Ortak has originated from the Scottish Orkney Islands which consists of a cluster of 70 islands, 20 of which are inhabited; the islands have been inhabited for roughly 8500 years so they have a rich history. The islands have been home to Ortak Jewellery since 1967 when founder Malcolm Gray began experimenting with his skills in his garden shed, when he first started out his designs were quite traditional. However, since then his creations have developed into modern designs, but they still hold an element of the very nature of the Orkney Islands themselves which consists of dramatic coastlines and landscapes.