Christmas dots!
Every lapidary artist knows that color is the soul of a gemstone, but it takes a special kind of vision to let the calendar dictate the cut. This week, we are spotlighting a stunning new project by Ian Perry of The Lapidary Office that captures the spirit of the season in a way that is both traditional and technically daring.
Ian has just completed a fascinating suite featuring two pairs of gemstones that immediately evoke the warmth and joy of the holidays: Arizona Peridot and Rhodolite Garnet.
The Christmas Connection
At first glance, the inspiration is unmistakable. The vibrant, electric apple-green of the Peridot paired with the deep, raspberry-red of the Rhodolite Garnet is the quintessential Christmas palette.
However, Ian didn't just rely on color matching. He leaned into the texture of the season. Think of the contrast between a glittering ornament and a velvet ribbon, or the sparkle of snow against smooth evergreen needles. To capture this tactile contrast, Ian employed a "mixed media" approach to his cutting: Faceting and Cabbing.
The Stones & The Cuts
1. Arizona Peridot (The Green)
Arizona Peridot is famous for its intense, grassy saturation. For this pair, a simpler pavilion design was chosen to highlight the cabbed crown
2. Rhodolite Garnet (The Red)
Rhodolite is a pyrope-almandine garnet known for its lush, rose-red to purple-red hues. Here is where the twist comes in. they were cut to the exact angles that the peridot was with but a sharper hip on the cabbed crown. This compensates for the difference in ri with the same angles.
The Arrangement
The brilliance of this design lies in the arrangement. By pairing the sharp, geometric light return of the faceted Arizona Peridot with the smooth, liquid luster of the cabbed Rhodolite, the set feels balanced rather than busy.
It is a difficult feat to mix cutting styles in a single suite—the eye is often confused by the difference in light performance. But guided by the Christmas theme, it works perfectly. It represents the harmony of opposites that defines the holiday aesthetic: bright lights and dark nights, sharp cold and warm fires.
Final Thoughts
This latest work from The Lapidary Office is a reminder that gem cutting is not just about maximizing yield or following a diagram—it's about storytelling. Ian Perry has taken two classic materials and, through a clever application of lapidary techniques, turned them into a wearable celebration of December.
Check out more of Ian Perry’s work at The Lapidary Office to see how he continues to push the boundaries of traditional gem cutting.
