An editorial perspective on gold, femininity and conscious luxury from our Founder.
If you know me, you know I have a longstanding love affair with all things French. The language, the architecture, the art, the fashion and, of course, Paris itself.
Over the past week, I have been following Paris Fashion Week from Australia, watching the world's great fashion houses unveil their Spring Summer 2027 collections.
And while the clothes are always extraordinary, I find myself looking beyond the garments.
I watch how jewellery is worn. The proportion of an earring against a neckline. The warmth of gold against skin. The way a single accessory can transform the architecture of an entire look.
I am interested in the design language beneath the fashion. The ideas that will eventually find their way into how we dress, how we accessorise and how we choose the pieces we keep for years.
This season, one theme stood out to me.
The return of the feminine.
Not femininity as something fragile, delicate or apologetic. Rather, a femininity that is confident, sculptural, romantic and entirely deliberate.
Three Paris collections captured this particularly beautifully for me.
Stella McCartney: Beauty with Intention
Of all the collections I followed, Stella McCartney's Spring Summer 2027 show resonated with me on a particularly personal level.
Presented on 30 September in the gardens of the British Ambassador's residence in Paris, the show unfolded in the rain.
Australian model Miranda Kerr returned to the runway in a beautiful seafoam green gown, its soft draping and fluid silhouette moving almost like water.
There was something wonderfully feminine about the moment. The colour, the movement, the natural surroundings and the quiet confidence with which she carried herself.
But what made this collection particularly meaningful was the philosophy behind it.
McCartney drew inspiration from the ocean, using the collection to explore marine conservation and the relationship between fashion, nature and responsibility.
Recycled and organic materials, alternative fibres and innovative pigments formed part of a collection that was both visually beautiful and grounded in environmental consideration.
For me, this is where the future of luxury becomes interesting.
Luxury has traditionally been defined by rarity, exclusivity and craftsmanship. Increasingly, I believe it must also be defined by the choices made in creating something beautiful.
It is a philosophy that sits at the heart of Futurae Diamonds.
When I established Futurae, I wanted to create fine jewellery that celebrates exceptional design and craftsmanship while offering a considered alternative to mined diamonds.
Lab grown diamonds give us the opportunity to work with beautiful, genuine diamonds while approaching sourcing differently.
They are not a substitute for beauty. They are another way of creating it.
And that, to me, was the most compelling message of Stella McCartney's collection.
Conscious luxury should never ask us to compromise on beauty.
In our own collection, the Rosette Lab Grown Diamond Hoops capture something of this romantic femininity. Their considered proportions and diamond detailing offer an expression of elegance that feels both contemporary and enduring.
Saint Laurent: The Enduring Power of Gold
If Stella McCartney spoke to the conscience of luxury, Saint Laurent spoke to its confidence.
Anthony Vaccarello's Spring Summer 2027 collection was presented against the extraordinary backdrop of the Eiffel Tower, with gold becoming the defining visual language of the evening.
Gold brocade. Metallic fabrics. Rich embroidery. Sculptural silhouettes.
It was dramatic, unapologetic and unmistakably Saint Laurent.
What fascinated me was the way gold was used not simply as an embellishment, but as the foundation of the entire collection.
It was the statement itself.
For centuries, gold has been associated with beauty, power, celebration and permanence. Its appeal transcends fashion eras and cultural movements.
And yet, on this runway, it felt entirely modern.
Gold is not simply having a moment. It is reminding us why it has endured.
As someone who works with fine jewellery every day, I find the relationship between gold and diamonds endlessly fascinating.
The same diamond can take on a remarkably different personality depending on the precious metal surrounding it.
Yellow gold brings warmth and richness. White gold creates a cooler, architectural elegance. Rose gold introduces a softer, romantic character.
None is inherently more beautiful than another. The choice is deeply personal.
But what Saint Laurent demonstrated so beautifully this season was the power of committing to a design direction.
Rather than treating gold as a small finishing detail, Vaccarello allowed it to command the entire visual narrative.
There is a lesson here for jewellery.
A beautifully proportioned gold ring does not need to be complicated. A sculptural pair of earrings can be enough. A single piece, worn with confidence, often has more impact than an abundance of accessories.
At Futurae, this thinking is reflected in pieces such as our Vittoria ring, a celebration of feminine confidence and individuality.
Because jewellery should never simply decorate a woman.
It should express something about her.
Dior: The Architecture of Modern Femininity
Jonathan Anderson's Spring Summer 2027 collection for Dior offered an entirely different interpretation of femininity.
Presented in the Tuileries Gardens, the collection explored lightness, movement and the natural world.
Soft fabrics appeared almost weightless. Romantic silhouettes were balanced with structured tailoring. Petal inspired forms and irregular proportions created a beautiful tension between softness and strength.
It was a reminder that femininity does not have to follow a single aesthetic.
It can be romantic and architectural. Delicate and powerful. Traditional and unexpected.
What interested me most was the relationship between the silhouette and its accompanying accessories.
The proportions were considered as a whole.
A neckline created space for an earring. An asymmetric detail drew the eye in a particular direction. The placement of an accessory could change how the entire look was understood.
For me, this is one of the most important principles in jewellery design.
Jewellery is not always the finishing touch. Sometimes it is where the entire look begins.
The Beauty of Asymmetry
I have always been drawn to designs that introduce a small element of the unexpected.
A diamond positioned at an angle. A setting that moves away from traditional symmetry. A familiar silhouette reinterpreted through a more contemporary lens.
These details can make a piece feel individual without compromising its timelessness.
Our Pirum Tilted Pear Engagement Ring is a beautiful example.
The pear shaped diamond is a classic. But by positioning the stone on an angle, the design takes on an entirely different character.
It becomes more contemporary, more sculptural and perhaps a little more expressive.
I love that balance.
It is something I look for whenever I consider a new design for Futurae: a piece that feels familiar enough to be worn for a lifetime, but distinctive enough to feel entirely your own.
What Paris Fashion Week SS27 Tells Us About Jewellery
Looking across these three collections, I see several ideas that will continue to influence how we approach fine jewellery.
1. Yellow gold is confidently contemporary.
Saint Laurent demonstrated the richness and visual strength of gold, particularly when it becomes the central design element rather than an accent.
2. Femininity is becoming more expressive.
Romantic forms, soft curves and sculptural proportions can coexist beautifully. Modern feminine jewellery does not need to be understated to be elegant.
3. Asymmetry creates individuality.
Unexpected diamond placement, tilted settings and organic shapes offer a contemporary interpretation of traditional jewellery design.
4. Jewellery deserves a more considered place in our wardrobes.
Rather than being selected as an afterthought, a beautiful piece of fine jewellery can become the starting point for an entire look.
5. Conscious luxury remains an important design conversation.
Stella McCartney reminded us that how something is made can be as meaningful as how it looks. For Futurae, this means continuing to champion lab grown diamonds, thoughtful design and quality craftsmanship.
A Note from April, our Founder
I often find that the most interesting inspiration for jewellery comes from outside the jewellery world.
It might be a detail in architecture, the shape of a sculpture, a beautiful piece of furniture or, as this week reminded me, a collection walking the runways of Paris.
Fashion moves quickly. Fine jewellery is created to stay with us. And that distinction matters.
At Futurae, I am not interested in creating jewellery that exists only for a season. I want to create pieces that women choose because they love them. Pieces that reflect their individuality, mark important moments and become part of their personal story.
What I loved most about Paris Fashion Week this season was its celebration of women who are confident in their femininity.
Women who can be strong and romantic. Independent and expressive. Considered and bold. Women who do not need to choose between beauty and their values. Perhaps that is the most important trend of all.
The freedom to define femininity for ourselves.
With love from Australia, and always a little inspiration from Paris.
April Whittam
Founder & Creative Director
Futurae Diamonds
Discover Your Own Expression
Whether you are considering a diamond engagement ring, a meaningful gift or a beautiful piece of jewellery simply for yourself, we would love to help you find something that feels entirely your own.
Explore our fine jewellery collection or book a complimentary private consultation at our Bangalow studio or virtually from anywhere in Australia.
Further reading from The Futurae Journal
The 7 Most Popular Lab Grown Diamond Engagement Ring Styles, Ranked
