Kate Sutton Uberkate Jewellery Interview

Genius Gems and How They Help Support Emotional States

While health and wellness make a perfect match, it's not often that fashion and wellness go hand in hand. Kate Sutton, designer and founder of Uberkate Jewellery is shaking things up however.

Kate has travelled the world to source only the most beautiful, natural, hand cut gemstones to include in her latest range, Everyday Cocktail. Inspired by the healing properties of stones found in Iran, India and even the Caribbean, the beautiful range offers support, regardless of your emotional state.

Diamonds may remain a girl's best friend but now so are amethysts, rose quartz, and a slew of other gemstones. Going beyond the mediation altar, gemstones are big on the jewellery scene and are more than just a pretty accessory to accompany your outfit, they also bring healing powers to your day.

Interview with Kate Sutton

Question: What motivated you to create Uberkate Jewellery?

Kate Sutton: I first started silversmithing to learn how to make beautiful earring hooks and from the moment I first played with the silver, I was hooked... literally.

The idea for our signature Ubercircles design came when I was pregnant with my first baby and I wanted to wear her name around my neck. There was nothing around like the circles that I handcrafted and so I began making them from my small garage studio. The engraving idea came from a set of vintage letter stamps I'd been carrying around from a flea market when I was 15!


Question: Where do you find inspiration for your collections, especially Everyday Cocktail?

Kate Sutton: From my love of travel. I am inspired by the countries where the stones come from, their history, how they came to be and what they've traditionally been worn for. Discovering Larimar from the Dominican Republic was such an exciting find... the stone actually looks like a slice of the ocean.


Question: When did you first find your passion for gemstones?

Kate Sutton: Three years ago I made the first cocktail collection ring for myself to wear, and as was the case with my Ubercircles 15 years ago, my girlfriends were the first to purchase them and the interest in them and the demand just grew from there. The range has since grown to include pendants and earrings... and there is more to come.


Question: Can you talk us through the basic healing powers of gemstones?

Kate Sutton: Gemstones and crystals form in the earth's crust over millions of years, and have one of the highest natural energies and it is because of this, they have been used for thousands and thousands of years by ancient civilizations in healing practices. They are capable of containing and manipulating the highest form of energy known - light. Everything that exists, exists because of energy and every individual energy has the ability to affect the energy of something else. In this case, when you have a gemstone or crystal within 3 feet of your own electromagnetic field, their natural energy raises your own vibrational energy by refracting and reflecting light into your electromagnetic feel. This all sounds very sciency... and it is, and that's why gemstones and crystals are often used in technology, because of their ability to affect energy. They are more than just a beautiful object to look at and each stone has its own unique properties and ability to affect our bodies, minds and emotions.


Question: If we haven't used gemstones before – what types should we look towards, first?

Kate Sutton: When using crystals and gemstones in jewellery, it is important to understand that not all natural stone is capable of being a gemstone. A gemstone or semi-precious gemstone is one that has been cut and polished before being used to make jewellery, and whilst a gorgeous hunk of Smoky Quartz or Rose Quartz crystal can be celebrated for its natural beauty, it's not necessarily the right hardness or the right crystal to be cut into a semi-precious Gemstone. Gemstones are the top quality of the tree and they are chosen and cut (and therefore way more expensive than natural crystals) to become semi-precious Gemstone beauties.

From an aesthetic point of view in jewellery, you should focus on the quality, cut, colour and clarity of the jewel. Jewellery is about making one feel good and so choose a gemstone that when you look at it and its shape and colour, it makes your heart sing. From a wellbeing point of view, you should allow yourself to be naturally drawn to a stone for how it makes you feel. Your physical and spiritual body will be instinctively attracted to the individual properties it needs, so listen to that gut feeling you have going on.


Question: Which five gemstones help balance our emotional states?

Kate Sutton: Oh gosh, there are so many... but these five are probably a good place to start.
1. Rose Quartz - It cultivates unconditional love, attracts love, heals the heart and promotes forgiveness.
2. Smoky Quartz - It helps you let go. It acts as a protective shield against unwanted energy and helps you to let go of old patterns, behaviours and beliefs that may be holding you back.
3. Amethyst - Amethyst is used to heal on both a physical and emotional level. It is a protective stone and allows the wearer to 'see' more clearly.
4. Carnelian - Carnelian is a great stone for creativity. Our ancient ancestors believed that it attracted fortune and success and stimulates creativity, confidence, motivation and joy. 5. Lapis Lazuli - Lapis Lazuli helps you to tap into your intuition. It symbolises truth and calming and is a stone of royalty and honour. On a physical level, it boosts the immune system and stimulates the metabolism.


Question: Does it matter where and when we wear these gemstones?

Kate Sutton: Gemstones are by nature designed to make you feel good, so why not wear them on your body every day. It's the whole reason I designed the Everyday Cocktail Range, because I believe every day is worth celebrating and you should feel amazing every day.


Question: Which gemstones are your favourite and why?

Kate Sutton: You really want me to choose? That's like asking me to choose a favourite child... it can vary from day to day. If push comes to shove I guess Lapis Lazuli, Larimar and Green Amethyst top my list - both for the individual properties they promote and the sheer natural beauty of them.


Interview by Brooke Hunter