About

Gold comes from the pure element Aurum and is caught up in stone deep below the surface of the earth. Ore deposits are formed through the imperceptible, aeonian shifting of the tectonic plates which, over millennia, are brought close enough to the surface for extraction. This process is elaborate and takes time, which means refined gold will always be highly valued, even more so when turned into intentional objects of beauty by the hands of skilled artisans.

Iolite comes in rich hues from purple to deep blue, and is named after the Greek ios, meaning violet. The vikings were some of the first to appreciate iolite, but not for its beauty. Iolite has properties of extreme pleochroism, which means that the gemstone in its natural form exhibits different colors when viewed from different angles. This means that iolite can essentially be used as a polarizing lens, which enabled the vikings to determine the exact position of the sun and navigate to the new world and back, all without a compass! Iolite's pleochroism also presents a challenge to the gem cutter, who has to determine the correct angles to cut to maximize the violet color.

Artist

As a child growing up in Genova, Italy, Laura Serrafero loved to draw and dance. She announced to her parents at the age of seven that she was going to be an artist, and has been designing her unique jewelry for almost 20 years.

Based in Toronto, Laura shares a work space and shop with her husband to showcase imported African art as well as Laura's designs. "We were not sure at first how it would be working together... But realized that we really enjoy it!" Laura says. In her time outside of the studio and shop, Laura enjoys the outdoors with her husband and daughter. She also loves Toronto's cultural offerings and can often be found visiting art galleries, museums, or the theater.

Details

• handmade with 14k satin-finish gold
• 4mm bezel set iolitie in 5.5mm setting
• TLC for your satin-finish gold and precious gemstone jewelry