The Unique Diamonds team at their new consultation rooms in Braddon. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
Over the past decade, Unique Diamonds directors Josh and Emily Bennett must have had thousands of conversations about the four Cs – cut, colour, clarity and carat.
Hundreds of clients have sat opposite them, attempting to give life to their ideas, stories and dreams in the form of a piece of jewellery.
It can be an overwhelming process, according to Emily.
“Generally, the first 10 minutes with any client – after we’ve fixed them a drink – is spent on getting to know them and understanding how much they know versus how much they want to know,” she says.
“Some clients come in having done a lot of research, and some may even have sketches of their own. Others might have nothing other than a vague idea or a story for inspiration as a starting point.”
Unique Diamonds director Emily Bennett and her team work to demystify diamonds and make the bespoke jewellery design process more approachable. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
Unique Diamonds recently moved from their consultation rooms in Braddon to a spacious studio in Kingston, in answer to increasing demand for their work.
In the plush new surroundings, clients can request a drink at the bar before sitting down with a knowledgeable and passionate consultant to learn and gain inspiration before designing a piece they won’t find elsewhere.
“Our clients typically want a unique piece, something they wouldn’t necessarily find on a shelf,” Emily says.
“Many of our clients have put a lot of time and effort into researching and understanding diamonds specifically.”
Their approach is simple – work with the client to create the ring they really want. That process varies greatly from client to client, but most come to realise something – a piece of bespoke jewellery is worth more than the sum of its gemstones.
“Diamonds in particular can feel intimidating,” she says.
“There’s such a dramatic change in price over such tiny factors that are often not visible.
“We talk about the four Cs, not just what they are, but how these factors will affect the appearance of a diamond, how much light it reflects and how that changes the price. And importantly, what’s worth spending money on and what isn’t, according to a client’s individual goals.”
Unique Diamond clients are usually after something they won’t find on a shelf. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
The journey to the ideal piece often starts with a stone and can involve perusing physical samples and digital renders.
“Together with each client, we pick a specific diamond or gemstone, talk through why that stone is right for that client, and look at ring design,” Emily explains.
“We have silver samples as starting points to get a visual, and they can pick and choose every single aspect. They can take elements from 10 different rings if they want.
“We create a digital composition of their design and fine-tune it as many times as it takes until we have their dream design. Usually, it’s within a few days of them first coming in.”
The journey can also start with a story. Those sometimes yield the most memorable pieces for Emily.
“We had a lovely grandmother who created a ring for herself,” she recalls.
“She selected five differently shaped one-carat diamonds. These five diamonds symbolised her five rounds of chemotherapy but, more significantly, her beating the cancer.
“We set each stone at different angles on a platinum band. The ring was an absolute showstopper and she carried it with such pride.
“Sometimes the beauty of your piece of jewellery comes from the intention behind it, and the beauty of bespoke is in capturing that.”
Visit Unique Diamonds to book an appointment or visit the studio at 64 Giles Street, Kingston.
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