Every week at SARDA™, a new chapter opens — and the June 22 Monday show is one worth marking. Two gemstones are making their debut alongside a fresh wave of sterling silver designs: the deeply lustrous Black Spinel from Thailand and SARDA’s signature Northern Lights™ Mystic Quartz from Brazil. Here’s your complete guide to both stones.
Black Spinel — Thailand’s Dark, Brilliant Gem
Black Spinel is a stone that earns its place in any collection quietly and completely. Deep, glassy, and intensely black, it has a near-mirror vitreous luster that catches light from every angle — not flashy, but undeniably present. It is the kind of stone that makes every other piece around it look more intentional.
This week’s Black Spinel is sourced from Thailand, one of the world’s most respected gem-trading countries, with centuries of tradition in cutting and trading fine gemstones. These particular stones carry no treatment of any kind — no heat, no coating, no enhancement. The color you see is exactly what nature produced.
The cut is equally considered: an oval, microfaceted checkerboard briolette at 8x6mm, weighing 1.2 carats total weight across two stones. The checkerboard faceting style creates a grid-like pattern across the surface, with each tiny facet acting as a separate reflective plane. On Black Spinel, the effect is a quiet, rippling brilliance — like looking into very dark water that still catches the light.
Historically, Spinel was one of gemology’s great misidentified stones. For centuries it was confused with Ruby and Sapphire, and some of history’s most famous “rubies” — including stones set in European royal crown jewels — have since been identified as Spinel. The GIA notes that Spinel’s brilliance rivals that of Ruby when cut correctly, and Black Spinel in particular has found a devoted following among designers who want a stone that’s both serious and wearable.
Mohs hardness: 7.5–8. Black Spinel is durable and well-suited to daily wear. Clean with warm water, mild soap, and a soft brush. Avoid harsh chemicals and steam cleaners. Store separately from other pieces to prevent surface scratches.
This week, Black Spinel debuts in the Surrender All Necklace™ — a Snake and Byzantine chain in .925 sterling silver, featuring two Black Spinel microfaceted briolettes — from SARDA’s ESSENTIALS collection. Shop this debut →
Northern Lights™ Mystic Quartz — Brazil’s Rainbow Stone
If Black Spinel is understated drama, Northern Lights™ Mystic Quartz is pure spectacle — and it earns every bit of it.
The base stone is natural quartz from Brazil, the world’s largest quartz-producing country. Brazilian quartz grows in exceptionally large, clean crystals, making it ideal for precision cutting. In its natural form the stone is colorless, but what SARDA does with it next is where the transformation happens.
Each stone undergoes a PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) coating process: ultrathin layers of metallic material are deposited onto the stone’s surface inside a vacuum chamber at very high temperatures. The result is an iridescent surface that shifts between pink, purple, gold, and blue depending on the viewing angle and light source — an effect that calls to mind the aurora borealis, which inspired the name.
The stones are cut in a cushion square, star-faceted pattern at 8mm and 1.96 carats each. Star faceting arranges the facets so they radiate outward from a central point, amplifying the color-shift effect and creating a burst of light from the stone’s center. In person, the effect changes noticeably with every slight movement.
PVD is a modern industrial technique used in everything from watchcases to aerospace components — durable, but worth protecting. Clean Northern Lights™ Mystic Quartz with a soft, slightly damp cloth only. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners, abrasive polishes, and harsh chemicals. Store in a soft pouch, away from harder stones that could scratch the surface.
Quartz base Mohs hardness: 7.
Also Debuting This Week: Tree of Life and Watermark in Sterling Silver
Not every debut features a gemstone — and this week proves that some of the most compelling pieces are entirely about the metalwork. SARDA’s beloved Tree of Life motif arrives in three new sterling silver pieces:
- Forgiveness is Freedom Cuff Bracelet™ in Tree of Life and Hammered — an interchangeable oval cuff available in five wrist sizes
- Sing Praise Ring™ in Tree of Life — sterling silver, available in sizes 5 through 12
- So Blessed Earrings™ in Tree of Life — sterling silver stud earrings
The Walk By Faith Ring™ in Watermark also makes its debut, featuring the signature “Love One Another” wave design in sterling silver. These are the foundational pieces — the ones you reach for daily, layer easily, and wear for years.
Caring for This Week’s Stones
Black Spinel (Mohs 7.5–8, No Treatment)
Wipe down with a soft cloth after wearing. For a deeper clean, use warm water with a small amount of mild dish soap and a soft-bristled brush. Dry thoroughly before storing. Avoid steam cleaners and extended exposure to perfumes or lotions. Store individually or in a lined pouch to prevent surface contact with other pieces.
Northern Lights™ Mystic Quartz (Mohs 7, PVD Coated)
Clean with a soft, slightly damp cloth only. No ultrasonic devices, no abrasive polishes, no harsh chemicals. Avoid direct, extended sunlight exposure for long periods. Store in a soft pouch, kept away from harder stones that could scratch the coated surface.
Sterling Silver Settings
All SARDA pieces are crafted in .925 sterling silver. Keep pieces away from chlorine, perfume, and household chemicals. Store in an anti-tarnish pouch when not wearing. A silver polishing cloth handles routine maintenance quickly. For a deeper clean, SARDA’s jewelry cleaning kit is formulated specifically for sterling silver and its gemstone settings.
Ready to add this week’s debuts to your collection? Every piece is crafted in .925 sterling silver with AAA semi-precious gemstones, and available in limited quantities through the Monday June 22 pop-up show.