Top Location for Gemstones

Dorset’s coastline is known as the Jurassic Coast and has become a hub for budding gem enthusiasts; it could provide you with just the inspiration you are looking for! It certainly is a good place to start your search, especially if you are looking to see some stones in the flesh to help inspire you with some unique engagement ring ideas. Local towns have a variety of different fossil stores and museums which hold a plentiful supply of fossils and gemstones… enough to titillate even gemmologists, geologists and anyone pondering ideas for their engagement rings!

Why not consider using a British gemstone in our engagement ring, eternity ring or wedding rings? If you are looking to use a gemstone from the UK you should be able to see quite a few examples on your travels. Popular UK gemstones such as smoky quartz and rose quartz are a regular feature of these sites. If you’re after something really unique you could even consider having a fossil such as an ammonite incorporated into a design!

Just be sure to keep your eyes peeled as there is a whole variety of unusual gemstones out there that could be fantastic in a design e.g. Labradorite, angel hair quartz and shell. You’ll also be surprised by the sheer size of some of these gemstones… in fact I found myself walking away from one of the many lovely local gemstone stores with a fantastic new paperweight for my desk; a fabulous massive amethyst crystal weighing almost 800 carats!

Famous for its presence in novels such as John Fowles’ The French Lieutenant’s Woman and Jane Austen’s Persuasion, Lyme Regis has become a popular spot for British beachgoers and world travellers alike. It is an absolutely fantastic place to have a look at some amazing and rare gemstones… and where better to get some inspiration for your engagement ring designs! After you’ve seen all the gemstone delights you can even take a fishing trip or wander down The Cobb.

If you’re pondering taking a trip it can be great for a mini break or even a holiday with the family. There are lots of fun places to keep the kids happy such as the labyrinth of intricate sandcastles at Sandworld, there are often fossil exhibitions and even fancy dress competitions… in fact on my latest visit I happened to see a rather convincing girls dressed as an ichthyosaur wandering the streets with a geologist friend! Of course there is also the world famous Donkey Sanctuary, which is a popular spot for people of all ages… with free admission and the promise of cuddly friends to be met you can’t go wrong! And if you’re looking for something a bit more grown up there is a whole selection of fantastic National Trust sites across this and the neighbouring counties e.g. Knightshayes Court, A La Ronde, Branscombe Forge and the Old Bakery. There are also some lovely places to eat too, with traditional Devon cream teas, fresh local crab sandwiches and even the promise of a trip to The River Cottage Canteen and Deli (made famous by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall) in Axminster on the cards you can be sure to be spoilt for choice! … happy travelling!