New Zealand’s premier science and engineering institute, Callaghan Innovation, has conducted extensive independent testing to confirm the superior strength of The Floeting Diamond setting. In a side load test undertaken at a 50° angle, The Floeting Diamond was proven to be over 20% stronger than a traditional setting. 

The traditional setting also showed very early signs of deformation damage during side load testing. In a side load stress test undertaken at a 90° angle, the traditional setting showed signs of extreme deformation at 77N. In comparison, The Floeting Diamond was completely unaffected at 77N and did not show any signs of deformation until after the point that the diamond came out of the traditional setting. 

After extensive research and rigorous testing, The Floeting Diamond setting has been successfully developed using a specialist space-age Titanium alloy. Purpose built in a highly specialised micro engineering facilities which develops a range of technical equipment from surgical-grade heart stents to aerospace components. As a standard, the facility maintains a certified Quality Management System, ISO9001:2015, the highest criteria level. 

Titanium offers seven times the strength of platinum, which is the strongest of traditional precious metals, with only one third of the weight. Our testing confirmed that titanium Floeting Diamond settings have a 20x greater tolerance for impact and 10x more wear durability than traditional precious metal settings.

The specialist titanium Floeting Diamond settings have been beautifully paired with precious metals including 18k gold and platinum. The combination allows the wearer to appreciate the diamond’s bright white reflections, while retaining the opportunity to choose their preferred precious metal. All with absolute confidence in the security of the diamond. 

In-house strength testing comparing a traditional claw setting and The Floeting Diamond setting against standard IEC 60068-2-31:2008 showed ground-breaking results.  – This standard mimics the scenario of a ring dropping repeatedly onto a hard surface from over three-foot high. The testing reinforced Callaghan Innovation’s results of The Floeting Diamond’s superiority in comparison to traditional precious metal diamond jewellery settings. In the traditional precious metal claw setting, the diamond came loose after only 298 drops. The Floeting Diamond, however, remained secure in its setting after several thousand drops. 

Our testing of titanium diamond settings in comparison to traditional precious metal diamond settings confirmed that titanium settings have a 20x greater tolerance for impact, and 10x more wear durability than traditional precious metal settings. 

Ian Douglas collaborated with one of the world’s leading master diamond cutters, Mike Botha – cutter of the most valuable diamond ever discovered in the USA: the Esperanza diamond - allowed us to invent a diamond cut like nothing the world has ever seen before. Using absolute mastery and precision, Mike fashioned a diamond cut which in no way compromises on light return or beauty and allows the diamond to be secured in a setting free of claws or clasps. This is now patented as The Floeting® Diamond. 

The patented Floeting Diamond Cut not only enables the diamond to be showcased in all its glory, but in fact maximises the diamond’s light return, creating unmatched scintillation and sparkle. Altering the cut profile of a diamond is likely to compromise the light return, scintillation and sparkle of the diamond, as well as potentially creating an appearance of inclusions. Based on this, we dedicated more than a decade to fashioning a new cut of diamond that doesn’t compromise the light return or beauty of the diamond in any way. 

The quality of the cut effects how each individual diamond is graded, hence if any light return is deducted or perceptions of inclusions are created as a result of the cut, this would have a negative effect on the final grading. The Floeting Diamond cut has achieved the coveted American Gem Society Laboratories Triple Zero Ideal grade, the highest possible grading a diamond can achieve. 

Every individual Floeting Diamond is supplied with a unique number identification laser engraved on the girdle of the diamond. The patented Floeting Diamond cut has achieved the coveted American Gem Society Laboratories Triple Zero Ideal grade, and achieving this grade is a brand standard. It is the highest possible grading a diamond can achieve and cannot be done without cutting precision and mastery. Your Floeting Diamond purchase also includes a VG certificate of craftsmanship, which authenticates the high standard and quality of the piece.   

When shopping for something as precious and rare as a natural diamond, it’s important that the diamond includes a diamond grading report from an independent laboratory. An American Gem Society Laboratories Ideal Cut is a diamond where all the diamond’s Cut quality factors (light performance, proportions and polish and symmetry) exist at the highest possible levels, making the maximum contribution to the diamond’s beauty and value. Cut is the most important quality factor of the four C’s as it is most closely associated with the beauty of a diamond; it determines a diamond's brilliance, fire and sparkle. The Floeting Diamond cut has achieved the coveted American Gem Society Laboratories Triple Zero Ideal grade, the highest possible grading a diamond can achieve. 

There is nothing on earth more radiant than the simplicity and elegance of a perfectly cut diamond. That is why we’ve worked so hard to showcase a diamond in all its beauty. It is also the reason we’ve partnered with one of the world’s leading diamond cutting facilities certified by the Responsible Jewellery Council, who cut 5% of all polished diamonds globally. They work hard to ensure every diamond is ethically sourced and even have the ability to track a diamond throughout the entire process: from mine to finger.  

Ian Douglas has been in the jewellery industry for almost 50 years, beginning his career his career as a New Zealand jewellery Apprentice of the Year to then becoming many New Zealander's family jeweller, through the business he started with his wife Christine Douglas and then later joined by Chris Benham. The creative team has won or been a finalist in over 20 national and international design awards. Ian is a former EY Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist and Chris Benham is a former winner of the Jewellery World Awards (previously JNA) Award for Young Leader of the Year from London Stock Exchange Listed UBM Asia.

After an extensive journey, this team, including Mike Botha, Grant Lumsden and many other passionate experts along the way, bought The Floeting Diamond dream to life. 

We believe that true innovation is created when you are willing to go beyond the point that other’s may deem ‘too hard’. That through perseverance, passion and creativity, what was once thought to be impossible becomes possible.

The Floeting Diamond story beautifully represents our values as designers and craftspeople. Like most jewellers, our aim is to create beautiful jewellery to be admired, however this is not where the design and creation stops, not for us. We respect tradition, but are not bound to it. We look for creative opportunities and are forever curious.

These key values are what first drew us towards breaking the boundaries of traditional jewellery design and diamond setting. We refuse to be confined to what is typical within the jewellery industry, and instead are forever looking to push the limits and discover what is truly possible.