There are peacocks everywhere in India: decorating palaces in niches, as carriages and in wall paintings. So no wonder I was inspired to create a peacock brooch and earrings.

I always think the magical part of a feather is the ruffle, that subtle movement of the silken 'cloak' that covers birds of any feather. I was inspired too by a delicate peacock brooch given by Empress Eugenie to Princess Victoria Mary around 1893 where the interlocking barbs seemed to have a delicate ripple. In the workshop we recreated this effect by 'stringing' the diamond set barbs along the vane down the centre, allowing a little movement side to side. From the Journey to India.

Sapphire's dazzling lustre ranges from deep velvet translucent depths to colourless transparency, in blue, pink, yellow, green, purple and colourless hues.

Originating in Sri Lanka, Australia and Myanmar, Cassandra often finds unusual colours and cuts on her travels, enraptured by rarer green sapphires in particular. Regarded as a healing corundum gemstone, with calming properties, it's no wonder sapphires appear in such captivating and mystical hues.

The birthstone for September; this protective gemstone is known to have create powers of serenity and purity, with each colour embodying its own unique sense of wisdom.