Behind every stone there is a story. This is where I tell them.
Left or right? The German tradition, the invented origin of the vena amoris and a table of countries from Brazil to India, along with the question that matters more than the hand.
Why good gifts rarely fail for lack of budget. On Mauss, Seneca and the giver's blind spot, and on two Roman coins that turned out to be mother and daughter.
Old Mine Cut, Old European Cut: before the standard of 1919, every diamond was cut for candlelight. Why connoisseurs are seeking them out again, and what matters when buying.
With coloured gemstones, origin, treatment and liveliness often decide more than the 4Cs. What truly separates two stones that look alike, and what to bear in mind when buying.
Ruby, emerald, sapphire and Paraiba: what documented auction records show, why quality is decisive and where the limits of such comparisons lie.
Why true hospitality needs no five stars – and what a good jeweller can learn from the finest hotels in the world. On service, craft and the feeling of having arrived.
Spinel, garnets, neon tanzanite: what I brought back from my buying journey through Southeast Asia – and why the coloured stone market is thriving right now.
A comparison of lab-grown and natural diamonds, and what really matters for your investment, with concrete figures and an honest assessment.
What one should really know about synthetic and lab-grown diamonds, and why transparency matters so much on this subject.
An in-depth interview on craft, gemstones and the future of the jeweller's trade, and on how tradition and innovation belong together.
A considered comparison of the three types of diamond, which is suited to investment and why antique diamonds win hearts.
Why gemstones offer a quiet, dignified form of investment in an age of digital volatility, a personal reflection by Max Hemmerle.