Highland Gems

Specialties

The most original shop on The Royal Mile! Featuring the world’s largest collection of Scottish gemstone jewellery. Raw materials hand-​gathered by ‘Scotland’s Gem Hunter’, BBC regular and national celebrity Adam McIntosh. What better souvenir to take home than a wee piece of Scotland itself? Plus, an impressive selection of ethically mined and sourced crystals and fossils from around the globe.

History

Established in 2003.

A young Adam McIntosh left Edinburgh in 2001 with the vague plan to travel the world as a kilt-​wearing folk singer; however, he found his true vocation along the way.

Staying with tribespeople in Nova Scotia gave him an interest in bartering and trading. A passion for gemstones developed in Arizona, where he met Native Americans dealing in turquoise. Stopping off in Australia, prospectors celebrating the discovery of an opal seam gifted him a bag of precious offcuts! Several hair-​raising adventures followed, including being chased out of The Dominican Republic by gangsters.

By the time he returned from travelling, Adam had gathered many gems. He took them into town in a wheelbarrow to sell from a blanket. With no street traders license, he was often moved on — but the business had begun! It has continued to grow steadily through the years and includes official stalls, a team of silversmiths setting the stones into jewellery, and now the first Two Skies’ shop ‘Highland Gems’.

Meet the Business Owner

Adam M.

Business Owner

No adventure is too crazy, no risk too great, no journey too extreme, when Adam McIntosh sets about sourcing his rare and unusual gems.

The chief of the Mi’kmaq tribe named Adam ‘Two Skies’ on one of his many expeditions to places ranging from the dark jungles of the Amazon to the tropical reefs of Fiji.

Born in Scotland and raised in Papua New Guinea, he is renowned for his environmentally sound and ethically created designs. His motto for the business is «Collected with Conscience, Crafted with Love».

Each piece of his sustainably-​sourced jewellery comes with its own fascinating story, and can be traced from origin to creation.

Adam currently lives in a treehouse on an organic farm outside Edinburgh, Scotland.