The old gold mine of La Gardette was exploited at the beginning of the 18th century for its native gold. The site, on the western heights of Bourg d’Oisans, has been known since its origins for its magnificent clear quartz druses. Exploited and closed on numerous occasions due to low profitability, it was definitively abandoned in 1901. Since then, only keen collectors and crystal makers have continued to make collection pieces from it. Most of the galleries have been struck by lightning and made safe in the last decade. It is still possible to find fragments of quartz points while walking through the old mine dumps. Sometimes, certain points have sufficient size and quality to be faceted. Some have exceptional clarity that can be compared to that of Herkimer type quartz or “Diamond quartz.”

Coming from multiple volcanic rises in the central massif dating from 45 to 1 million years ago, then freed from their matrix by successive erosions and locally concentrated in placers. Sapphires are found today concentrated in alluvial terraces and also on the surface of uneven terrain or exposed plowing areas washed by rain. Sapphires are most often found at small sub-millimetre dimensions and are relatively widespread in several geographical areas of Auvergne; those exceeding 5 millimeters of gem quality are much less common and those of jewelry quality, greater than 1 carat, remain exceptional. They are harvested in an artisanal way, with passion, by hand, by beating, and by sieving as in the search for gold. To the great damnation of our spine Those which are of gem quality and which reach a sufficient size, are faceted in France, by us, in our workshops. These sapphires are ethical, with no ecological impact. French and natural, these sapphires have not undergone any treatment aimed at improving their color; . The range of colors is surprising, ranging from royal blue to yellow and green. Some are relatively milky and others perfectly gem-like and clear. Sometimes they contain interesting inclusions like zircons or chevron growth figures.

These sapphires are harvested by us manually and ethically; they are then faceted and mounted into jewelry by us on request.
Auvergne sapphires have been known at least since the 13th century and were exploited during the Middle Ages and supplied the treasures of the Kings of France. Gradually, with the opening of the Silk Roads and trade with the Orient, French sapphires were abandoned in favor of those coming from Ceylon and the Orient in general. The large sapphire of Louis XVI testifies to the very beautiful pieces coming from the East, having supplanted the French sapphire. Certainly neglected since then, but not forgotten, it has remained the target of tireless collectors and is gradually regaining interest thanks to its originality and its guaranteed pedigree.