Years of work by marketing specialists and the efforts of diamond producers in building the image of this stone have brought tangible results: today, diamonds are associated with luxury and are capable of increasing the overall value, including the image value, of a product. I honestly admit that I was surprised myself a few years ago when a collection of rings was created in which I set ordinary pebbles in gold and added a small diamond. Consumer interest exceeded my expectations – the idea itself was interesting, but I don't know if the commercial impact would have been the same if I hadn't used a diamond…
In my opinion, amber doesn't need a diamond to boost its value. To me, amber is a special stone, unique in itself. However, a diamond has something that amber doesn't: it's very well promoted, it evokes positive associations. It's universally recognised as the most expensive jewellery stone, although it's known that – in both cases – there are smaller and larger stones available, of better or worse quality. Amber could gain a lot from such a combination, basking in the prestigious glow of a diamond – and this could open a new, interesting path for the development of modern amber design.
The fact that this is a promising direction is evidenced, for example, by previous experiences. In Poland, such pairings are characteristic of artists and craftsmen, but also frequently of manufacturers who care about the high standard of the design they offer. Interesting foreign examples include Michael Zobel, a world-renowned artist-jeweller living in Germany, as well as exclusive jewellery designer Barbara Westwood, who works in her studio in Colorado.
It's worth trying new combinations of materials or stones, regardless of their value or image – the most important thing is that the effect is spectacular!
Mariusz Gliwiński is a jewellery designer and owner of the company Ambermoda.