Gem Stories

A closer look at the stones and craftsmanship behind Atelier Savéa creations.

 

The Asscher Cut

The Asscher cut is one of the most technically demanding and architecturally refined gemstone cuts. Characterised by its square shape, stepped facets, and deep pavilion, it requires exceptional precision to achieve balance, symmetry, and brilliance.

Originally developed in the early 20th century by the Asscher family of master diamond cutters in Amsterdam, the cut gained recognition for its distinctive “hall of mirrors” effect — a play of light that reveals depth rather than surface sparkle. Unlike more forgiving cuts, the Asscher exposes every internal characteristic of a stone. Any imbalance in colour, clarity, or proportion is immediately visible.

For this reason, the Asscher cut is rarely used in coloured gemstones and is considered particularly challenging outside of diamonds. Only stones of sufficient quality and structure can withstand the cutting process, and a significant portion of rough material is often lost to achieve the correct geometry.

Atelier Savéa works exclusively with the Asscher cut. It is not a stylistic choice made lightly, but a deliberate commitment to structure, restraint, and timeless design. The cut reflects our belief that true beauty lies in precision, balance, and intention.

Each gemstone is individually hand cut to exact millimetre specifications, ensuring architectural consistency across our pieces while preserving the unique character of every stone.

 

Tourmaline

Tourmaline is one of the most complex and naturally diverse gemstones in the world, celebrated for its extraordinary range of colour and depth. Each stone is formed through a unique geological process, resulting in gemstones that display remarkable variation even within the same family.

Tourmalines are mined in several regions globally, with notable sources including Brazil, Sri Lanka, Mozambique, Afghanistan, and parts of Africa. These regions are known for producing stones of exceptional colour, clarity, and natural character.

Atelier Savéa works exclusively with pink and green tourmalines, selected for their richness of colour, clarity, and character. These stones are sourced from renowned regions known for producing high-quality tourmaline, where natural conditions allow for the development of nuanced hues rather than uniform saturation.

Selecting tourmalines to our standards is a meticulous and time-intensive process. Colour variation — one of tourmaline’s most celebrated qualities — is also its greatest challenge. Achieving harmony across stones while respecting their individuality requires extensive hand selection, patience, and expertise.

In addition, every tourmaline used in Atelier Savéa creations must meet precise dimensional requirements to fit our designs. Each stone is individually hand-cut to exact millimetre specifications in the Asscher shape — a process that significantly limits availability and makes replication extremely difficult.

This combination of natural variation, bespoke cutting, and exacting standards means that each piece is inherently unique. Differences in tone, light, and internal structure are not imperfections, but signatures of authenticity. Each creation is, by nature, one of a kind.

 

Pink Tourmaline

Pink tourmaline is prized for its nuanced colour spectrum, ranging from soft blush and delicate rose tones to deeper, more saturated pinks. These variations occur naturally during the stone’s formation and are among its most distinctive qualities.

Atelier Savéa curates a very specific shade of pink — one that sits between pale blush and deeper rose antique tones. It is a refined balance: neither too light nor too dark, but warm, expressive, and quietly elegant.

Rather than seeking calibrated uniformity, we prioritise harmony across variation. Subtle differences in tone, depth, and light are embraced, ensuring that each piece remains unique while maintaining a cohesive visual language across our collections.

 

Green Tourmaline

Green tourmaline is valued for its natural depth and understated elegance. Its colour can range from lighter, fresh greens to deeper, more intense tones, shaped by trace elements present during formation.

Atelier Savéa selects green tourmalines in a refined, balanced shade — neither overly bright nor overly dark. Finding this precise tone is particularly challenging, as green tourmaline exhibits significant variation, even among stones from the same origin.

These subtle tonal differences are integral to the stone’s appeal. They lend depth, softness, and individuality, allowing each creation to feel composed, organic, and inherently one of a kind.

                       

 

London Blue Topaz

London Blue Topaz is distinguished by its deep, inky blue tone — richer and more restrained than other blue topaz varieties. Its colour is defined by depth and elegance offering a sophisticated and timeless alternative to lighter blues.

Topaz has been admired for centuries for its clarity and strength. Topaz has been admired for centuries, valued across cultures for its clarity and strength. Natural topaz is mined in several regions worldwide, with important sources including Brazil (notably Minas Gerais), as well as Pakistan, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, and Russia.

The London Blue shade is prized for its darker, more sophisticated character and enduring appeal, defined by a depth of colour that distinguishes it from lighter blue topaz varieties.

When cut in the Asscher shape, London Blue Topaz reveals exceptional architectural clarity. Light travels through the stepped facets with precision, creating a sense of depth, structure, and quiet intensity.

Atelier Savéa selects London Blue Topaz for its balance of richness and restraint, ensuring a colour that feels elegant, composed, and quietly powerful.

 

A Note on Individuality

Atelier Savéa pieces are crafted using natural gemstones, each formed by nature and finished by hand. Subtle variations in colour, tone, and internal structure are intrinsic to their beauty and ensure that no two pieces are ever identical.

These differences are not imperfections, but signatures of authenticity. They are what make each piece personal, rare, and truly one of a kind.