The Artist: Russian-born jeweler Alex Soldier’s one-of-a-kind designs—which he constructs with the aid of a high-powered microscope in his Times Square studio—range from sleek geometric forms to nature-inspired creations, and all share refined technical detailing and hand-craftsmanship. Formerly a computer engineer, he quickly climbed the ranks at a jewelry plant in Russia’s Ural region, becoming…
Paraiba tourmalines: a stone whose story is every bit as fascinating as its color
Discovered in the 1980s in the Brazilian state of Paraiba, neon-bright Paraiba tourmalines quickly became one the most sought-after gems in the world. In just a few decades, Paraiba tourmalines have taken on an almost mystical quality. First discovered in the 1980s by Heitor Dimas Barbosa, who spent years digging in the hills…
