Frida Khalo is often depicted wearing Mexican flower crowns ( 'Corona de Flores ') in photographs. I wanted to recreate this feeling of a joyous riot of floral colour by combining the four different cuts of gemstones in a mixture of coloured gems in one jewel. Facetted watermelon Brazilian tourmalines, briolette cut pink zirconia, cabochon Ethiopian opal drops sit with a pave of small diamonds and Norwegian Fuchsite in its rough mineral form.

Tourmaline comes from the Sinhalese term "turamali" meaning 'stone of mixed colours'. As part of an isomorphous series, in which a range of chemical compositions occur in many individual crystals, they can be found in almost every colour. From pinks, reds, forest greens and blues, colourless and transparent to multi-coloured and opaque shades, making it one of Cassandra's favourite gemstones. The birthstone for October, it appears to have an affinity with the autumnal time of year, its myriad of colours resembling autumn leaves, falling in a cacophony of colour. Turn to pink tourmalines for an emblem of friendship and unconditional love, or delight in vibrant green tourmaline to harmonise your internal energies.