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Those born in June are lucky enough to have three birthstones: pearl, alexandrite and moonstone. Of these three, pearl is the most popular – and so it is pearl that we will focus on.

July’s birthstone is ruby, a gem representing love, passion, courage, and emotion. It’s one of the most popular coloured gemstones and is used in all varieties of jewellery, from birthstone jewellery to engagement rings.

Snake rings or serpent rings have been popular throughout history, often representing eternal love. Some snake rings feature gemstones set along the snake’s body, creating the illusion of a snake in motion when the light catches them, while others are plain metal designs with accent gemstones in the snake’s head.

Jewellery has been worn by men for centuries. Today’s men tend to favour simple, functional items like cufflinks, watches, and wedding bands. In the past, however, men’s jewellery was often more extravagant.

Personalisation is a key trend in a variety of jewellery, such as Mid Century jewellery, with customisation becoming increasingly important to engaged couples. From simple engraved messages to fully customised pieces, the movement shows no sign of abating. But did you know that this practice has been alive and well since the dawn of Ancient Rome?

Peridot – a vibrant yellow-green variety of the mineral olivine – is the birthstone for August. Often confused with topaz and emerald due to the tonal similarities, peridot’s formation in the Earth’s mantle shares a path that’s similar to the most precious gemstone in the world: diamond, seen in our collection of vintage diamond jewellery.

The September birthstone is sapphire – a gem that has been cherished by cultures the world over for millennia. The word “sapphire” is now synonymous with a vibrant blue colour, which makes perfect sense, as sapphire is the Greek word for blue. The blue sapphire has signified many virtuous traits since ancient times, such as honesty, purity, and loyalty. In keeping with this tradition, sapphires are one of the world’s most popular engagement gemstones.

A graduate of the Besancon Ecole des Beaux Arts in the early 20th century, Suzanne Vuillerme (later Belperron) found a job as a model maker and designer at the Maison Boivin. It was here that her talents and eye for detail were fine-tuned, and where, over the next thirteen years, she developed her distinctive aesthetic.

October’s birthstones are tourmaline and opal. Tourmaline, the primary birthstone, is rare as it is one of few birthstones that can be found in any colour. Some pink tourmalines have clarity as transparent as diamonds. Opals on the other hand are in a class of their own.

Rene Boivin is a well-known French jewellery house founded in 1890 by Jules Rene Boivin and made famous after his death by his wife, Jeanne Boivin. Born in Paris, Rene became a goldsmith’s apprentice aged 17 where he learned inlaid metalwork and became an accomplished draughtsman and engraver.