RAHASA – SRI LANKAN SAPPHIRES

4th March 2026

Ruth's newest one-of-a-kind collection spotlights the intrinsic beauty and story of artisan Sri Lankan sapphires. Navigating the world of mining and finding ethical sources for our gemstones is an ever evolving journey for Ruth Tomlinson Fine Jewellery and we are delighted to offer sourced to mine sapphires in this latest collection.

Named after the Sinhala word for secret, or mystery; the collection is centred around unveiling beauty, exploring the journey of raw sapphires unearthed deep within the artisan mines of Sri Lanka and the hands that patiently reveal what lies within.

Through a long standing partnership with one of our trusted stone suppliers, Ruth was invited to visit a small-scale mine in the village of Pohorabawa and to meet the skilled artisans who mine, cut and polish the stones.Hidden for centuries within the soil, each sapphire begins its life in a traditional hand-dug pit, mined using simple tools and time honoured methods that protect the surrounding environment. From there, the stones travel to a rooftop workshop in Colombo, where a small team of skilled artisans sort, grade and cut each stone entirely by hand and eye. The inspiration for the collection was sparked by witnessing the transformation of the stones from raw to faceted with a particular focus on the early stages of the cutting process. Traditionally, the 'pre-form' cutting process is the initial shaping stage, where the potential of a stone is explored; however Ruth found herself especially drawn to this early stage of cutting, where the sapphire lingers somewhere between raw crystal and refined gem."I became fascinated by each step of the process. The pre-forms' that are cut create a basic formation, allowing the cutter to look further into the potential of the individual sapphire, these are a combination of the raw with some basic cuts to inform the shape of the final gem."

Spending time carefully selecting both rough and cut stones, Ruth chose sapphires for their individual character, their unusual shapes, subtle inclusions and unique colour. Working alongside expert Sri Lankan lapidarist Sanjeewa, she began exploring semi-cut finishes that allow matte and polished surfaces to sit side by side. The effect feels softly time worn, almost like sea glass shaped and smoothed by the tide.To honour what nature had already created, the original crystal form guides the final shape of the stone. Some stones remain deliberately rough on the reverse as a subtle reminder of their origin beneath the Earth.

"In many ways, the stones felt as though they were unveiling themselves, much like the way I approach jewellery making, where designs are intuitively sculpted by hand in wax."

The Rahasa collection brings together raw, semi-cut and fully faceted Sri Lankan sapphires alongside textures and details which reflect the wider Sri Lankan landscape, from the depths of the mines to the treasures of the ocean. Handcrafted at Ruth's London Atelier using recycled 14ct yellow gold, the one-of-a-kind collection is a quiet celebration of process, imperfection and the natural beauty shaped through a harmonious collaboration between nature and craft.

We’re proud to support the Rosie May Foundation through the Rahasa collection, donating 3% of each piece sold to help children in crisis. The foundation works to create brighter futures for vulnerable children through education, healthcare, and community support, and we’re honoured that this collection contributes to that meaningful work.

Available online or at our London Atelier, click here to discover the designs or we invite you to book an appointment to explore the creations in person.