With the arrival of our newest labradorite designs, it feels like the perfect time to revisit one of our favourite Orkney stories.
Labradorite has long been one of my favourite gemstones to work with. No two stones are ever the same. Some reveal brilliant flashes of electric blue, while others shimmer with greens, golds and soft silvery greys. As the light moves across the surface, each stone seems to come to life, making every piece of jewellery completely unique.
Beyond its natural beauty, labradorite also holds a fascinating connection to Orkney's maritime history.
Back in the 1800s, Orkney had strong trading ties with Canada. One Orkney vessel, Harmony, returned from Canadian waters carrying a haul of stone used as ballast – practical weight to steady the ship for its journey home. When Harmony arrived in Stromness, its captain, Henry Linklater of Graemsay, had no further use for the ballast and offloaded the rocks on the small island of Inner Holm, just in the harbour.
Later, Captain Linklater built the only house on that little island. Years down the line, the house's last occupant noticed something special about the scattered stones. They weren't local and, when the light caught them, they shimmered with flashes of colour unlike anything else nearby.
Recognising their significance, she donated the larger pieces to the Orkney Historic Boat Society. One of the stones was kindly loaned to us for display in our Kirkwall shop last year, allowing us to share this remarkable story with visitors.
When choosing labradorite for my jewellery, I look for stones with exceptional colour and character. Every gemstone has its own individual markings and flashes of light, so rather than trying to create perfectly matching pieces, I like to let each stone tell its own story. It's one of the things I love most about working with natural gemstones – every piece is truly one of a kind.
Like many gemstones, labradorite is also surrounded by folklore. According to Inuit folklore, labradorite carries the Northern Lights within it, and when the light catches just right, you'll understand why.
Though this gemstone originated far from Orkney's shores, its journey has tied it firmly to our island's past. It's a quiet reminder of Orkney's global connections and the unexpected treasures that wash up when worlds meet.
As we've recently introduced new labradorite pieces to the collection, it seemed the perfect time to share this story again. Every stone has travelled its own remarkable journey before finding its way into our Orkney workshop, where it's carefully handcrafted into jewellery designed to be worn and treasured for years to come.
Whether you're drawn to labradorite for its remarkable colours, its rich folklore or its unexpected connection to Orkney, it's a gemstone that never fails to capture the imagination. And perhaps that's why it remains one of my favourites to work with.
