Turquoise Talisman

This piece is a personal talisman that has taken fifteen months to create. It has soaked up sixty-eight hours of hands-on work and is something very special to me. I’m very happy to finally share it with you.
The turquoise gemstone originated from Royston, Nevada. It has an amazing feel to it. I’ve always loved all things ancient, and turquoise is one of the oldest gemstones known to man.
This particular style, known as Ribbon Turquoise, has the feel of an ancient map, with veins running throughout the stone. Its natural markings and wonderful texture give it a sense of age and history that I find incredibly captivating. 
The four rose gold sections represent the four cardinal directions — a reminder for one to stay centred and not stray from the path.
The talisman is crafted in platinum and 9k rose gold, using a mixture of handmade elements, hand-carved waxes and silver master patterns to create the cast sections. It has been a wonderfully involved process, with each element slowly taking shape and finding its place.
On the underside, I was originally going to do something simple, but decided to go all out.
Why not? It’s only time!
Numerically, I am a number four, so the four scrolls represent balance. Four is an even number, and the scrollwork reminds me of the ornate detailing of the Old World — a level of craftsmanship and decoration that can so easily be overlooked in our modern world. 
At the centre sits a champagne diamond, its earthy tones representing warmth, stability, emotional depth and strength.
The beads I chose are Tiger’s Eye, Obsidian and African Turquoise, each carrying its own history and symbolism.
Tiger’s Eye is a stone traditionally associated with courage and inner strength. Throughout history it has been used as a talisman by warriors going into battle, while travellers carried it close for safe passage.
Obsidian has been used for thousands of years to make arrowheads and blades, as well as for adornment. Born from fire and cooled into volcanic glass, it has a wonderfully elemental quality and has long been associated with protection.
And then there is the turquoise itself.
Turquoise has been treasured by mankind for more than 5,000 years. The ancient Egyptians used it extensively in jewellery, amulets and ceremonial objects, including the extraordinary burial treasures of Tutankhamun.
I travelled through Egypt in my early twenties and was completely captivated by Tutankhamun’s famous burial mask. That experience has never really left me.
The intricate detailing of turquoise, lapis lazuli and carnelian, all painstakingly inlaid into a solid gold burial mask, is simply mind-boggling. To stand in front of something created thousands of years ago and realise the incredible skill, patience and craftsmanship that went into making it is something that stays with you.
Perhaps that is part of the reason I am so drawn to turquoise.
It connects us to something ancient.
To a time when jewellery wasn't simply an accessory, but something that could carry meaning, protection, status, spirituality and identity. Stones were chosen not only for their beauty, but for the stories and beliefs they carried with them.