Sotheby’s Diamonds’ boutique, located by the main entrance of Sotheby’s New Bond Street headquarters in London, showcases an array of daring designs in platinum or 18-karat gold jewellery set with extremely high-quality natural diamonds and sometimes combined with unusual materials. The pieces on display during a recent visit included a fabulous 5.01-carat G VS1 diamond ring with ebony set in platinum, designed exclusively for Sotheby’s Diamonds by Hong Kong-based Nicholas Lieou; and a remarkable 2.06-carat fancy vivid purplish pink diamond ring, set in 18-karat white gold.“The designs of Sotheby’s Diamonds jewellery tend to be more extravagant and distinctive, more niche,” Alessandro Borruso, Deputy Director of Sotheby’s Diamonds Europe, told Solitaire International at the boutique.“These are one-off pieces with stones of really high quality. The designers work around the stones, which are the main focus, to create modern masterpieces.”Sotheby’s Diamonds was founded by Patti Wong, Chairman, Sotheby’s Asia, in 2005, as a private sales arm for the auction house.

Sotheby’s Diamonds has regular collaborations with highly skilled jewellery designers, who are asked to work with a stone that resonates with them and to create a design around it.

In December, the London boutique hosted some intricate lightweight diamond jewellery masterpieces from Paris-based designer Tatiana Verstraeten, who appeals to a younger clientele.

Alessandro said he had identified a clear trend by collectors to seek out the highest quality diamonds, rather than mid-quality stones, as well as a greater appreciation of craftsmanship.