A world without variety is a world without beauty. As a handmaker, I behold beauty in the swell of a wave, the curve of a shell, and the delicate design of a flower. There is nowhere else where variety occurs more than in nature.
Since I have started working more with precious gems, I get asked about Salt & Pepper diamonds all the time, so I wanted to share what they are & why I choose them.
A natural diamond is formed about 150-200 kilometres below the earth’s surface. Pure carbon is subjected to immense pressure that causes the atoms to rearrange into the enduring substance of a diamond. The diamonds are slowly brought to the surface through volcanic activity, where they can be mined.
When a diamond is found, its raw form isn’t the sparkly gem you see set into jewelry. It is rough, misshapen, and full of inclusions. Inclusions are dark or opaque flecks that are often deemed imperfections. They can be carbon that appears icy or black or minerals like graphite, hematite, or magnetite that get trapped during crystallization.
A Salt & Pepper diamond is a stone that has both black and white inclusions, creating that starry, speckled appearance. The natural elements that create these one-of-a-kind beauties make them so appealing. You’ll never find two stones with the same mix of details.
Why choose one?
Aside from their unique look, you can get a larger diamond at a fraction of the cost of white diamonds. The 4C’s of diamond grading (cut, clarity, colour, and carat weight) don’t all apply to these stones, changing how they are valued. That makes them more accessible for small makers like me to purchase and use to create timeless, unique pieces that a wearer can cherish forever.
In the past, diamond miners would only keep the whitest of diamonds, but now that stones like Salt & Pepper diamonds are becoming more popular, the mining companies keep all the diamonds they find, in turn, creating less waste. A big positive for the precious stone industry!
While a white diamond is beautiful from all angles, a Salt & Pepper diamond is intriguing from all angles. No matter what setting these stones are put in, they will draw you into their distinctive characteristics.
Every time my tools touch metal, whether I am creating something unique or updating stock on a core design, the end products might be similar but never identical, just like these naturally formed diamonds. If you are drawn to the rugged wildness of nature, a Salt & Pepper diamond might be the right choice. I love knowing that my clients will have a story behind the jewelry I make for them, and choosing an unusual stone will make your piece all the more captivating.
If you are interested in purchasing a Salt & Pepper ready-to-ship or bespoke diamond ring, contact me anytime, and we will find the beauty in the imperfections together.