Diamonds Shined at Couture 2016

Wearing Paige Novick’s Diamonds With A Story collaboration pieces

Wearing Sandy Leong’s Diamonds With A Story collaboration pieces, inspired as “sound waves in metal”

Wearing Paige Novick’s Diamonds With A Story collaboration pieces, inspired by traceable curves

Diamonds. Did you see more this year at Couture or less than years in the past? Do you feel as though designers are using diamonds more and more in designs or turning to other colored gemstones? I set out this year to hit the ground running and answer those exact questions, doing my own research. Diamonds have been and possibly will forever be the number one selling gemstone. But with all the fuss over conflict-free, “recycled,” eco-conscious and several other trendy names people are putting on responsibly mined diamonds, has that begun to shift the love and allure for diamonds?!

For me, I will always love diamonds–probably even more than any other gemstone. The majority of my personal collection is made up of diamonds. I will never, ever buy or be interested in synthetic diamonds (frankly, I wish they would cease creating them) and that goes for other imitations like moissanite. The rarity and allure of owning a real diamond, whether it is ethically mined or an antique diamond, far outweighs any other desire for an alternative.

Wearing Jade Trau’s wrap rings that are becoming iconic to her line

Polly Wales has created LOTS of new, stunning pieces using diamonds. Her signature style continues to be a favorite and oh so unique.

Wearing Kavant & Sharart Designs who are both inspired by Art Deco and Avant Garde styles

Now, a diamond’s journey can be tricky. That’s why programs like Diamonds With A Story have recently been created to ensure a diamond’s origins and its sustainability. Diamonds With A Story came about in partnership with Rio Tinto, as they partnered with a few designers using the ethically sourced diamonds. The capsule collections were created utilizing ethically sourced white and natural color diamonds from Austrailia’s Argyle Mine. This year’s designer participants attending the Couture Show include Paige Novick, Suzanne Kalan, Sandy Leong and Matthew Campbell Laurenza. The pieces created using these diamonds from the Argyle Mines are innovative and extremely wearable. It was neat to see how the designers interpreted the stones differently with their own design aesthetic and contrasting against their collections.

Other research has been done on Millennials and their response to diamonds. This age group, which I am a part of, includes those who were born in the early 1980s and up through the 90s…some even including those born in the beginning of 2000. Most recently, the Diamond Producers Association revealed its newest campaign targeting this age group after extensive research on their views of diamonds. The campaign takes the idea of “Real is Rare” and hopes to build connections with this and diamonds. The Diamond Producers Association states, “The platform emerges from deep insight work with the millennial audience revealing that while diamonds do have appeal for this generation, relevance and emotional engagement can be heightened via new concepts…The opportunity exists for diamonds to represent the rare, precious and real connections that millennials crave. “Real is Rare” redefines diamonds for the 21st century, giving them new meaning as a symbol to celebrate the real connections we choose to make.”

I’m excited for these new platforms that are emerging and promoting the love for diamonds. I think it starts with learning to appreciate such rarity, and to know where and how diamonds are produced. Jewelry designers can easily foster the enchantment of diamonds, as I saw at Couture this year. Innovative designs and creations that make your jaw drop are just the start of creating such desire.

Below are some of the best examples of artists and designers using diamonds in the most innovative and alluring ways:

Wearing Eva Fehren’s rings which use diamonds to create some incredible geometric looks. Many larger, central diamonds are specially cut in their own geometric shape, further creating a unique, one-of-a-kind ring.

The display at TAP by Todd Pownell–truly should be known as a diamond artist, along with jewelry designer. I don’t think I’ve ever been more in awe of the way diamonds are set/aligned/patterned/strung. It’s insane.

Wearing Lana Jewelry who recently added black diamonds to their line up

Wearing Suzanne Kalan, another game changer in the industry, using baguette cut diamonds in the most innovative way

I loved seeing and experiencing diamonds at Couture. Being aware of seeing which designers used them, talking with stores and buyers at the show and getting their opinion on diamonds in the marketplace has been really informative. I know diamonds are here to stay and it is up to us to continue to keep it this way.

To learn more about diamonds and experience diamonds in every way possible, check out 1001 Diamonds. Here are all their platforms:

This post was brought to you in collaboration with 1001 Diamonds.

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