As spring transforms the Cape landscape – wildflowers sweeping familiar hillsides in waves of pink, purple and gold – Van Deijl Jewellers draws on nature’s most vivid palette to explore the gemstones of the season.
As Spring arrives in the Cape, the landscape awakens in a fresh expression of colour. Light becomes brighter, colour returns to the landscape, and wildflowers transform familiar hillsides into unexpected fields of pink, purple, orange, yellow, green and white. The season brings with it a sense of possibility and a renewed appreciation for the beauty that surrounds us, offering an inspiring palette that is echoed in the extraordinary designs of Van Deijl Jewellers.
But creating exceptional jewellery is about more than finding a beautiful stone.
At Van Deijl, every gemstone begins a journey that combines gemmological expertise, considered sourcing and an instinctive understanding of design. It is this meeting of science, craftsmanship and creativity that allows a raw fragment of the earth to become something personal, enduring and entirely unique.
The gemstones of Spring
Spring brings a more expressive approach to colour, opening the door to gemstones that feel fresh, luminous and full of character. Some make an impact through brilliance and transparency, others through vivid colour or an unexpected combination of hues.
Join us as we discover exquisite gemstones from the Van Deijl collection, each hand-selected with meticulous attention to quality, character and integrity.
From the crisp beauty of brilliant white Diamonds, to the lush green of Emeralds, the striking blues of Topaz and Aquamarines, and the golden warmth of Citrine and multi-coloured Sapphires, each gemstone offers a distinct interpretation of the season. Together, they reveal the extraordinary range of nature’s palette, and the many ways it can be translated into jewellery.
Yellow and pink Sapphires, complemented by the brilliance of white Diamonds
Brilliant White Diamonds
Few gemstones possess the enduring brilliance of a white diamond. Its appeal lies in the way it captures and reflects light, creating a sense of clarity and luminosity that has made it one of the most coveted stones in fine jewellery.
Beyond its beauty, a diamond’s character is shaped by the relationship between colour, clarity and cut. A well-proportioned cut allows light to move through the stone and return to the eye with exceptional brilliance, giving each diamond its own distinctive presence. With a hardness of 10 on the Mohs scale, diamond is the hardest natural mineral, contributing to its remarkable durability and enduring appeal.
At Van Deijl, diamonds are carefully selected for their quality, character and overall beauty. Set into considered designs, they bring a quiet sophistication to fine jewellery, timeless enough to transcend seasons, yet luminous enough to feel perfectly at home in the freshness of a new one.
Van Deijl designs featuring round brilliant and princess-cut diamonds
Lush Green Emeralds
Few gemstones possess the distinctive depth of an Emerald. Its green can range from vivid, lively tones to deeper, more saturated hues, giving the stone an unmistakable presence. Long associated with nature, renewal and rarity, Emerald has been prized for centuries and remains one of the most sought-after gemstones in fine jewellery.
A variety of factors contribute to an Emerald’s beauty and value, including colour, clarity, cut and carat. Unlike diamonds, Emeralds are naturally characterised by internal inclusions, often referred to as the stone’s “jardin”, which form part of their individual identity. With a hardness of 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale, Emerald is durable enough for fine jewellery, although its inclusions can make it more susceptible to impact than some other gemstones.
At Van Deijl, each Emerald is carefully selected for its colour, quality, proportions and individual character. The aim is to find stones where these qualities come together naturally, allowing the depth of the gemstone to be expressed through considered design. Set into fine jewellery, Emerald brings a distinctive sense of colour and sophistication, a fitting reflection of the fresh, vibrant spirit of Spring.
Vivid Blue Topaz & Aquamarines
Blue Topaz and Aquamarine bring a sense of clarity and freshness to fine jewellery. Topaz is known for its striking blue tones and crystalline appearance, while Aquamarine, a variety of Beryl, is prized for its delicate transparency and subtle colour. Together, they offer two distinct interpretations of one of nature’s most captivating hues.
Their appeal lies not only in their colour, but also in the way they interact with light. Topaz has a hardness of 8 on the Mohs scale, while Aquamarine measures between 7.5 and 8, making both well suited to fine jewellery. Their transparency and clean appearance further enhance their natural brilliance.
Both gemstones lend themselves beautifully to elegant, contemporary designs, whether used as a focal stone or alongside diamonds and other coloured gems. There is an effortless versatility to them that allows their individual qualities to shine, while their lighter character makes them a natural choice for jewellery inspired by the optimism of Spring.
A study in blue and green: Topaz, Aquamarine and Peridot
Vibrant Citrine & Multi-coloured Sapphire
Citrine and Yellow Sapphire bring warmth and character to fine jewellery, each offering a distinctive expression of colour. Often called the “sunshine stone”, Citrine is a variety of Quartz whose colour ranges from pale yellow and golden tones through to deep amber and dark red-orange. Multi-coloured Sapphire, meanwhile, offers a more intense, saturated yellow and orange with a naturally luminous quality.
Citrine’s ability to form in large crystals allows for generously proportioned stones with high clarity and a variety of precise cuts and distinctive shapes. Typically eye-clean, it has a vitreous lustre that enhances its brightness, while its hardness of 6 to 7 on the Mohs scale makes it well suited to earrings and pendants. Sapphire, measuring 9 on the Mohs scale, offers greater hardness and durability.
Their warmth makes both gemstones particularly striking in jewellery, whether paired with yellow gold or contrasted against the brilliance of diamonds. From the generous forms of Citrine to the saturated colour of Sapphire, each brings a confident expression of colour and a natural sense of optimism to Van Deijl’s Spring collection.
The golden warmth of Citrine and multi-coloured Sapphire jewellery
Selecting gemstones – a considered process
Behind every Van Deijl gemstone is a process of careful evaluation, from the moment a stone is sourced to the point at which it is transformed into jewellery. Rather than following a single formula, the selection process considers what makes each gemstone distinctive – its natural character, quality, proportions and the way it responds to light.
The origin of each gemstone is equally important. Van Deijl works with established suppliers around the world, taking into consideration the origin of each stone, responsible sourcing practices and the international agreements governing the trade of gemstones. These relationships allow the team to make informed choices while maintaining a considered approach to the journey of each gem.
Once selected, gemstones are assessed by Van Deijl’s gemmologists and, where appropriate, cut to specifications developed specifically for the stone and the intended design. The aim is not simply to maximise size or brilliance, but to reveal what is most compelling about each gem – whether that is the clarity of an Aquamarine, the depth of an Emerald, the brilliance of a Diamond or the distinctive warmth of Citrine.
Every stage is guided by the character of the gemstone itself, from its natural beauty to the possibilities it holds within a finished design. The result is jewellery that feels considered, individual and true to the stone at its centre.
Each Van Deijl gemstone is handpicked and ethically sourced from trusted suppliers from around the world.
Beyond the Season
Van Deijl diamonds and the colour of Spring
Spring offers a different way of seeing colour – as brighter, lighter and full of possibility. From the clarity of white Diamond and the depth of Emerald to the cool blues of Aquamarine and Topaz and the warmth of Citrine and Yellow Sapphire, each gemstone reflects a different facet of the season. Together, they form a palette that feels both distinctly of the Cape and timeless in its appeal.
For Van Deijl, the beauty lies in how these natural elements are interpreted through jewellery. With a considered eye for each stone’s character, proportion and potential, gemmological knowledge meets craftsmanship and design to create pieces that are made to endure beyond the season that inspired them. In this way, Spring is not simply a source of colour, but a reminder of the enduring beauty found in nature, and the artistry of transforming it into something to be treasured. vandeijl.co.za | @vandeijljewellers
