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.
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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. Find out more at www.scottishgold.scot
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Elie Rubies
Elie, Fife - This short stretch of coast is called Ruby Bay by the locals, thanks to the rare red gemstones known as 'Elie Rubies' that are washed out of the volcanic rock and can be found by patient searching through the sand. The stones are actually a special type of garnet coloured by chromium rather than iron, which gives them a particularly vivid shade and led to their rather grand nickname. Adam and Richard have been painstakingly collecting the gems by hand for months, and we have now had a number of them faceted and polished for setting into jewellery. Elie Rubies are so highly prized that a couple even found their way into Adam's wife's wedding ring!
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Pre-Loved Diamonds
Diamonds which have not been commissioned by Two Skies, but instead have come to us as salvaged from old, broken or vintage jewellery items. We recycle diamonds for much the same reasons as we recycle our gold - our 'low impact' aspirations and ethical ethos.
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Cairngorm Quartz
Introducing the official national gemstone of Scotland! A particular type of smoky quartz found exclusively in the Cairngorm mountain range, it is known as 'Cairngorm quartz', 'Cairngorm stone' or simply 'Cairngorm'! 'Morion' classed Cairngorm Quartz is of a very dark colour and rarely found, thus more desirable (and expensive!). It was extraordinarily popular during the Victorian age and was a favourite gem of the queen herself. Whole families of prospectors nicknamed 'diggers' worked on the mountains throughout the 1800s searching for this rare crystal. Nowadays the land is protected by the Cairngorms National Park Authority, making the beautiful Scottish smoky quartz even harder to come by. However, Two Skies managed to obtain rough material from a private historic collection, which when cut made such high quality faceted stones that even we were amazed. Our contemporary settings are highly unusual when most Cairngorm jewellery pieces on the market are antiques - get your own piece of Scottish history with a twist!
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Knoydart Garnet
From the remote and rugged Knoydart Peninsula in the Scottish Highlands, this garnet carries the wild soul of the land where sea meets mountain. Its rich, wine-red hue glows with depth and warmth, often likened to the finest ruby—so much so that even a practiced eye might be momentarily fooled. Expert faceting brings out its inner fire, showcasing a natural brilliance honed by time and craft.
Garnets have adorned humanity for over 5,000 years, treasured by the ancient Egyptians and found in artefacts across the classical world. They were worn as protective amulets, carved into beads and set into intricate jewellery. Throughout history, garnet has been seen as a stone of faith, passion, and protection—a talisman of loyalty and light in dark times.
Our Knoydart garnet is a tribute to Scottish earth and history—rare, rugged, and deeply rooted.
