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HEATHER GEMS are produced in the factory in Pitlochry in the central highlands of Scotland. The product has been made in this area for almost twenty years. The location is ideal as the surrounding hills provide a good source of raw materials.
HEATHER GEMS are handmade from stems of heather, which is a common Scottish plant renowned for its purple bloom. The heather used is too old to provide any nutrition for wildlife and is pulled in a manner which promotes growth of new heather. The stems are dried, shotblasted to remove the bark, and dyed various colours using natural dyes. Stems of different colours are then mixed together and compressed into a block - eighty tons of pressure is required to press the block of stems together. The block is then cut into slices and individual pieces are cut, shaped, and filled by skilled craftworkers, before being laquered to give the final finish.
The pieces of jewellery are set into silver and pewter fittings. A number of these fittings use Celtic designs dating back to the time of St. Columba and the start of Christianity in Scotland.
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