April Birthstone - Diamond: Our Favourite Pieces

April’s birthstone diamond needs no introduction, the gem every other gem is measured against. It has been a symbol of strength, clarity and enduring love for longer than most countries have existed. And yet every time a new piece arrives in our Clonmel store, we still find ourselves mesmerised by the play of light in each new diamond.

For the month of April we wanted to share six diamond pieces we keep coming back to. Some are understated pieces for daily wear. Some are statement pieces, designed as though to generate gasps. All of them have been picked by our design team for the craftsmanship behind them, not just the quality of the diamonds themselves.

For Every Day

A tennis bracelet is the everyday essential that quietly takes over your jewellery box. Our 18ct White Gold Tennis Bracelet is set with six carats of round brilliant lab grown diamonds that move with your wrist as you go about your day. There is a reason the tennis bracelet has stayed in the jewellery conversation since the 1980s, it is the rare piece that works with everything from a blazer to a summer dress.

The 2.02ct Radiant Cut Diamond Pendant is the ultimate dream necklace. A two-carat radiant cut lab grown diamond is held in talon claws on a 9ct yellow gold adjustable ball chain, designed in-house and hand-finished by our goldsmith. The radiant cut diamond throws light from every angle, absolutely unmissable.

For the Occasion

For the nights that call for a little more, the 18ct Gold Kite Cut Diamond Drops are the pair we suggest. The kite cut is an unusual shape,  elongated, pointed at both ends, and far less commonly seen than a round or a pear. The haloed setting gives the stones a liveliness that travels with you across a room. At 1.20 carats total they have real presence, a statement piece for any diamond lover.

We believe s great diamond piece shouldn’t  have to live in a box. The 18ct Gold Bezel Set Diamond Bangle is the kind of piece we reach for when someone is building a wardrobe of jewellery for life. The round brilliant diamonds are bezel set in white gold and arranged in a graduated formation across a warm yellow gold cuff, the contrast giving the piece a softness and symmetry you don’t often see. It sits beautifully on its own and stacks even better.

For the Statement

Two rings, two very different personalities. The 18ct Gold East-West Pear Solitaire Ring is our nod to the wearer who never wanted a traditional engagement ring. The pear-shaped lab grown diamond is set horizontally rather than vertically, known as an east-west setting, which gives the ring a sleek, almost architectural profile. It works as an engagement ring for someone with strong style, and equally as a statement dress ring for someone who already has the classics.

The 18ct Gold 1.10ct Radiant Cut Solitaire Ring sits on the other side of that coin. A 1.10 carat radiant cut lab grown diamond in G colour and VS2 clarity, set on a wide yellow gold band that gives the ring weight and presence. The radiant cut is sometimes described as the best of both worlds, the clean lines of an emerald cut with the fire of a round brilliant. 

Why Diamonds

Diamonds have been prized for thousands of years for a reason. As the hardest natural substance on earth, they are built for a life of being worn which is exactly why they’ve ended up in so many of the most important pieces in our families’ jewellery boxes.

At Ryan Thomas we work with both natural and lab grown diamonds, and we think both have their place. Our lab grown stones are created from a natural diamond seed and are visually and molecularly identical to mined diamonds. They offer the same fire, the same durability, and the same brilliance, simply grown under different conditions. Our designer Kristina, a GIA graduate, is on hand to walk you through the differences if you are making the decision for the first time.

Whether you’re treating yourself this April or thinking ahead to a gift that will mean something for decades to come, a diamond piece will never be the wrong answer. Explore the collection or book an appointment at our Clonmel store to see any of these pieces in person.