It was slow train ride north to New Delhi. Most of the other folks had their heads buried in newspapers, but I couldn't tear my eyes away from the window. When it comes to epic opulence, the Maharajah palaces of India are hard to beat. But for my money, the busy country villages were even more invigorating. They hummed with life and exploded with brilliant color. Compared to the fairytale perfection of the Taj Mahal, the towns felt much more real. Among the crowds I noticed women wearing chunky necklaces with rough gems that looked as if they had been pried loose from an ancient temple. That rough look inspired our Raw Ruby Necklace.

We've taken an amazing 350 carats of raw, natural corundum and tumbled the stones smooth (just enough to give them a sumptuous finish). The 18" necklace (with 2" extender) fastens with a gold vermeil lobster claw clasp. Rubies are more valuable and rare than the finest colorless diamonds. But instead of spending a fortune for faceted perfection, why not enjoy the true colors of the stone that mesmerized the Maharajahs?