Judge's comments:

The judges were highly impressed by this beautifully designed and crafted ring, which features an innovative and patentable diamond support system. This design achieves a 'holy grail' in its industry by celebrating the diamond in an almost magical way, with a form that elevates and complements the floating effect of the mounting system.

Description:

UNLOCKING A PURER EXPRESSION OF A DIAMOND’S BEAUTY
Since the Victorian era, when the solitaire diamond ring tradition was established, jewellers have been striving to meet their client’s desire for a diamond setting without a clasp or holding mechanism so the diamond can be viewed and appreciated unencumbered. Under traditional jewellery manufacturing methods, this was never possible.

CROSSING BOUNDARIES OF IMAGINATION, TRADITION, AND SCIENCE
The Village Goldsmith invested more than a decade in intense, global research and development to invent a method that would allow a diamond to visually float above its setting. This innovation has spanned across industries and countries as we have tested and retested processes to achieve this final product.

The patented Floeting® Diamond cut allows a micro-engineered setting to be secured below the widest part of the diamond, creating a top-down view that is free of prongs or overarching metal. The elegant and minimalist design directs all attention to the diamond’s sparkle and scintillation that is maximised by this setting.

The Floeting® Diamond setting was developed using a specialist space-age titanium alloy purpose built at one of the world’s premier micro engineering facilities where aerospace, surgical-grade heart stent and other specialised components are made. Titanium offers seven times the strength of platinum, which is the strongest of traditional precious metals, with only one third of the weight. It has undergone rigorous testing by Callaghan Innovation, one of the world's premier science and engineering institutes, and is scientifically proven to be incredibly strong and robust

Featuring over 50% more facets compared to a standard round brilliant cut diamond (89 vs. 57 facets), light return is maximized so the diamond can shine more brightly - creating unmatched scintillation and sparkle. The Floeting® Diamond cut has achieved the coveted Triple Zero Ideal grade, the highest possible grading a diamond can achieve meaning all the diamond’s cut quality factors (light performance, proportions, polish, and symmetry) exist at the highest possible levels, making the maximum contribution to the diamond’s beauty and value.

TRANSCENDING NORMS
The Village Goldsmith’s Floeting® Diamond Signet Ring is for those who value expressions of clean design principles, innovation, and precision craftsmanship. This reimagination of a traditional men’s signet ring brings a masculine feel, weight and presence but plays on negative space to show dimensionality and allow an alluring view through to the hand – revealing a Floeting® Diamond exposed to maximise its presence and light reflection. In the context of an industry shift to more men wearing fine jewellery, growth in gender neutral styling and appreciation of the pure design – the Floeting® Diamond Signet Ring opens new possibilities for all genders to express themselves through jewellery.

THOUGHTFUL DETAILS
The tactile feel of the diamond, set fractionally below the outer level of the platinum frame, ensures a smooth finish, and keeps the diamond safe yet carefully suspended in a void that plays off negative detail.