Garnet jewellery brought back to life

Remodelling jewellery is one of my absolute favourite things to do. Taking gold, silver and gemstones and giving them new life is just the best.

When Ros approached me with these gorgeous garnet cabochons I was excited but apprehensive - how on earth was I going to get these two big stones in a set of stacking rings, with another gemstone ring to complete the set?!

I do like to mull over a project in my head for a while before I settle on an idea. I find that letting it percolate in the background is the best way rather than trying to force a design.

I had time to think as one of the garnets was very scuffed so I sent that off to be re-polished. So if you have a gemstone that is scuffed, scratched or damaged, don't despair - they can often be repaired!

For these rings to stack next to each other the stone settings were going to need to be raised up slightly. Otherwise the wide flat base of the setting would just hit the ring next to it rather than linking neatly together.

I experimented with a few ideas, then settled on a simple slight curve at the ends of the silver band, up to the setting.

I'd had this gorgeous lilac-blue oval spinel in my gemstone stash for quite a long time. I confess I may have been hiding it as I quite wanted it for myself!

Spinel is very similar to ruby and both get their colour from traces of chromium. Until more recent scientific testing it has historically been very difficult to distinguish between spinel and ruby which is why many 'rubies' in crown jewels are actually spinel.

Spinel generally has pinky tones - from pale peachy pinks to deep purple - whereas blue spinel is much rarer. This stone has a lilac tint so is still on the purple spectrum - which in this case works brilliantly with the red garnets.

The final stack of rings is such a delight! They can be worn in different combinations but my favourite is all three with the spinel in the middle of the two garnets.

I don't work with cabochon gemstones that much these days but these have inspired me to return to them. They're like big, wearable sweeties!

Right, I'm off to see what I've got in stock! Thanks for reading!