Customize the Ultimate High Jewelry Creation with Loose Diamonds (2024)

An exceptional loose diamond is the ultimate starting point for a custom high jewelry creation or impressive diamond engagement ring.

Loose diamonds provide many benefits when considering a high jewelry purchase or impressive diamond engagement ring. Below are three key benefits of purchasing a loose diamond:

The loose diamond market availability changes dynamically depending on supply and demand. If you are considering a large high quality diamond 7 carats or larger or pink or blue diamond 3 carats or larger, it is often best to start with a loose diamond. When starting with a loose diamond, we also suggest considering a few diamond shapes and a carat range. For example, when looking for a 10 carat loose diamond for a ring, you might want to consider diamonds that are between 9 to 12 carats. This will give you more diamonds to consider since each stone will vary in its exact cut, polish and size ratios. Additionally viewing a few different shapes also allows you to consider more setting options. The right diamond is a very personal choice and your initial focus on one shape may change when you view a few loose diamonds. A loose diamond allows you to focus on the unique properties of the diamond versus being distracted by the setting.

Purchasing a loose diamond also gives you more price flexibility and more ways to optimize your budget. If you decide on a loose diamond that comprises your top budget, you can opt for a more basic setting. You can always update the setting later if you are buying an engagement ring or upgrading a smaller diamond engagement ring. When looking for loose diamonds for earrings you often want to spend the majority of your budget on two well matched exceptional diamonds. When starting with loose diamonds for a necklace, there are multiple options to consider if the high jewelry necklace is a pendant or more dramatic custom necklace. You can also compare the prices of different diamond shapes and sizes along with the quality and sparkle of the diamond to determine the best use of your overall budget.

Loose diamonds allow the ultimate flexibility when it comes to settings since you are starting with the diamond or diamonds. Your custom high jewelry can be a one of a kind creation that is a reflection of your style and the natural beauty of the diamonds. Our team is happy to provide different setting options or make a custom setting based on a design you have already have in mind. Sotheby's custom settings can be made in platinum or 18K gold with a range complimentary diamond or gemstone options. Many custom engagement rings are including sapphires, rubies and emeralds in addition to diamonds. High jewelry designs also often encompass colored gemstones with diamonds to create bold and colorful jewelry creations.

While Sotheby's has a very curated selection of High Jewelry creations chosen for auction and marketplace, we also understand the desire for a custom creation. We are happy to source a loose diamond or diamonds from our global network of suppliers to help you create a custom High Jewelry creation. At the very top of the luxury market, High Jewelry and couture fashion share the same principles of the highest quality materials paired with exceptional craftsmanship and customized for the client. Every detail is meticulously designed and created for a truly one of one creation. Loose diamonds are the perfect starting point for a custom High Jewelry creation.

Creating a custom engagement ring from a loose diamond is often the preferred process when looking for a center stone that is 7 carats or larger. Large diamonds that are 7 carats or larger are harder to source in every shape when you are looking for a diamond of the highest quality. Once you are considering a large diamond, we suggest staying within the colorless color scale of D E F and clarity VVS or better and ideally finding an excellent cut diamond. If you have already decided you want to consider a center diamond that is 7 carats or larger, a loose diamond is a great starting point.

When considering a loose colored diamond there are a number of factors to consider. Yellow diamonds are the most common and readily available of the colored diamonds. Pink and Blue diamonds are the next rarest and green diamonds are generally less available. Orange and Purple diamonds are rare but in generally not as highly sought after by buyers of high jewelry or custom engagement rings. Red diamonds are the rarest but very few are larger than 1 carat which makes them less appealing for high jewelry customers and buyers looking to create a custom engagement ring. Colored diamonds are graded based on the intensity of the color, which also is a material contributing factor in the price for a loose colored diamond. The most desirable colored diamond color grades are Fancy Intense, Fancy Vivid and Fancy Deep. The more common and less desirable colored diamond color grades are Faint, Very Light, Light, Fancy Light and Fancy.

Yellow diamonds that are graded Fancy to Faint yellow are similar in price to white diamonds of similar clarity and carat weight. Fancy intense to Fancy deep colored diamonds of any color are more expensive than similar size and quality white diamonds. When looking for a Fancy intense colored diamond that is larger than 2 carats for any color besides white, it can take time to source a few options. Given the limited market availability of large fancy intense colored diamonds, we suggest being very flexible on the carat weight and the shape of the colored diamond. Since there are significantly more yellow diamonds in the market, you can limit the parameters more when it comes to carat weight and diamond shape.

Sotheby's often has impressive loose diamonds available at auction. Sotheby's also often has a small selection of loose diamonds available for immediate purchase on marketplace. If you would like to source a loose diamond for a ring or other high jewelry creation, a salon specialist would be happy to assist. Sotheby's also provides custom high jewelry services and custom engagement ring services with loose diamonds. Sotheby's is able to source incredible loose diamonds from its global supplier network.

• Explore upcoming jewelry atauctionsin New York, London, Switzerland, Paris, and Hong Kong.
• Speak to a Salon Associate inNew York,ZurichorHong Kongto schedule an appointment.
• Speak toJewelry Specialistabout selling a loose diamond.
• Research previous loose diamond prices using our extensive sale archive.

Trust our worldwide network of leading jewelry specialists from a globally renowned auction house since 1744.