1.2 ct round fire opal, six claws, 18k yellow gold.
01 — Origin
Stone thatremembersthe fire.
Fire opal forms where volcanic silica cools slowly in the cracks of old lava. It keeps a little water inside its structure, which is why the colour looks lit from within rather than painted on.
- ABought rough, one piece at a time, from two family-run workings in the Mexican highlands — never in mixed parcels.
- BCut and polished in our own workshop, so the stone and its setting are designed together.
- CSet in recycled eighteen-carat gold, hallmarked, with the stone's origin written on the card.
Chapter two
From flameslowly, then all at once,to stone
02 — The stone
Fifty-seven facets of held heat
01Select
One rough in forty makes it to the wheel. We hold each piece to a lamp and look for an even, unbroken glow with no crazing at the edges.
02Cut
Opal holds water, so heat is the enemy of the cutter. Every stone is cut slowly on a water-cooled lap — about eight hours for a single solitaire.
03Polish
A last pass on tin oxide leaves the facets glassy and the edges crisp enough to throw light back up through the table.
0Facets
0Refr. index
0To cut one
03 — The Ember collection
Five pieces, one stone each
Each piece is built around a stone cut for it. Made to order in four to six weeks; pieces marked ready ship in two days, insured.
A matched pair of pear-cut stones on 18k rose-gold hooks.
Domed cabochon in a heavy signet, engraving on the inside free.
Seven calibré stones channel-set in a 3 mm band. Stacks well.
2.4 ct oval on a 45 cm trace chain, adjustable to 40 cm.
04 — The atelier
Four benches,one kiln,no hurry.
Six of us cut, set and finish every piece in a former bakery on Rua do Forno. Come and see the stones before they are yours.
Bespoke
Bring a sketch, a stone or just an idea. Commissions start with a free forty-minute sitting.
Resizing for life
Every ring we make is resized free for as long as you own it.
Engraving
Hand-engraved inside the shank, up to twenty characters, at no charge.
Care & re-polish
Send it back once a year and we clean, check the claws and re-polish.
Illustrative client notes
“I brought them my grandmother's stone and they built the ring around it.”Inês — architect
“They talked me out of the bigger stone. The smaller one had more fire.”Tomás — cellist
05 — Visit
Book a private sitting
Forty-five minutes at the bench, Tuesday to Saturday. No obligation to buy.
Request received
We'll write within one working day to confirm a time.
Questions
Before you buy
How do I look after a fire opal?
Opal is softer than sapphire (5.5–6.5 on the Mohs scale). Take rings off for the gym and the garden, avoid sudden heat, clean with warm water and a soft brush.
Can a ring be resized?
Yes — free, for life, usually within a week. Channel-set bands can move up or down one size.
Where do the stones come from?
Two small workings in the highlands of central Mexico. Each card names the working and the date we bought the rough.
Delivery and returns
Insured delivery across the EU in two days for ready pieces. Thirty days to return anything not engraved or made to your size.