Mark Farrell has scoured the earth for the purest sapphires. His adventure to Sri Lanka and exploration of various mines gave his jewelry company, Buffalo Craft, a new purpose and edge. Experiencing firsthand where gemstones originate was life-changing. He is thrilled to share the stories from his journey.
The most striking gems come from the East where the land contains more pressure and heat. When you think of a sapphire, you picture a deep blue stone, like Princess Diana’s engagement ring. However, this sought-after stone can come in various colors, such as the natural purple one tattooed on Mark’s left hand. In Sri Lanka, native sapphires come in a rainbow of colors and are usually mined from under a farmer’s rice field and panned manually. During Mark’s trip, he and his group spent a week in Ratnapura, the center of gemstone trading. There, they built relationships with miners who have been in the trade for generations. “It’s all about relationships first and business second,” says Farrell.
When Mark examines or acquires gems for his customers, he not only understands how they were discovered, but also shares in the miner’s excitement when a gem is uncovered. At the markets, the miners are eager to showcase their finds. Mark compares the hunt for natural, unheated gemstones to treasure hunting at garage sales. He says, “As a jeweler and an American, ordering these gems from a catalog doesn’t reveal the effort it takes to search for them day after day. When you buy gemstones directly from miners, you see where the money goes. You’re supporting their schools, lifestyle, and community. It brings a sense of humility to the whole process.”
With Mark’s global connections, Buffalo Craft can source the finest rare gems, making them a premier provider of colored fine gemstones in the Nashville area. In their Spring Hill studio, Mark and his team of specialized artisans, including a CAD expert, were busy crafting various rings and intricately transforming a brooch into a cuff bracelet. One project involved making four exact replicas of a grandmother’s 1930s cluster ring. Mark explains, “We had to source old-world cut diamonds that are all period accurate.”
In another project, a Tiffany eternity ring needed to be resized by one size, which involved seamlessly adding and setting new diamonds into the platinum band. For another customer, Mark has spent over 60 hours meticulously bezel setting a ring with a stunning 3.38ct Colombian emerald using tiny punches and chisels known as gravers. With a profound grasp of sophisticated manufacturing methods and techniques, Buffalo Craft embraces intricate projects that other jewelers might avoid. “We take our time because quality can’t be rushed.” An average turnaround time of 10- 6 weeks for standard jobs, Buffalo Craft ensures enduring quality.
If you are interested in a custom piece that reflects your individuality, a matching wedding band, rare gems, or have heirloom jewelry that you would like re-worked or restored to its original condition, visit BuffaloCraft.com to schedule an appointment.