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another type of gem which is found, very rarely, in white and black. White jade is known as “mutton fat jade” as it has the colour and shine of mutton fat. Pearls are gemstones in white and black, featuring a softer chromatic contrast and iridescence known as “orient”. Furthermore, so-called black pearls are not only black, but can be silver, greenish, bluish and even pink-purple. At the other end of the colour range, white pearls can be ivory, silver, cream, pinkish or golden. The white and black gems also include snowflake obsidian, a kind of opaque volcanic glass, of grey/black colour with inclusions of cristobalite crystals, which look like white snowflakes. Black rutile quartz is a rare gem, a colourless quartz which contains black rutile inclusions in the shape of black needles, in contrast with the colourless appearance of the gemstone. Finally, among the most extraordinary gems is the “chatoyant” version, such as star gemstones, in particular the star diopside, known as the black star of India and the black star sapphire of Thailand. White star gems are less common than the black star, except in the “cat’s eye” variety, a species in white quartz.
In alto, a sinistra: anello “Enigma” in smalto nero e oro 18 Kt. Circa 2000. Al centro e in basso: una serie di tre anelli “Lotus”, in diamanti taglio circolare incastonati a neve, smalto nero, oro bianco 18 Kt e titanio. Firmati Dries Criel per “Bare”. Anno 2021.
Top, left: “Enigma” ring in black enamel and 18 Kt gold. Approx. 2000. At the centre and below: a series of three “Lotus” rings, in circular cut snow set diamonds, black enamel, 18 Kt white gold and titanium. Signed Dries Criel for “Bare”.2021.