So, you thought you had your Karen Walker wish list updated? A pair of the new 'Fantastique' laser-cut Filigree sunnies, a pair of the Beau Coops for Karen Walker Seamonster ankle boots? Sorry – Karen Walker Diamond will take your yearning to a whole other level.
From October 2012 the Karen Walker Diamond collection will be available in Karen Walker stores and throughout select Karen Walker Jewellery stores in New Zealand and Australia. Described as "a simple and elegant celebration of the world’s most cherished and sought-after gem," this first collection re-examines the engagement ring – "an item of jewellery revered as much in the world of fantasy as it is in real life,".
There are three stories in the range: brilliant, princess and pear-cut solitaires; posies of wild flowers, and a continuation of the pansy series from Karen Walker Jewellery.
Lots of personalisation of the solitaire is available, with stones offered in a selection of weights (from .10 carat to 1.30 carats); the pear and princess cuts available in four sizes, and the brilliant cut in six sizes. To L-O-V-E are the daisy-shaped cut-out on either side of princess and brilliant cut settings (and on one side of the pear cut setting) – they're designed to allow light to penetrate the setting to reveal the gem’s vivid qualities, but also render the ring subtly yet unmistakably Karen Walker.
The wild flower posy series of four rings have different posies of flowers, each with diamonds held in their centres. “The floral motifs look back to a lot of work in the Karen Walker archive" says Karen.
Karen Walker Diamond sees the enamel pansy in both small and large sizes from Karen Walker Jewellery, reworked with diamonds: select a simple, single small pansy with a diamond centre, or a cluster of three pansies encrusted by some 400 stones.
“Creating a range of jewellery that revels in the beauty of diamonds has been a real privilege” says Karen. “Over the years we’ve had many Karen Walker Jewellery fans pick out a ring from our existing collection to have as their engagement ring and we’re thrilled to be able to create a new line that focuses on this idea.”
Karen and her craftspeople at (longtime Karen Walker Jewellery manufacturers) Worth & Douglas pared back the engagement ring concept to its "most sincere" form – gorgeous diamonds set simply. "These rings can ultimately have a life far beyond the ritual of engagement" says Karen.
Each Karen Walker Diamond ring is available in yellow gold (9 carat, 14 carat and 18 carat), white gold, platinum or palladium and the Karen Walker girl can also choose the quality of her diamond based on clarity and colour. The Diamond range won't be limited to engagement rings – it will grow each year to include different pieces.
– Julie Roulston