ARE THEY REAL?
Mysterious and individual, the wild-child sister to brilliant white diamonds, these are true diamonds which have retained their unique characteristic inclusions.
Generally diamonds were formed one to three billion years ago, and at about 160 km below the earth’s surface. Down there the average temperature is over 1000 degrees Celcius. With this extreme pressure and intense heat applied to carbon atoms in the earth’s crust, it’s magical – the space where natural diamonds are formed! They still need to travel up to the earth's surface which happens in very rare volcanic eruptions, and this is where we find them.
However….. here’s the thing, when diamonds are discovered they are not the flawless, shimmering gems that you know. They are rough, bumpy, murky stones filled with inclusions.
WHAT ARE INCLUSIONS?
These inclusions are typically composed of carbon, minerals or other materials that become trapped within a diamond during its formation. They may look like feathers, chips, clouds or cracks. Each inclusion is a timestamp of that particular stone’s own life cycle and history, the shifting of rocks, the changes in temperatures, the forming and fusing of natural elements. The inclusions even reflect the time that it was formed.
The flecks,chips or simply put ‘the speckled look’ is made up from the black inclusions ‘Pepper’, the icy white inclusions ‘Salt’. These inclusions make up the difference in the aesthetic of brilliant diamonds and salt and pepper diamonds. A fully faceted and polished white diamond reflects light outward – pushing its sparkle and shine out. A salt and pepper diamond does just the opposite – pushing less light out, instead it ‘draws you in’ and into its eternal sultry depths. This is where their unique appeal lies, in their mysterious and enigmatic layers which are distinctive from every angle.
In brilliant diamonds inclusions are cut away bringing the diamond to its most flawless form, resulting in a much smaller, classic diamond. Salt and pepper diamonds are cut to show off their inclusions, size and colours. To best show off the diamond, cutters often create unconventional shapes, such as rose-cuts, hexagons and kites. These individual inclusions and sometimes shapes make each stone clearly one of a kind; there are no two the same.
WHY CHOOSE A SALT AND PEPPER DIAMOND?
These diamonds have gained popularity in recent times with those who love a raw and natural aesthetic. They have the same hardness and durability as classic diamonds yet are more affordable than brilliant white diamonds and so with them we can create bold statement pieces. They are also available in many different colours and shades. We can be wonderfully creative with them, allowing deep personal expression.
SALT AND PEPPER DIAMONDS ARE ALWAYS UNIQUE
As humans, we initially appear similar, but as we mature, we uncover the unique traits that distinguish us. These traits can be both challenges and blessings, shaping our identity. Over time, we come to embrace our individuality, akin to appreciating the distinctiveness of salt and pepper stones, each with its own charm and story. We set them elegantly and they symbolize our love, desires, and appreciation beautifully.
Each stone stands apart, and salt and pepper stones, in particular, are unusual. They diverge from the conventional, mass-produced designs typically found in jewellery displays, marking a shift in our notions of beauty and fashion. It's a joy to witness the ascent of creativity, the decline of conformity, and the increasing embrace of innovation and diversity. It's about transcending norms, discovering beauty and significance in the unanticipated.
