came to the attention of the world in the 1990s. When excavations for a roadway on the remote Isle of Lewis led to a chance discovery by Ian Combe, a member of the Scottish geological Association. The Xenolithic dyke on which the outcrop sits were consequently declared a national SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest), meaning that only a few stones have ever been extracted, and any that may remain are under close protection. Therefore, Scottish sapphires are truly rare and mostly housed in museums or private collections. Very few people in the world will ever be fortunate enough to own a piece of jewellery featuring this remarkable gem!

Two Skies' Scottish sapphires have been carefully procured over the last decade by our Managing Director Adam McIntosh, for whom they hold a particular interest and fascination. With his family originating from the Isle of Lewis (his grandfather Dr Ian McIntosh was the island doctor), Adam's clan connections enabled him to secure a number of purchases from the late Ian Combe in person. The prestigious 'Scottish Sale' at Bonham's auction house in 2023 also saw him acquire rough material from the estate of renowned collector Dr J.G.Todd.

We cut and facet these stones in our own workshop. They are never heat-treated or artificially coloured; the fantastic shades of blue and teal that they display are a natural feature, which elevates Scottish sapphires above many from other parts of the world. The colours are also reminiscent of the wild seas surrounding the beautiful but rugged Outer Hebrides! Owning a Scottish sapphire provides a unique connection to Scotland's rich highland history and a geological heritage spanning millions of years.

Scottish Gold

Two Skies works with a small team of licensed native gold prospectors, in keeping with our ethos of supporting low impact and ethical practices. All our Scottish gold is painstakingly collected from Highland mountain streams using environmentally-friendly methods such as 'sniping' and hand-panning. It is a true labour of love to find Scottish gold (0.5 grams per day is considered a 'fine haul'!). Scottish gold naturally ranges between 14 and 22 carats in purity, so - as we work with the material unrefined - we can guarantee all our jewellery to be a minimum of 14ct

Hallmarks on Precious Metals

This item of jewellery has been independently laboratory-tested at Edinburgh's assay office. It is stamped with ALBA, indicating the origin of the gold as Scottish. An Edinburgh Assay stamp of 585 guarantees the purity of the gold to be at least 14 carat, and this is accompanied by a silver stamp of 925. The jewellery also bears our company logo as a mark of pride and authenticity.

Sterling Silver 925%

Why do silversmiths use 925%? Measured in parts per thousand, pure silver (999%) is too soft so silversmiths mix it with other metals to make it it harder. The purer the metal, the higher the polish, but it is a lot softer (thus less durable). The harder the metal is, the more hard wearing the jewellery is, but it will also tarnish easier as it has less silver content. Therefore, the silver industry set a standard percentage content for fine silver (925); what we know as "sterling silver". At Two Skies our silversmiths use 925 (sterling) silver for ring shafts and moving parts, and a very high 950% on our stones settings, which enables us to get a strong jewellery item with a beautiful and secure stone setting, without any gluing. Each piece of our jewellery is hand stamped with our Two Skies Hallmark alongside the recognised industry 925 Hallmark.