Every gemstone in my collection has a journey before it ever becomes a piece of jewellery. It begins thousands of kilometres away, in the pink-walled city of Jaipur, India — the gemstone capital of the world.
How It All Started
I never planned to be in the jewellery business. Back in Ukraine, I was running a travel agency. It was my first trip to India, and a friend introduced me to a gemstone supplier whose family had been trading stones for generations. I walked into his stock room with no agenda — and the energy of the gems just got me.
I couldn't explain it then. I just knew I had to come back.
Two months later, I was on a plane back to India. I bought my first gemstone stock and never looked back. For the first two years, I simply bought and sold gems — learning, feeling, developing an eye. What started as an instinct slowly became a craft.
13 Years of Trust
That first meeting was over 13 years ago, and I still source from the same supplier today. That kind of relationship isn't just business — it's trust built over hundreds of conversations, thousands of stones, and many trips to Jaipur together.
Last time I visited was June 2025. Just one week — but when you know what you're looking for and who you're working with, a week is enough. And when I'm back in Australia, I can still order directly from him online, which is how I'm able to fulfil custom orders with almost any gemstone you can imagine.
How I Choose a Stone
In the beginning, it was pure energy. I'd hold a stone and feel whether it was right — whether it had something to say. That instinct has never left me.
But when I moved to Australia, I added a professional layer to that intuition. I completed a GIA (Gemological Institute of America) course — one of the most respected gemological qualifications in the world. Now every stone I select is evaluated from both sides: its energetic quality and its professional grading — colour, clarity, cut, and origin.
It's the combination of both that I believe makes the difference.
What I Discovered on My Last Trip
Jaipur never stands still. On my June 2025 visit, I was struck by how much the cutting techniques have evolved. New technologies are allowing cutters to create fancy cuts that simply weren't possible before — more precision, more creativity, more brilliance. I brought back a beautiful selection of fancy cut stones from that trip, and you'll be seeing them appear in new pieces soon.
It's a reminder that even a centuries-old craft keeps growing.
Coming Soon — Gemstones for Sale
Because I source directly and professionally, I'm able to offer something beyond finished jewellery. Soon, I'll be making individual gemstones available to purchase through Burkovska Jewellery — so you can own a stone for your own collection, commission a custom piece, or simply hold something beautiful.
If you have a stone in mind — a birthstone, a chakra gem, or something you've always been drawn to — [get in touch] and let's find it together.
Every stone I carry has been chosen by hand, with both knowledge and feeling. That's the Burkovska promise.