Diamonds created from the air make chic and sustainable engagement rings
Shahla Karimi’s partnership with Aether diamonds results in jewellery both sustainable and cool
![Two engagement rings by Shahla Karimi x Aether using sustainable](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/r2acuwxNvfva7TEv7oHgwJ-415-80.jpg)
As sustainable production methods become the norm, so a host of brands is seeking new and innovative ways to reduce the impact of creating new pieces. For some, this has opened up the possibility of forming new partnerships and sharing resources and aesthetics, resulting in work that is both thoughtfully designed and eco-friendly.
Aether X Shahla sustainable-diamond jewellery
New York-based jewellery brand Shahla Karimi is a case in point, announcing a partnership with Aether diamonds, billed as the world’s first carbon-negative, positive-impact diamonds. ‘We are always looking to work with new diamond companies that prioritise carbon offsetting or neutrality,’ the brand says. ‘Aether is actually carbon-negative, which means they are reducing the number of carbon emissions released into the atmosphere. Given that our values aligned so well with theirs, we jumped at the opportunity to collaborate with them when they reached out.’
Aether creates diamonds from the air, taking carbon from the atmosphere and converting it into a raw material that is then placed into reactors powered by clean energy. Over a few weeks, diamond crystals slowly form.
The jewellery that follows, including chic alternative engagement rings, encompasses strong architectural forms, with unexpected diamond placements and strong silhouettes making for modern pieces.
Rivet bracelet
‘We wanted to create a gender fluid collection with Aether, inclusive of engagement rings. It is always a challenge to balance both masculine and feminine elements to work across genders. Our move to SoHo was a huge source of inspiration for the pieces in our most recent three collections,’ the brand adds of its offbeat design aesthetic. ‘Aether turns air into diamonds; our capsule extends that solidifying concept further by setting them in materially substantial pieces. The minimal design aesthetic punctuated by structural details, like diamonds set in rivets, is a nod to the cast-iron construction elements that feature in SoHo architecture.’
Link necklace
Rivet hoops
Wallpaper* Newsletter + Free Download
For a free digital copy of August Wallpaper*, celebrating Creative America, sign up today to receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories
Hannah Silver is the Art, Culture, Watches & Jewellery Editor of Wallpaper*. Since joining in 2019, she has overseen offbeat design trends and in-depth profiles, and written extensively across the worlds of culture and luxury. She enjoys meeting artists and designers, viewing exhibitions and conducting interviews on her frequent travels.
-
‘Hedonistic and avant-garde’: Rabanne’s Julian Dossena on the legacy of the chainmail 1969 bag
Paco Rabanne’s 1969 chainmail handbag encapsulates the late designer’s futuristic, space-age style. Current creative director Julien Dossena tells Wallpaper* about the bag’s particular pleasures
By Jack Moss Published
-
Postcard from Paris: Olympic fever takes over the streets
On the eve of the opening ceremony of Paris 2024, our correspondent shares her views from the streets of the capital about how the event is impacting the urban landscape.
By Minako Norimatsu Published
-
The Mercury Prize nominees for 2024 have been revealed
Charli XCX, The Last Dinner Party and Beth Gibbons are amongst this year's nominees
By Charlotte Gunn Published