Where do you get your gemstones? 💎

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Valltasy gemstones are sourced from suppliers around the world: Europe, India, USA, South America, and more
Every stone is natural and untreated, hand-selected for vibrant color and quality
Finding the right gemstones takes days of research, sometimes weeks of waiting
Half the work behind every piece is the gemstone search itself

What’s Inside

My Sourcing Process
Where the Gemstones Come From
Quality Standards I Follow
The Journey of a Gemstone
Gemstone Sourcing FAQ

“Where do you get your gemstones?” This is a question I hear at least twenty times a day, and honestly, there’s no simple answer! The process of finding the perfect stones for my designs is one of the most time-consuming and important parts of what I do. Let me take you behind the scenes.

My Sourcing Process

I’ve been collecting gemstones for years. It’s not something I do in an afternoon, it’s a continuous, ongoing search that never really stops. When I see a beautiful stone, even if I don’t have a specific design in mind yet, I know that someday it will find its place in a piece of jewelry.

I work with many suppliers to find the best quality, and my gemstone research takes many days of dedicated work. Sometimes I spend an entire day just looking for the right stones in the right color tone, size, shape, and quality. It’s a lengthy process that most people never see behind the scenes, but it’s what makes every Valltasy piece special.

Some stones I wait months for. I’ll find a supplier who has the raw material, and then the stones need to be cut specially for me and my designs. That waiting period is part of the creative process, and I believe good things are worth waiting for!

Where the Gemstones Come From

My gemstones arrive from all around the planet. Each region is known for specific types of stones, and I source from the places known for producing the very best:

India is a major source for many of my gemstones, including sapphires, emeralds, and tourmalines. The cutting and polishing traditions there are centuries old.
Ethiopia produces the incredible opals I use in my designs, known for their bold, multi-color fire.
Zambia and Colombia are where I source my finest emeralds, each with rich, saturated green color.
South America (Brazil) provides gorgeous tourmalines, amethysts, and citrines in vibrant natural colors.
Europe and the USA are home to some of my trusted suppliers who source and curate stones from mines around the world.
Mexico contributes unique stones like fire opals and turquoise with distinctive character.

To learn more about where gemstones form and how they’re mined, the GIA Gem Encyclopedia is a wonderful resource.

Quality Standards I Follow

Not all gemstones are created equal, and this is where my experience really matters. Here’s what I look for in every stone:

100% natural. All my stones are completely natural and untreated. No dyes, no heat treatments, no fillers. What you see is exactly what the earth created.
Vibrant, saturated color. I’m obsessed with color. I look for stones with rich, vivid tones that catch the light and make your eyes sparkle. Pale, washed-out stones don’t make the cut.
Excellent cut and shape. The way a stone is cut determines how it catches light and how it sits in jewelry. I select stones with precise, clean cuts that maximize their beauty.
Consistency within a piece. When I’m selecting beads for a necklace, every single bead needs to match in color tone and quality. This is one of the hardest parts, and it’s why some pieces take weeks to source.

It’s easy to find dyed stones with bold colors, and it’s easy to find treated stones that look good at first glance. But finding absolutely natural, vibrant stones with beautiful color AND a good cut? That’s a completely different story, and that’s what makes Valltasy gemstones so special.

“Half of my work is looking for the best gemstones for you and for the jewelry I make for you. As everything I make, I do it with lots of love and care.”

The Journey of a Gemstone

Every gemstone in my jewelry has traveled a remarkable path before it reaches you. Here’s what that journey looks like:

Mining. The stone is extracted from the earth, often by small-scale miners in regions like Ethiopia, Zambia, or Brazil.
Cutting and polishing. Skilled gem cutters shape the rough stone into beads, cabochons, or faceted gems. Some of my stones are cut specifically to my specifications.
Selection. I personally review and hand-select each stone, checking color, clarity, cut, and consistency. Many stones don’t pass my standards.
Design. I work intuitively, allowing the stones to guide me. I arrange and rearrange until the colors create an organic balance that feels right.
Creation. Using wire wrapping, silk knotting, and metalworking techniques, I transform the stones into your finished piece.

When you wear a piece from Valltasy, you’re wearing the result of this entire journey. Each piece carries the energy of the stone, the skill of the cutters, and the love I pour into every creation.

WANT SOMETHING SPECIAL?

If you have a specific gemstone in mind, I can source it for you. Visit my custom orders page and tell me what you’re looking for. I love finding the perfect stone for a personal piece!

COMMON QUESTIONS

Gemstone Sourcing FAQ

Are Valltasy gemstones really natural and untreated?

Yes, 100%. I only use natural, untreated gemstones. No heat treatments, no dyes, no fillers. The colors you see are exactly as the earth created them. This is one of the things I’m most proud of in my work.

How long does it take to source gemstones for a design?

It varies widely. Some pieces come together in days when I already have the right stones in my collection. Others take weeks or even months, especially when I need stones custom-cut to specific sizes or when I’m searching for a rare color combination.

Can I request a specific gemstone for a custom piece?

Absolutely! I love sourcing special stones for custom orders. Whether you want a particular type of opal, a specific shade of sapphire, or a rare tourmaline, visit my custom orders page and I’ll work with you to find the perfect stone.

Why are natural, untreated gemstones more expensive?

Natural stones with vivid color and good clarity are much rarer than treated ones. Finding stones that meet my quality standards takes significant time and expertise. The price reflects the rarity of the material and the care taken in selecting each individual stone.

Do you visit gemstone mines personally?

While I don’t visit mines directly, I work with trusted suppliers who have long-standing relationships with miners and cutting houses around the world. I’ve built these partnerships over years, and I trust them to provide me with the quality I demand for my designs.

SEE THE RESULT