The Power of Peridots
Austy Lee’s designs evoke the experience of chancing upon rare and astonishing treasures inside a cabinet of curiosities
Science, myth and history converge in the fantastical world of Austy Lee. Inspired by both nature and an array of mythical legends and lore, he creates jewellery that is renowned not just for its design and detailing, but also for its often obscure but always fascinating references.
Take, for example, the Egg of Apep ring from The Dizygotican Collection. It is a band of 18-karat white gold with unexpected pops of colour: Burmese peridot, motherof-pearl, lapis, red enamel, champagne diamonds and white diamonds.
Inspired by Egyptian mythology, the ring screams power and otherworldliness; Apep was, after all, the great serpent that represented chaos and disorder. While its inspiration harks back to ancient civilisations, its silhouette puts the popular pastime of collecting eggs into focus. While the practice is now prohibited in many places to protect wild birds, the eggs remain objects of curiosity in many museum collections.
The ring also showcases the vibrant, hypnotic qualities of peridot, one of the few gemstones that occurs in only one colour: olive green. Prized since the earliest civilisations, the stone is said to drive away fears and nightmares. Superstition holds that it carries the gift of “inner radiance”, with the unusual ability to sharpen the mind and open it to new levels of awareness and growth.
Afghan peridot is the central stone of the Muguet des Bois bangle in 18K gold from the Chloris’ Yard Collection, surrounded by a sprinkling of indicolite, onyx, pearls, blue sapphires, tsavorites, fancy colour diamonds and white diamonds. The inspiration for this piece is the beautiful lily of the valley flower, blending the old with the new, and executed with Lee’s signature boldness and confidence.