First Look: Unique Diamonds Kingston

Posted on 14 February, 2023

A new jewellery design studio is sparkling amongst the boutiques of Kingston, bringing touches of luxury for those searching for what often feels impossible: a remarkable diamond ring.

And while Unique Diamonds is no stranger to Canberra’s quest for distinctive engagement and wedding bands—operating in Braddon since 2012—their brand new location on Giles Street in Kingston has taken them away from the hustle of the city to a space that goes beyond a simple shopping experience.

Because once you walk through the glass doors, a glass of bubbles will make its way to your hand as you are taken through an incredibly private and personalised experience of making that life-changing purchase.

Officially opening to the public today, owners Josh and Emily Bennett say that what makes the new location of Unique Diamonds so—well—unique, is the sheer size of the space.

Moving all stock from Braddon into Kingston, the 220-square-metre store has been designed specifically to create a luxurious, bespoke, and private feel for clients, all while bringing something a little different to Canberra’s jewellery industry.

“Canberra is screaming for that more luxury, high-end feeling. It doesn’t have to be crazy prices or anything like that—just a real experience. That’s why we wanted to do something a little bit bigger, something a little more prestigious,” says Josh.

From a fully stocked bar and coffee machine to glittering diamonds spread throughout the showroom, the fit-out only adds to the opulence—featuring navy blue, black, and brass accents that contrast beautifully in the natural light.

But a major highlight for the team is the addition of private rooms. Available for appointments, clients can book in to sit down with a glass of something cold in hand, explore their ideas and see exactly what they’re buying before the craftsmanship has even begun, through the 3D rendering of their dream designs.

Custom-making everything per client, per style, per budget, Josh and Emily say they want people to come in to create something brand new and uniquely their own to celebrate their special occasion.

“Jewellery, no matter what you’re buying, is always a big purchase,” says Emily.

“We want people to feel special, to sit down and have a drink with us and take the time to discuss what they want. From start to finish we want it to be an exciting experience.”

But that doesn’t mean there isn’t floor stock available. As well as offering private consultations for custom designs, the new larger location of Unique Diamonds means the opportunity to house more jewellery that can be purchased on the spot.

“We are holding a lot more stock than we ever have,” says Emily.

“We’re trying to make it elegant but still unique. There’s a lot of coloured stones, lots of funky shapes—so using fancy shaped diamonds rather than just round diamonds—and a real mixture of high-end stuff to more affordable stock as well.”

Offering a mixture of mined and lab-grown diamonds (as well as Argyle Australian pink and yellow diamonds), Josh and Emily are passionate about bringing a fresh look to the jewellery industry—and through their extensive industry knowledge, they promise that they can find the perfect diamond, no matter the occasion.

“The jewellery industry is very set in its ways. Josh and I want to shake everything up and transition from ‘we know best’ as the jeweller, to what do you want and how can we make that happen?” says Emily.

After planning to expand Unique Diamonds for three years, Josh and Emily are excited to finally bring a new lease of life to the brand and Kingston space (which has been a diamond in the rough after being vacant for seven years) and hope the design studio brings a distinctive and beautiful offering to the Inner South.

And with an ethos of modern thinking, they have plenty of plans for the future.

“We’re going to partner up with some brands and do some events—things that don’t happen in Canberra,” says Josh. “We’re going to try and change it up a little bit.”

“It’s a new experience, a new completely customised experience,” adds Emily. “It should be fun!”