Yes, diamonds are forever. But that doesn’t mean that the world of precious stones is stuck in the past - it’s driven by innovation. Case in point? The Gloucestershire-based company Skydiamond, which creates lab-grown diamonds with a carbon-negative footprint. Fitting, then, that the company has tapped environmentalist and model, Lily Cole, to collaborate on a new collection - titled Gaia - giving a stark reminder that ‘we are entangled with the planet,’ says the brand ambassador.
Imagined in organic shapes, amongst a variety of designs, the collection features sculptural 18-carat recycled gold globe rings, slashed open to reveal a marquise-cut Skydiamond, set in a black rhodium-plated mold. In total, there are nine pieces to the collection, including necklaces, bracelets, earrings and a body chain, all crafted according to Skydiamond’s state-of-the-art standards, in a process that has taken five years to perfect. Made from the sky - as the brand puts it - using CO2, wind, sun, rain and renewable energy from its company sister Ecotricity, eco-entrepreneur Dale Vince worked with British engineers to come up with entirely eco-friendly lab-grown diamonds that have gained official certification from AnchoCert, using the 4 c’s grading system.
‘I wanted to work with Dale Vince and Skydiamond as their work is an incredible example of the ‘wizard’ approach to environmentalism - focusing on innovation rather than abstention or behaviour change. Our earth is resilient if we redesign our systems to work with it. People like buying and wearing jewellery,’ says Cole. ‘So how do we make jewellery without it costing us the world? Is there a way to design products so they give back in the process? Can businesses contribute solutions, rather than perpetuate problems? These are the questions Dale sought to ask and answer in founding Skydiamond, and it’s beautiful to see them realised, ‘she continues.
Cole was inspired by the works by the Swedish artist Hilma af Klimt, drawing on her use of geometric patterns, as well as to the notion of the Gaia theory of interconnection, developed by Lynn Margulis and James Lovelock. As for Cole’s main concern when creating anything new? It’s all about maintaining a balance: ‘What do we take and what do we give when we make things?,’ she says.
Gaia is now available at Skydiamond.com
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