Back from India, I spent an afternoon in the V and A museum's Indian galleries and there, in a small cabinet on the side, was a gold necklace. Unusually the necklace was threaded on a heavy black cord, almost a rope. Along its length, evenly spaced, were golden amulets with wonderfully deeply-engraved textures and all of them with differing outlines. As I read about it from the notes inside the cabinet, I learnt that it had come from southern India - as part of a dowry. The gold pendants, I realised, represented seed pods known as Thali (charms) from Southern India representing exotic spices, fruits and seeds. In the necklace there were (in no particular order): aniseed, Tulasi-madan (sacred basil and very common in India), mango, plantain, coconut, brinjal, coriander, almonds, melon and nutmeg.

From the Latin for grain 'granatum' -because of its rounded crystals and similarity to the red pomegranate seeds. The scientist in Cassandra has always been fascinated by this isomorphous series that gives rise to gems that are from colourless through all colours of the rainbow. With the power to give eternal happiness, health and wealth when worn it is not surprising that Kings and Queens have often worn garnets throughout history.