How to wear man-made diamonds

Jewellers are embracing man-made diamonds for pieces both sustainable and cool

Woman wearing diamond hoop earrings next to a woman with diamond rings on her fingers
Left, Korean brand Numbering’s hoops and, right, Lylie’s rings
(Image credit: TBC)

Once you have understood the how, the what and the why of man-made diamonds, a new world of jewellery options opens its doors to you. With many jewellers choosing to go down the sustainable route, jewellery created using man made diamonds can be anything from minimalist to punky, with everything in between. Below, we have compiled the options which will take you from every day to extra special occasions.

Man-made diamonds for the minimalist

Gold hoop earrings with diamonds resting on a rock

(Image credit: matildejeweller)

Matilde plays with delicate proportions, creating subtle jewellery that reveals teasing design quirks upon second glance. The brand’s focus on using lab-grown diamonds and recycled gold mean pieces cast a warm glow, with the glimmer of diamonds adding a subtle sheen to a minimalist palette. 

matildejewellery.com (opens in new tab)

The diamond pieces to wear every day

Thin gold bands with diamonds worn on the fingers

(Image credit: leoandlumi)

Diamonds for every day should be subtle enough to go with everything, and comfortable enough to keep on day after day, night after night – who wants to repeatedly take jewellery on and off? London-based jewellery brand Leo & Lumi strikes the right balance between glitter and practicality with pieces that look chic layered or worn alone, with lab-grown diamonds elegantly strung onto 14ct strings of gold. 

leoandlumi.com

Korean cool meets urban adornments

Silver hoop earrings half covered with diamonds

(Image credit: numberingwebsite)

Korean jewellery brand Numbering has mastered the thickly knitted chains and bold forms that characterise urban embellishment, and now a new collection, Carat: New Classic, speckles the silhouettes with sustainable and artificial diamonds made from synthetic material. Signet rings, chains and hoops take on a new elegance when given a glittering outer coat. 

numberingwebsite.com

Understated and unexpected silhouettes

A circle of gold with diamonds

(Image credit: nomis jewelry)

Nomis crafts simple and sculptural jewellery which can be worn in unexpected ways to refresh a classic look. The encrusted ear oval, worn hooped around the whole ear, is drawn in 18ct gold and sprinkled with lab-grown diamonds for effortless elegance. 

nomis.jewelry

Carbon-negative diamonds for the sustainably-minded

Silver ear jackets with diamonds

(Image credit: aetherdiamonds)

Aether aims not only for carbon neutral, but for carbon negative with its sustainable diamonds that are created from air. The company removes carbon dioxide pollution from the air and uses it for its diamonds, rather than relying on fossil fuels like most other brands. The resulting pieces rethink traditional designs, with jazzily drawn ear jackets, irregularly placed stones on engagement rings and delicate ear cuffs. 

aetherdiamonds.com

From trash to treasure

Woman wearing broken hoop diamond earrings and diamond rings

(Image credit: lylies.com)

Eliza Walter uses precious metals from discarded electronics for her carefully considered jewellery brand Lylie’s. Her new collection, Gathering Clouds, looks to the skies for inspiration, referencing clouds’ fluid forms in broken hoops and swirls of gold punctuated with man-made diamonds and gemstones. 

lylies.com

Man-made diamonds get punky

White gold and diamond necklace

(Image credit: larkandberry)

Laura Chavez, founder of Lark & Berry, uses only man-made diamonds for her fine and demi-fine jewellery collections, which feature sculptural shapes in 14ct gold, 18ct gold and platinum. Her collaboration with lab-grown diamond producer Diamond Foundry sets punky silhouettes into necklaces, bracelets and earrings for rock-chick cool. 

larkandberry.com (opens in new tab) 

Hannah Silver joined Wallpaper* in 2019 to work on watches and jewellery. Now, as well as her role as watches and jewellery editor, she writes widely across all areas including on art, architecture, fashion and design. As well as offbeat design trends and in-depth profiles, Hannah is interested in the quirks of what makes for a digital success story.