First in Palmero, then in Taomina, I remember seeing beautifully decorated baskets from Sicilian Carretti, overflowing with fresh fruit: oranges, lemons, and grapefruits. The market sellers had sliced open some of the fruit they call 'agrumi' on their stalls in Corso Umberto. And as I walked down the street, the idea of circular slices of fruit in a basket took shape as a possible design. I made a preliminary sketch sitting on a stone step, beneath a balcony overflowing with red geraniums. The circles were of differing sizes to reflect the different fruit, and inside a golden circular outline basket: I called it Agrumi. Later, I added stones set into the circles: perhaps a ruby for a July birthday, or a peridot for August.

Pearls are among the earliest of gem materials used for personal adornment. Enraptured by their luminescent shades, the Ancient Greeks once believed they were tears of joy from Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love.

The only gemstone to be produced by a living organism, this gem epitomises incredibly rare and unique wonders in nature, as a symbol of purity and modesty. It also denotes love, success and happiness, so is often presented as a wedding gift, as well as being the birthstone for June.

Quite different from other polished gemstones, their unique 'orient' is a result of subtle iridescence and a surface reflection of light. They are commonly white, golden, grey, brown and black in colour; with various iridescent tints including pink, green, blue and lilac, and are either produced naturally or artificially, in marine saltwater or freshwater.