Wondrous 18kt gold necklace featuring glittering spinel, handmade by the talented artisans of Turquoise Mountain in Afghanistan.

The relationship between the artisan and the materials they work with is a very close one. Spending time understanding and communicating with a material, how it responds to heat, to the pressure of a hammer, its hardness, and the way it responds to other materials are all part of the relationship. 

It is always healthy to have new challenges, and working with gold was a new experience for the artisans in Kabul. We brought in a gold Istad (master), to give lessons and help explain the differences between silver and gold, and the different techniques needed. It was a new challenge, and the artisans rose to it wonderfully.

They are very proud of this new gold capsule collection, made using beautiful Afghan gems mined in the mountain regions of Panjshir, and hand-cut and set in Kabul. We are very proud of the step-up and the chance to show the artisan’s abilities in a new material.