deskspace's polished gemstones solar system is the perfect gift for the upcoming holidays

ever since we were children, most of us have marvelled at the stars and wondered what it would be like to be closer to them. deskspace gives us that small reminder of our place in the universe with a set of gemstones that are beautiful and stylish. this is a sophisticated gift for anyone with a curious mind, who was once that little child questioning the universe. if you like to stand out from the crowd and have something that’s just a little different from the typical newton’s cradle,deskspace is a great desk accessory.

with its own rectangular stand, deskspace easily sits on the desk, mantelpiece or window sill, this is so tactile that people will want to pick up each one. kids will love it too and it might just start a conversation about the wonders of space. included in your gem stone set is a high quality, heavyweight book designed to offer up some interesting, intriguing and fun facts about the planets in front of you. with detailed images and a clever design that allows it to nestle inside the box stand, this is the perfect addition to the deskspace set and turns it from a curiosity into a practical gift for space enthusiasts.

in designing the deskspace planet set, the designers worked incredibly hard to source the exact materials that would showcase the unique beauty of each planet. they visited factories and suppliers worldwide and even cross referenced NASA satellite images with the finished products to ensure they are as accurate as they are stunning. the final result are polished gems that are lovely to look at, smooth to touch and a creative gift that will be appreciated by young and old. in the long process of gathering the correct materials for deskspace, the creators worked hard to make sure that the stones we chose represented each planet perfectly.

the process of creating deskspace involves a lengthy process of choosing, washing and shaping the various gems. craftsmen hand shape each one before polishing it to a perfect glass-like shine. gemstones are mined from a variety of locations across the globe. the designers only work with mines that are sympathetic to the environment and with materials that are in plentiful supply. the individual gemstones raw blocks are then washed ready for processing into smaller shapes. the stones are then dried in industrial ovens at low heat of around 80°c for a couple of weeks – this allows them to harden ready for the shaping and polishing process and to offer the longevity that such a gift requires. diamond edge saws then cut the gems into cubes and into the right sizes for each of the planets. 

each cube is then shaped by hand into a sphere using a diamond grit grinding wheel by one of their dedicated and experienced craftsmen. each sphere is then precisely measure and checked for imperfections – any that do not meet the grade are rejected. once the stone has passed the first round of quality control it is then polished on a buffing wheel. this brings out the incredible shine and colour of each stone. the bespoke wooden stand and gift box are handcrafted by the artisans, who pay special attention to the detail of each and every one.

the designers wanted to create a desktop accessory that brought together their design skills with our interests. something that would allow them to have a small vision of how our home environment sits within the universe. with their backgrounds in technical design, they knew that their creation would need to be accurate, but moreover it needed to interpret the solar system in a way that brought about emotion and a lasting feel. deskspace needed substance. and so, the search for the right materials began. each and every one of us has a small connection with the skies. bringing that into our offices through their timeless and classic accessory is more than just a chance to own something beautiful – it is an opportunity to reconnect with the universe.

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: lynn chaya | designboom