Timeless Rock Stars

Bindu Gopal Rao

There has been a shift in the way people are choosing jewellery. The trend has moved towards custom, unique pieces of fine jewellery that are both collectible as well as personal. “Diamonds, in particular, have become versatile. People are wearing the most stunning pieces any time of the day and with any outfit. A pair of diamond earrings or thick eye-catching cufflinks pair perfectly  well with jeans, sneakers and leather jacket, or even an airy summer day dress. Going beyond the traditional canary yellow or pink diamonds, there has been a resurgence of coloured diamonds. Jewellery designers are exploring incredibly rare diamonds in all colours of the rainbow: blue, green, orange — you name it,” avers Payal Mehta of Payal New York. People are looking at traditional pieces of jewellery with a modern interpretation.

“The first trend is around designing jewellery that is wearable and practical. This is also leading to jewellery designs becoming simpler and lighter. Designers are using more diamonds and less gold. The other related trend is the emergence of a renewed demand for solitaires as these are easy to wear and not necessarily associated with weddings”, says Stephen Lussier of Forevermark. Likewise, diamonds for men are popular in the form of cufflinks, tiepins and kurta buttons. With a huge range of options to work with, no wonder then that diamonds are the key inspiration for designers and fashionistas world over. 

Choose the right stones

The question, then, is how to choose the right diamonds. A simple way to do is to remember the 4Cs — Cut, Colour, Carat and Clarity. Cut refers to the shape and ability of the diamond to reflect light. It is better to choose a cut tagged as ‘very good’ for round diamonds and at least ‘good’ in other shapes. Of course, if you can afford, go for the ‘excellent’ variety. The best quality diamonds are colourless. Most often you cannot see colour with the naked eye but are usually yellow. Select quality H in colour as it represents top quality. Carat refers to the weight of the diamond. Standard popular buying sizes are ½, ¾ and 1 carat. Clarity is determined by the presence of impurities in the stone and VVS1 or VVS2 clarity is a good option as these have lesser inclusions and are not visible to the naked eye. Buy from a reputed jeweller who can give you a certificate that highlights these aspects so you are assured of buying a good quality diamond.

Trend check

• Timeless pieces and vintage designs are the flavour of the season.
• Enamelling on jewellery is in. There is an increased emphasis on nature-inspired jewellery pieces.
• Diamonds set in yellow and rose gold are trending.
• Asymmetrical jewellery, which consists of mismatched pieces, is in.
• Go for statement pieces like chokers and long bold chains.
• Layered statement pieces like arm cuffs, multiple finger rings and even ornate bracelets are trending.
• Put your jewellery to multiple uses like converting a pendant into a ring, and vice versa.
• Combine diamonds with other gems like sapphires and emeralds. Tahitian pearls make a compelling statement.