Heathergem Highland Coo

Heathergems are handmade from the stems of heather, 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 the growth of new heather.

The stems are dried, shotblasted to remove the bark and dyed various colors using natural dyes. Stems of different colors 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 filed by skilled craftworkers before being lacquered to give the final finish. The Heathergem jewelry we offer are set into sterling silver fittings. Handcrafted in Pitlochry, Scotland.

Each Heathergem is unique, with it's own distinctive medley of colors typical of the Scottish moors -- orange, red, green, blue and purple. Sorry, we are not able to offer a choice of colors.

Highland Cattle are famous throughout the world for their distinctive look. Known as the oldest breed in the world, these small cattle have long, wavy hair in colors of rust, brown, black and yellow. Like musk ox, the Higland Cattle's coat has two layers. The oily outer hair protects the cattle from rain and snow, while the downy undercoat provides warmth -- a perfect combination for Scotland's winters. Their distinctive long horns enable foraging in snowy fields.