Materials
Substance First
The material dictates the design. We celebrate the stone's unique inclusions — its physical truth.
Paraíba State, Brazil — and Mozambique
Paraíba Tourmaline
Discovered in 1987 in a single Brazilian mine, Paraíba tourmaline carries an electric neon-blue saturation unlike any other stone. The color is caused by copper and manganese impurities — a geological accident that took 500 million years. We acquire only certified origin stones through our partner mine in Batalha, Paraíba, with a full chain-of-custody documentation.
- —Hardness: 7–7.5 Mohs
- —Refractive index: 1.624–1.644
- —Copper-bearing — unique among tourmalines
Sulawesi, Indonesia
Macassar Ebony
Macassar ebony is distinguished by its dramatic streaking — black heartwood interrupted by caramel and orange ribbons formed over 80–120 years of slow growth. It is among the densest hardwoods on earth (1.09 g/cm³), making it nearly impervious to moisture and dimensionally stable across climates. All our ebony is sourced from certified sustainable forestry operations with community-benefit agreements.
- —Density: 1.09 g/cm³
- —Janka hardness: 3,220 lbf
- —Naturally resistant to fungi and insects
Andean Altiplano, Peru
Vicuña Fiber
At 12 microns, vicuña fiber is the finest natural fiber on earth — three times finer than the finest cashmere. It is harvested once every two to three years through the traditional chaku roundup practiced by Andean communities for millennia. The Peruvian government controls its export tightly, and any vicuña cloth carries a CITES certificate. A single coat requires approximately 200 grams of fiber — the yield of four animals.
- —Fiber diameter: 12–13 microns
- —Harvest: once per 2–3 years per animal
- —CITES-certified — requires international documentation
Labrador, Canada — and Madagascar
Labradorite
Labradorite is a feldspar mineral whose signature is labradorescence — an iridescent optical phenomenon caused by light interference between structural layers within the stone. The effect, known as the Schiller effect, shifts the stone from deep charcoal to electric blue, green, and gold depending on viewing angle and light source. No two slabs are identical. Our Madagascar-source labradorite carries particularly pronounced gold and orange schiller bands.
- —Hardness: 6–6.5 Mohs
- —Labradorescence: blue, green, gold, orange
- —Density: 2.69–2.72 g/cm³
Shiga Prefecture, Japan
Shigaraki Clay
Shigaraki is one of Japan's six ancient kilns — in continuous operation since the 8th century. Its clay contains feldspar and silica particles that produce a coarse, russet surface with natural ash deposits and fire markings that are impossible to replicate artificially. The kiln environment is the co-author of every piece. No two firings produce the same result. This is the material's most important property: it resists control.
- —Origin: Lake Biwa basin sediment
- —High feldspar and silica content
- —Firing temperature: 1,250–1,300°C
Refined — Switzerland (LBMA certified)
18k Yellow Gold
Gold at 18 karats is 75% pure gold alloyed with copper and silver for durability. We work exclusively with LBMA-certified refiners and require full chain-of-custody documentation from mine to workshop. Our alloying ratios are proprietary — we develop the specific warmth and workability profile for each commission with the goldsmith. 18k is the standard of fine jewelry because it balances purity with structural integrity across a lifetime of use.
- —Purity: 75% gold (750/1000)
- —LBMA conflict-free certification
- —Density: 15.5 g/cm³