Generational gemstones: The story of Bucherer's diamonds

We’ve heard it before: diamonds are forever. But that well-engrained phrase speaks to more than the undeniable – almost primal – appeal of the covetable stone. This is especially true when those diamonds are courtesy of renowned Swiss jewellery house Bucherer. “To own a diamond is to own something that is older than human life,” says Tobias Lanz, who, as Bucherer’s Global Associate Director of Sourcing, oversees the house’s gemstone lab. “It’s older than the dinosaurs – this is so special.” With the company’s timeless aesthetic and commitment to extraordinary craftsmanship, it’s no surprise Bucherer’s era-spanning pieces have already gained a loyal following here in the Nordics.

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To own a diamond is also to participate in its three-billion-year-old story. “You become a part of the diamond, and if you give it away, your history during that time goes with it,” says Lanz. “And you see the sparkle in the eyes of the one who receives it.” For as long as we’ve been enamoured with diamonds, we’ve treasured them as heirlooms, passing them on to loved ones, continuing to write the stone’s story as it changes hands.

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So what sets Bucherer’s diamonds apart? Since it was founded by Carl F. Bucherer in 1888, the brand has had an unwavering emphasis on craftsmanship – a marriage of unmatched artistic skill and the access to the right stones. It was Bucherer’s wife, Louise, and later Wilhelmina Bucherer (affectionately known as Mina) who brought a singular look to the Swiss house’s fine jewellery. The duo boldly paired vibrant gemstones with diamonds to set the tone for Bucherer’s decadent yet classic aesthetic for the decades to come.

The magic of a Bucherer diamond lies in the cut of the procured stones, the factor which Lanz describes as “the only thing that is man-made” (colour, clarity and carat are derived from the stone itself). “And we are not accepting any mistakes during the process of cutting a diamond,” he says. In order to achieve the perfect cut, Bucherer is willing to sacrifice a little bit of carat. Other jewellers, Lanz explains, would prefer to preserve the diamond’s weight – the factor that has the greatest impact on price. Bucherer’s ultimate concern is brilliance.

The jewellery house’s most covetable collections reveal a new era of heirlooms. Take, for instance, the Stretchy collection, which finds Bucherer’s diamonds alongside vibrant gemstones on a claspless, stretchable bracelet. It’s a modern take on the iconic tennis bracelet – an heirloom-worthy piece if there ever was one. Another favourite: the Solitaire collection, which finds a ring with a single central gemstone (a diamond, usually). It’s the sort of “heirloom” a lover might pass on to mark an engagement. In the Classic collection, pearls are met with diamonds for heirloom-appropriate pieces that suit every era.

Bucherer’s bespoke service, meanwhile, allows clients to craft an heirloom all their own, incorporating their own gemstones or repurposing a piece of jewellery, preserving the diamond’s charm and history for generations to come