DIAMONDS

A salute to the precious moments in our lives. They are a dazzling reminder of someone's love, a reward for a great accomplishment, and an enduring symbol to be treasured
and celebrated.

Formed billions of years ago under intense heat and pressure deep within the earth, diamonds are the hardest natural substance known to man. Made from pure carbon, a diamond can produce more brilliance than any other gemstone on earth. As testament to a diamond's rarity, on average 250 tonnes of ore must be mined in order to produce a single carat gem quality polished diamond.

South Africa is among the top diamond producing countries in the world. The journey of a Shimansky diamond begins with an uncut stone sourced directly from South African mines which is then cut and polished in our Diamond Cutting Factory to maximise each diamonds fire, brilliance and scintillation before it is sent away to an international grading laboratory, such as the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) or the European Gemological Institute (EGL). Diamonds will always represent the ultimate expression of love, passion and commitment for an engagement, anniversary or to celebrate a special occasion.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT DIAMOND

There are many things one should consider when buying
a diamond. Not only do you have to look at the technical specifications of your special stone, but also its emotive appeal: how it makes you feel. A diamond is forever, and represents the love you share with someone that will last
an eternity, so you need to know that you have made the
right choice.

At Shimansky we understand this, which is why we offer you
a completely unique diamond buying experience. We offer you the benefit of our knowledge and experience, and hope that you will enjoy the process of buying your diamond as much
as you enjoy the diamond itself.

CUT, COLOUR, CLARITY & CARAT

CUT
When referring to diamonds, the cut of a stone determines its fire (the colours of light reflected from the stone), brilliance (the total light reflected from the diamond) and scintillation (the flashes of light, or sparkle, that result from the movement of the diamond), and as a result its value too.

While nature determines the colour, clarity and carat of a stone, the cut is in the hands of the craftsman. Factors such as proportion, symmetry and polish effect the quality of the diamond: the closer to perfect they are the more perfect the diamond will be. A well cut diamond will reflect the perfect balance of light back through the top of the stone, while a poorly cut diamond will loose light through the sides and bottom.

COLOUR
The colour of a diamond is measured on a alphabetical scale and the closer a diamond is to being colourless, the more rare it is, and the higher its value. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has set an international standard for the grading of diamonds. The alphabetical scale begins at D, colourless, and as you move along the alphabet the colour in the stone increases.

CLARITY
Clarity measures the incidence of natural inclusions found in
a diamond. The closer a diamond is to flawless, i.e.: no inclusions visible under a jeweller's loupe, the more rare it is and the greater its value. Diamonds are examined under a 10x magnifying loupe to determine their clarity.

IF = Internally Flawless; no inclusions visible under a 10x magnifying loupe.

VVS1 and VVS2 = Very Very Small inclusions; these diamonds have minute inclusions that are so small that they are hardly visible under a 10x magnifying loupe.

VS1 and VS2 = Very Small inclusions; this grade contains minor inclusions that are visible under a 10x magnifying loupe.

SI1 and SI2 = Slightly Included; these diamonds contain noticeable inclusions that are visible under a 10x magnifying loupe.

I1 and I2 = Included: these inclusions are visible to the naked eye. For this reason, Shimansky stock IF - SI clarity diamonds only.

CARAT
Carat refers to the weight of a diamond and other gemstones. A carat is equal to 0.2 grams. As large diamonds are rarely found in nature, they are more valuable and so the price increases.

WHY BUY IN SOUTH AFRICA

Shimansky offers top quality diamonds that are cut to perfection. Our team of master crafstmen and designers strive to ensure that only the most beautiful, dazzling diamonds with the highest degree of fire, brilliance and scintillation leave the Shimansky Diamond Cutting Factory. All Shimansky diamonds originate in South Africa and are guaranteed 100% conflict free, and adhere to the Kimberley Process. The origins of all our rough diamonds can be traced back to the mines, and therefore you can be assured that you are buying legitimate diamonds.

International travellers to South Africa are entitled to claim 14% Value Added Tax (VAT) back on goods purchased in South Africa. When you leave our sunny shores, you can claim 14% VAT back on most goods purchased above a certain value. Shimansky will supply you with a tax invoice so that on departure you can claim the VAT back, which amounts to a great cost saving on your purchase.

In addition to the tax rebate, visitors to South Africa can also take advantage of the favourable exchange rates when buying diamonds here. With the Rand considerably weaker than most international currencies, South Africa not only offers the best in diamonds, gold and platinum but also the best value.

JEWELLERY COLLECTIONS

EVOLYM™

Shimansky's latest creation, the Evolym Ring is a delicately
set solitaire diamond ring that has been uniquely designed to expose the diamond to light from every angle, maximising the brilliance of the stone. Each ring is handmade with care, precision and technical expertise, and carries the Shimansky guarantee that like your love, your diamond is forever. Although delicate in appearance the Evolym Ring has been designed so that the diamond is firmly set between three platinum bands.

The Evolym is a registered design, protected by the Copyright Act and is available exclusively to Shimansky.

MILLENNUIM

The Millennium Diamond Ring is a Shimansky original. Designed by Yair Shimansky, the two bands in the Millennium Ring represent the coming together of two lives as one, and the diamond in the middle is a symbol of a love that lasts forever.

The Millennium Ring can be manufactured using a variety of different shapes and cuts of diamonds, including the My Girl™, the Round Brilliant cut, the Radiant cut and many more. A mark of true and everlasting love, the Millennium Ring is a regsitered trademarked design, available exclusively to Shimansky.

MY GIRL™ DIAMOND

The jewel in the Shimansky crown is the the My Girl Diamond. Always at the forefront of design and innovation in his trade, Yair Shimansky, after three years of pioneering development, has successfully patented his own diamond cut.

Aptly named the My Girl Diamond, this unique eight-sided square cut offers a superior balance of fire, brilliance and scintillation. The diamond shaped table means that the stone catches the light with every movement, dazzling all who behold this exquisite and original cut.

The My Girl collection consists of a range of exceptionally
cut My Girl diamonds in various sizes and set into original contemporary Shimansky designs. The My Girl diamond is exclusive to Shimansky and carries an international patent for its cut and design.

BRILLIANT 10™ DIAMOND

Born from a dream to create the world's most brilliant diamond cut, the Brilliant 10™ features 71 facets precisely aligned for the ultimate display of fire, brilliance and scintillation.

Cascading light with an intensity second to none, each facet is shaped in a precise and calculated technique to reveal a perfect ten hearts pattern when viewed from below and a perfect ten arrows pattern when viewed from above through the Ideal Scope. This is your ultimate guarantee that the Brilliant 10™ diamond has been cut for perfect symmetry and proportion; visible evidence that it is in a class of its own.

In the constant pursuit for perfection, the Brilliant 10™ diamond cut is the result of years of research into the exact science of light behaviour and optic dispersion, and was developed by Yair Shimansky. Tested in leading international gemological laboratories, the Brilliant 10™ scored up to 25% more brilliance when compared to a round brilliant cut diamond.

Taking up to three times longer to cut, and polished only by a handful of skilled master diamond polishers, the essence of this patented cut is its ability to reflect light that enters the diamond back through the table with little to no light leakage a world first in the diamond industry.

The Brilliant 10™ is the perfect choice for the diamond connoisseur and is exclusive to Shimansky.

EIGHT HEARTS™ DIAMOND

A very rare and special diamond cut, only 1 out of 1,000 diamond cutters has the skill and expertise required to achieve the Eight Hearts™ perfection.

There are three distinct features that the Eight Hearts™ diamond cut displays: perfect symmetry, perfect proportion and a perfect polish, all of which take three times longer than conventional cutting and polishing to attain such levels of perfection.

The Eight Hearts™ diamond cut displays a pattern of eight perfect hearts when viewed through the Ideal Scope from the bottom and eight perfect arrows when viewed from the top through the Ideal Scope. This can only be achieved when the facets on the table and pavillion have been cut so that the diamond displays perfect alignment and proportions, maximising fire, brilliance and scintillation.

CIRCLE OF LOVE COLLECTION

The circle of Love engagement ring and wedding bands available for men and woman fearure two circles of diamonds that are precision set on either side of the band, visible only to the wearer of the ring, making the matching wedding bands a very personal testament between a husband and wife.

CORONET COLLECTION

The word 'Coronet' stems from the old French word 'coronete' meaning a diminutive crown. The unique design used in the Coronet collection is an international patent and consists of seven round brilliant diamonds set together to look like one large 399 facetted crown-like solitaire, giving seven times the shine and brilliance.

SUNDANCE COLLECTION

In a magical dance of morning light, a ray of golden sun is captured in an inspired collection of natural fancy yellow diamonds. In that moment, life and light are magically bound in a uniquely Shimansky design that reflects the fine art of jewellery design in every detail. A dazzling creation of natural beauty, elegance and serenity, the Sundance collection is yours to enjoy now and for generations to come.

Natural fancy yellow diamonds are extremely rare and very valuable. At Shimansky we have a selection of these fancy yellow diamonds, exquisitely set in original designs.

NOIR ET BLANC COLLECTION

The timeless and sophisticated appearance of the black diamond has led to its growing popularity. Black diamonds get their colour from the numerous inclusions within the diamond. Due to the high amount of these dark inclusions, black diamonds are generally opaque as they absorb light, unlike white diamonds that reflect light.

French for black and white, the Blanc et Noir Collection captures the contrast of black diamonds and white diamonds in a wide selection of contemporary designs.

SUPERNOVA COLLECTION

A collection of jewellery that will radiate the energy and personality of anyone who wears it. Its concentric rows of diamonds will keep you mesmerized. In nature, a supernova is a stellar explosion, an extremely luminous burst of radiation that often outshines an entire galaxy. The sparkling range features diamond rings, earrings and pendants in four shapes - round, square, marquise and heart. Each of these are available in either 18k white, yellow or rose gold.

Visit the Shimansky website to view more of our unique diamond and tanzanite collections.