Floeting Rings In A Revolutionary Diamond Setting
“A New Zealand jeweler has invented a way to put more sparkle in an engagement ring,” writes Forbes Watches & Jewelry contributor Carol Besler. The new Floeting Diamond created by veteran Wellington master jeweler Ian Douglas has been heralded by Forbes as “revolutionary” in that it eliminates claws and clasps which have been the worldwide industry standard for 135 years.
For the past decade Douglas has relentlessly pursued the design of a revolutionary diamond setting technique that puts nothing between the diamond and its admirer. The genesis of this new setting has involved developing the patented diamond design with one of the world’s leading master diamond cutters Mike Botha of Canada, and with laser engineers, metallurgists, scientists, testing laboratories, and patent attorneys across several countries.
The Floeting® Diamond is held in place by a micro-groove that has been laser-cut around the underside of the diamond which in no way impedes light return or beauty. The American Gem Society Laboratories® cut grade for The Floeting® Diamond guarantees the most coveted diamond cut grade – the AGS Triple Zero®. A high tensile titanium alloy collet secures the diamond from its underside, creating a setting proven by independent testing to be more than 20% stronger than traditional settings.
“We have worked with experts across the globe to bring together centuries-old craftsmanship and ground-breaking new technology to create this elegant and deceptively simple setting. Floeting® is the culmination of our efforts to master the physics of diamonds and craft the jewelry with micron-level precision,” says Ian Douglas.
The most difficult challenge in creating the setting was the physics of the diamond itself. “The goal is always to maximize the light return and sparkle, but the geometry of a solitaire diamond is so specific that compromise was usually inevitable whenever anything new was attempted,” says Douglas. “To avoid compromise, we had to completely rethink the design of the setting and the cut of the diamond itself.”
An inaugural ‘foundation collection’ is available for purchase online through VG Jewelers, with prices ranging from $1,600 to $30,000. Bespoke orders are also being invited.
“We approached the design task with the intention of having very broad market appeal, although with our patented system we can accommodate a diamond from 0.30cts up to 100cts,” says Douglas.
The Floeting Diamond has been proven by independent testing to be more than 20% stronger than traditional settings. Extensive independent testing against the ISO standard mimicked the scenario of a ring dropping repeatedly onto a hard wooden surface from one meter high. In a traditional setting, the diamond came loose after 298 drops, while the Floeting Diamond remained secure in its setting after several thousand drops.
