Inside the Kremlin is a jewel house full of intoxicating treasures. I remember the darkness on entering and the almost firework like display of the jewels that Count Orlov gave to his lover Catherine the Great. Diamonds that held secrets in the sparkles. There were necklaces, brooches and earrings set with colourful foil backings that glowed pink and green for Catherine's exotic costume balls. Inspired on a detail of crescents and trefoils I created the Catherine and Orlov design weaving quartets and quintets of pave set diamonds around a central oval stone from which rivers of pearls ran into triple rows of chokers. I set fiery red opals in the centre of a pair of earrings and made a bespoke aquamarine and diamond brooch that even the Empress would have enjoyed wearing

Esteemed as a precious jewel, with origins from the Latin word "opalus", opaque opals are famed for their fascinating polyphony of colour when twisted in the light. Their fire and lustre vary, from extraordinary opals in Coober Pedy Australia, to the soft turquoise blue opals in Peru, to fiery orange in Mexico. The most valuable stones showcase vivid iridescent colours, whilst others have the translucent milky appearance of opalescence. As the birthstone for October, these beguiling stones, as precious as they are playful, symbolise creativity, confidence, hope and faithfulness, and are said to soothe your mind, and strengthen your memory. Softer than other gemstones, they should be worn with care and kept in a moist environment (it is a good idea to keep a glass of water in your safe if you have opals).