18ct Colombian Emerald & Diamond Drop Earrings

A matched pair of Colombian emeralds, 2.58 carats between them, hung inside a diamond-set infinity of 18ct yellow gold and platinum. Thirty-four diamonds follow the curve, graded down from 2.6mm to 1.4mm so the line stays even as it narrows.

Paul began with the metal, shaping it by hand and making custom collets to hug the particular outline of each emerald rather than trimming a rare stone to suit a standard setting. He then drilled the placement holes along the platinum waves one at a time and set the diamonds into them. That is where the movement in these comes from. Nothing about the sweep is repeated, so the light runs along the drop instead of stopping at it.

The two metals do separate jobs. Platinum holds the diamonds white and keeps the setting hard where the stones need it. Yellow gold carries the warmth of the emerald and stops the pair reading cold.

The emeralds were chosen out of our own curated stock by our designer Yvonne, who was looking for gems worth a fiftieth anniversary. This is the piece the collection was built around.

• Emeralds: matched pair, Colombian, 2.58ct total
• Diamonds: 2 x 2.6mm (0.14ct) and 32 x 1.4mm (0.36ct), 0.50ct total
• Metal: 18ct yellow gold and platinum
• Hand-made in Diss by Master Goldsmith Paul

Made once, at our bench in Diss, and part of the Heritage Collection marking fifty years.