On her 40th birthday, Hollywood icon Elizabeth Taylor received a breathtaking present from her husband, actor Richard Burton: the Taj Mahal necklace.
Constructed from rubies and diamonds, including an inscribed heart-shaped table-cut diamond, it had a fascinating story. It’s reported that Emperor Jahangir presented his wife with the commissioned necklace, and that the pendant was later passed on to their son, Shah Jahan, who gifted it to his wife, Queen Mumtaz.1 The necklace, of course, is named after the iconic Taj Mahal.
You don’t need to be royalty to own a piece of jewellery with a story. Every natural diamond is one-of-a-kind, shaped over billions of years by nature itself. No two natural diamonds will ever be the same, which is what makes them magical.
So, if you’re considering investing in bespoke natural diamond jewellery that has a touch of magic, read on. This guide will help turn your dream design into a sparkling reality.
Why natural diamonds make every design truly unique
Formed deep in the Earth’s mantle billions of years ago, and made accessible to humans only by a series of powerful volcanic eruptions, every natural diamond is inherently unique and bears the hallmarks of its journey through time – just like you.
With that sentiment, natural diamonds are perfect for personalised jewellery, allowing for every aspect of a piece to be individual, from the design all the way to the gemstone sitting at the heart of it. Case in point: Deepika Padukone’s bespoke (and extremely gush-worthy) radiant-cut diamond engagement ring.
Natural diamonds come in a wide range of cuts, colours and sizes to choose from. For a wedding trousseau, a timeless round brilliant cut diamond is a classic choice. If you prefer something softer, oval-cut diamonds are a beautiful option.
Remember Alia Bhatt’s engagement ring? Custom-made with a striking oval-cut solitaire and a band set with eight smaller natural diamonds — a subtle nod to the couple’s lucky number — it showed how personal details can transform a piece into something truly meaningful.
While colourless diamonds are always on trend, coloured ones (also known as fancy-coloured diamonds) have been making a comeback. Whether that’s a radiant yellow diamond or a vibrant pink one, there’s a diamond (or several) to reflect every personality, occasion and celebration.
“Fancy coloured diamonds have been making a comeback”
Add a personal touch through engravings
In addition to hand-picking your gemstone, you can also make your diamond jewellery even more personal with an inscription. It might be a spiritual motif that reflects your beliefs, a date that marks a milestone like your wedding or a birthday or something with sentimental value, like your children’s initials.
Organisations like International Gemological Institute (IGI) and Gemological Institute of America (GIA) offer a personalised girdle inscription service, which is especially popular with custom diamond engagement rings. Your chosen words are inscribed using specialist technology that doesn’t impact the 4Cs of your diamond and can only be read under magnification.
Due to their nature, natural diamonds make for the perfect family heirlooms, and when your diamond jewellery bears personalised details, it’s even more befitting to be passed down to future generations.
Find your style in custom diamond jewellery
It’s crucial to do your research before reaching out to a jewellery designer to create the bespoke diamond jewellery design of your dreams.
Some basic questions you’ll be asked: ‘who’s it for?’, ‘what’s the occasion?’ and ‘what’s the message or statement?’
Looking for something bridal? Or a piece you can wear to work every day? Check out magazines, browse jewellery exhibitions for interesting designs, and bookmark any celebrity looks that catch your eye.
Don’t forget to scroll Instagram and Pinterest — there’s plenty to get inspired by. Research styles, diamond cuts and types of metals. Would you like the design to be modern with a distinctly Indian touch? Or would you prefer a timeless classic? Get mood boarding!
In addition to the visuals, there are important practical considerations, such as budget, size (especially important if you’re looking to commission a ring), and a deadline for when you need the piece finished. Carat purity could be a crucial factor too, so chalk in those preferences as well.
Bringing your dream design to life
Next, you’ll work closely with a jeweller to turn your vision into reality. The stages of the process will likely be:
Initial consultation: Exploring ideas
This will be a meeting where you discuss your inspiration, aims and ideas with the jeweller, and they run you through possible options. Hopefully by the end of the consultation, you will have arrived at a vision that resonates with you.
Choosing the right natural diamond
Select a gemstone that best suits the piece. Your choice may be based on the 4Cs – colour, cut, carat and clarity – but you could also be drawn to a specific diamond for sentimental reasons.
Or you may already have a rough or polished diamond in mind and are looking for a design based on the possibilities it presents.
Make sure you check the authenticity of the diamond (look for IGI and GIA approval) and insist on BIS certification.
Perfecting the design
Be it a simple necklace for everyday wear, a bangle to complement your festive outfit, or a stunning mangalsutra, your jeweller will create a design that reflects your style and vision.
You’ll likely be presented with sketches or 3D mock-ups showcasing what the finished piece will look like for your approval before any work begins.
Bringing the piece to life
Your jeweller will now bring the design to life by moulding or casting the metal, setting the cut and polished gem or gems, and adding any bespoke flourishes or engravings.
The final reveal
Your customised diamond jewellery is now ready for you to see, touch and try on. You’ll be able to discuss any final tweaks if required, like a sizing amendment in the case of a ring.
Trust the experts!
Diamond cutters and jewellery makers will play a critical role in the finish of your piece. In India, we have a longstanding history of diamond craftsmanship and unparalleled heritage of diamond-cutting (Surat is the world’s largest diamond-cutting hub), so you know you’re trusting expert craftspeople to create the bespoke diamond jewellery of your dreams.
A diamond cutter understands the properties of the gem, its symmetry, and the way light interacts with it. The craft combines technical knowledge with creative intuition, as a cutter must decide how to shape a diamond to maximise its brilliance.
Ask your jeweller’s advice on the diamond’s setting and look for someone with a legacy of expertise in diamond jewellery. Never be afraid to ask questions.
The jeweller will also be able to help you out with aesthetic choices — such as picking between yellow gold, rose gold or platinum — and understanding the resilience and durability of various materials. Unsure of what kind of diamond jewellery may be better suited to special occasions? And how heavy or lightweight they should be? Your jeweller will have the answers.
Why bespoke jewellery holds deeper sentimental value
There are many occasions when you might find yourself in the market for a piece of diamond jewellery. Suppose a milestone anniversary is coming up, and you want to celebrate it with a special ring for your partner. Choosing a custom piece means it won’t just be a beautiful gift, it will also reflect the time, care, and thought that went into planning it — meticulously selecting the diamond, deliberating over the right metal, going back and forth over the setting style, and all the rest!
Every decision, every detail, is what gives a custom piece the sentimental weight no off-the-shelf item can match..
Celebrating true individuality with custom diamond designs
Bespoke natural diamond jewellery isn’t just a smart investment. It also expresses your identity, reflecting both your appreciation for the rarity of natural diamonds and the rich legacy of our country’s craftsmanship.
Whether as accessories for weddings, engagements, or festivals, as an exquisitely crafted token of self-love, or a thoughtful gift for a loved one, personalised diamond jewellery is always a wonderful choice.
The best part? No one else will ever have a piece quite like yours.
Sources
- Elizabethtaylor.com, Rubies, Diamonds, and Love ↩︎
