There’s a reason why natural diamonds have endured as one of the world’s most sought-after precious stones. Once a rough diamond has been expertly faceted and polished to catch the light just right, nothing quite emits sparkle and brilliance like it.

“I have always been fascinated by natural diamonds,” shares Creative Director and gemologist Sarah Munro FGAA. “Their unique formation patterns and how a perfect cut brings them to life is unrivaled. They’re ancient origins, shaped by Earth's transformative forces over millions of years, always blows my mind.”Natural diamonds are typically formed in the Earth’s mantle hundreds of kilometers beneath the surface. They are primarily composed of a single element—carbon—which transforms into scintillating gemstones under extreme pressure and heat over millions and even billions of years. 

“Most natural diamonds are between 1 billion and 3 billion years old,” explains Crissabella Sacco, our in-house diamond expert and gemologist. “The micro inclusions found within diamonds tell unique stories about our Earth's ancient history.”

“Its natural crystal structure allows light to enter and reflect off its many facets, emitting a striking sparkle that can’t be replicated in any other gemstone.”

A DIAMOND’S NATURAL ALLURE

A diamond’s value and desirability can be summed up in three words—beauty, durability and rarity. The beauty of a diamond lies in its brilliance. “Diamonds have a magnificent ability to reflect light in a way that creates flashes of colour known as fire,” says Crissabella. “Its natural crystal structure allows light to enter and reflect off its many facets, emitting a striking sparkle that can’t be replicated in any other gemstone.” Diamonds are renowned as one of the hardest naturally occurring substances on Earth and can only be cut and shaped by other diamonds or specialist diamond-tipped tools. Scoring a 10 on the MOHS hardness scale, the highest value, they are highly resistant to scratches and can retain their exceptional sparkle over time. “This makes diamonds perfect for engagement rings and heirloom pieces as they are durable enough to stand the test of time,” explains Crissabella. 

“Cut is the most important element, as it directly affects the diamond's brilliance, fire, and overall visual appeal.”

 

While it is widely known that carat plays a vital role in determining a diamond’s overall quality, this simply measures the weight of the diamond, not its size. There are three other essential factors to consider: cut, colour, and clarity. “I strongly believe that cut is the most important element, as it directly affects the diamond's brilliance, fire, and overall visual appeal,” Crissabella reveals. “It encompasses the shape, symmetry, and polish of a diamond.”

Colour refers to the absence of colour—the less colour a diamond possesses, the more valuable it is. Clarity, on the other hand, relates to the presence or absence of inclusions—these are naturally occurring marks or ‘flaws’ that can be found internally or externally. “While diamonds with fewer inclusions are generally more expensive, as a gemmologist, I appreciate inclusions for the character they add to each stone,” say Crissabella.

Contrary to popular belief, diamonds aren’t the rarest gemstone in the world, however, natural diamonds with near perfect colour and clarity (minimal inclusions) can be very difficult to obtain.

“There is also a fifth C, which is often overlooked—certification,” Crissabella adds. “When purchasing diamonds or diamond jewellery, it's crucial to ask for the gemstone’s certification, as this will provide detailed information about its quality and sourcing.”

THE DIAMOND ENGAGEMENT RING

With a rich history dating back to the 15th century, one of the first-ever documented diamond engagement rings can be attributed to Archduke Maximilian of Austria, who gave a diamond to Mary of Burgundy in 1477 to ask for her hand in marriage. This marked the beginning of a trend amongst European aristocracy. By the 19th century, the popularity of diamonds grew exponentially, thanks to improvements in gem-cutting techniques. However, it was the leading diamond corporation De Beers that fuelled the diamond engagement craze in the 1940s, propelled by a clever marketing campaign with the now iconic slogan ‘A Diamond is Forever’.

“A stunning round or oval brilliant cut diamond on a simple solitaire band is the best way to showcase the true beauty of a natural diamond.”

Today, diamond engagement rings remain the most popular choice for brides-to-be, becoming the ultimate emblem of love and unity, with designs often championing the stone. “It may sound traditional or cliché, but in my opinion, a stunning round or oval brilliant cut diamond on a simple solitaire band is the best way to showcase the true beauty of a natural diamond,” Crissabella muses. “The minimalist setting allows the diamond's brilliance and fire to shine without any distractions.”

THE SARAH & SEBASTIAN DIAMOND

The diamond serves as the foundation for every SARAH & SEBASTIAN engagement ring. Under the guidance of Sarah Munro, our signature designs pay homage to the inherent beauty of the diamond, each one handcrafted to enhance the interplay of light and sparkle.

“The diamond takes center stage for every engagement ring,” explains Sarah Munro. “Our dedicated team of gemologists and diamond experts share a deep passion for sourcing exceptional GIA-certified stones, and each one is meticulously selected by hand. I firmly believe in prioritising quality over quantity.”

Every individual diamond is sourced for exceptional clarity, between FL and VS2 (depending on the desired specifications, we may source an SI diamond). We only work with Excellent to Very Good cut diamonds; however, for round brilliant cut stones, we always source Triple Excellent. When it comes to colour, we only select diamonds between D and H on the colourless scale, the highest level.

DIAMONDS IN DESIGN

Beyond engagement rings, natural diamonds are a defining element of our signature designs. In our architectural SUSPENSE pieces, bold diamonds appear to float in solid 18 karat gold, while intricate clusters of petite diamonds embellish our Gossamer styles, inspired by the shimmer of crashing waves.

In our seasonal collections, natural diamonds steal the spotlight—our Urchin Lace pieces from our OBSCURA collection champion labitynths of inverted stones and gradients of white and champagne diamonds, while our latest collection, AURELIA, brings diamonds to life on voluminous forms.

APRIL’S BIRTHSTONE

Derived from the Greek word adamas, meaning ‘invincible,’ diamonds have long symbolised clarity, strength and eternal love and are known as April’s traditional birthstone. Thanks to their inherent durability, the Romans used them as incision instruments, while in China and Europe, they were considered talismans with healing powers to drive evil away. As one of the world’s most coveted and versatile gemstones, perfect for any occasion, diamond birthstone jewellery makes for a timeless gift for loved ones or as an ode to self.

Discover our diamond engagement ring collection and explore our natural diamond guide here.

Book an appointment with a diamond specialist to start your engagement & wedding journey with SARAH & SEBSTIAN.

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