A story about diamonds
I wanted to share a few thoughts about jewellery in general and some guidelines that I believe are important to follow.
First of all, always buy diamonds that are certified by the GIA – Gemological Institute of America. This is an independent non-profit organization and the world`s leading authority on diamonds. These diamonds comply with the Kimberly process, which ensures that they do not come from conflict zones or are so-called blood diamonds.
Diamonds grown in laboratories have virtually no value in the second-hand market. Russia and China are the two main producers and the carbon footprint of making these stones is actually 3 times greater than diamonds that have been mined naturally. The fact that lab-grown diamonds have no or little value in the second-hand market technically implies that jewellery made with such stones is a bad investment, and you should always think of jewellery as an investment – like having money in the bank.
If you buy stones of poor quality or with noticeable flaws, they have little value in the second-hand market and their flaws I believe will impact the joy of giving them to the next generation. Having said that, flawless diamonds are expensive and not for everyone. There is however a great alternative. A flawless natural gemstone is incredibly beautiful and represents a considerably smaller investment compared to a diamond. Match the large gemstone such as a natural topaz or tourmaline with smaller diamonds around the main stone and you have a stunning statement piece that won`t break the bank and increase in value over time.
I would also encourage you to buy jewellery from a designer where there is a face behind the brand. High-end jewellery should last multiple generations and buying these pieces is normally done on a whim. That`s why I believe personalized service is so important, both in terms of the actual buying process but equally so in terms of any follow-up once the jewellery has been delivered. The direct dialogue between the designer and the customer is so important, which is why I look for this when I buy jewellery from other designers and brands.
The last point links to the above may sound self-serving, however I have always been a big believer in buying from smaller independent brands as opposed to larger mass producers. This was very much the driving force behind creating Libelula and something I stand by wholeheartedly. My philosophy has always been to design and create beautiful jewellery of the highest quality, but without the crazy mark-ups that come with larger brands where each piece is made by artisans that love their work.
