Gem Love Letters: Indulging in the Second Coffee Table Book by Doris Hangartner

There are few things I love more than unwrapping a new coffee table book by a jewellery artist I admire. The glossy pages, the saturated, full-sized imagery, the behind-the-scenes insights… thank goodness for sturdy shelves and plenty of office space! One of the latest additions to my collection is Gem Love Letters by the inimitable Doris Hangartner. She channels every ounce of her passion for minerals into its pages, culminating in a series of ‘Love Letters’ that evoke her innermost thoughts and ideas. Let me give you a sneak peek of what its colourful pages contain…

Now, though, I must turn your attention to Doris’ latest coffee table book, Gem Love Letters. It follows in the footsteps of her debut tome, Purely Paraiba, which I am lucky enough to have on my shelves in Paris. This earlier book is focused on the spirit and intensity of Paraiba – the ‘gem of gems’ – and its slightly mysterious inner glow and luminosity. It is incredibly challenging to articulate the in-person power of Paraiba in the pages of a book (I know this from experience!), but Doris managed it with gusto in Purely Paraiba. She tells me: “Expressing my love for Paraibas was a true passion project. Paraiba tourmaline is my gem match. It was an experience that connected me even more with this gorgeous gem.” It can be hard to explain why, among all the beautiful minerals on earth, there is one in particular that speaks to you. Doris believes her link to this tourmaline treasure is because of her “Paraiba eyes”, which is like something out of a song or a Hollywood film. “Ever since I started buying gemstones in 2012, I fell in love with Paraiba tourmaline,” she explains. “I love the way they make me feel; Paraibas are uplifting, joyful and very expansive.”

“This is an extraordinarily vivid and bright electric gem with aquatic colours. Its vivaciousness is hugely exciting and exhilarating. As if shining from within, these gems enchant with their mesmerizing luminosity,” Doris Hangartner.

When this book was published in 2021, you might say that Doris got the writing bug. “I discovered that I loved creating and sharing the beauty of gemstones with all senses,” she tells me. “I love to invite people to feel these gems and to give them a voice.” Her second book, Gem Love Letters, really does bring gemstones to life in a visual, poetic and emotive way. Personally, I have long believed that gems have an energy that we can tap into on an intuitive and emotional level. Doris takes this concept one step further by imbuing her book with 18 ‘Love Letters’, all penned to express interests, ideas and passions through the colourful lens of natural minerals. It is a fascinating concept and one that looks beautiful when browsing through the pages. The book also invites the reader to dream and reflect on their own life – a conduit for deeper thinking and mindfulness – that sounds like the perfect tonic for the crazy world we live in, don’t you think?!

“Gems are not only to be seen with the eyes but also felt with the heart,” Doris Hangartner.

The book is split into chapters, such as Gem Personalities, which explores the character and essence of individual gems, and Gem Dives, which compiles a series of inspiring quotes and Doris’ personal thoughts. “The concept of Gem Love Letters developed while I was writing Purely Paraiba,” Doris explains. “It is actually a continuation, as it opens up to more ‘Gem Personalities’.”

I love the notion of every gem having its own frequency and resonance and how that matches with the frequency and resonance of a person.” What really helps to bring this book to life is the photography by Leo Bieber, who manages to cast gems in an ethereal, crystalline light that is beautifully dreamy. Doris and Leo worked closely together to develop an aesthetic in which the reader feels like they have dived into the depth of a gem, bouncing from one facet to another in a sea of light. Doris describes it as “eternity caught in a moment in time”. She continues: “I would love people to feel deeply connected to their own true self through gemstones. I would love to inspire people to dive into the manyfold world of gemstones and all the sensations they evoke.”

With both of these books now available to purchase, Doris wants to continue “spreading the happy gem vibes” through her work, including acquiring loose gemstones, producing one-of-a-kind jewels and creating bespoke pieces for her clients. Right now, she is working on new pieces, although she is keeping their mineral content secret for now. She is also continuing to build her GemWealth Portfolios, which allow clients to make investments into exceptional loose gemstones that will stand the test of time, both figuratively and financially. If you are looking to indulge your interest in gems and perhaps see which one speaks to your soul, I recommend starting with Doris’ Gem Love Letters.