Shimansky's Patented Cuts & Designer Wedding and Engagement Rings

Signature designs from the South African jeweller that’s a diamond cut above the rest

Latest update: 26 January 2022

This is an old feature. Find the freshest Shimansky designs in this feature.

If you looking to learn more about buying jewellery, here is our guide to buying diamonds and tanzanite.

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Even amidst a South African diamond industry that’s among the most competitive in the world, platinum and diamond specialist Shimansky has won acclaim and recognition for its outstanding precision, design and workmanship, a fact that allows the business to stand out as one of the best in the jewellery industry in South Africa. 

At the forefront of this groundbreaking company is owner, founder and designer Yair Shimansky, who is one of the few jewellers in the world to possess a diamond buying licence. Coupled with the fact that Shimansky is also amongst the tiny percentage of South African jewellers that source, cut and polish their gemstones in-house (it doesn’t hurt that A-listers such as Charlize Theron and Christina Aguilera have donned their creations), it’s safe to say that that the brand is a diamond cut above the rest.

Furthermore, to say that Shimansky has a broad range of designs would be somewhat of an understatement. A trip to the showroom at the V&A Waterfront will reveal a treasure trove of sparkly and shiny creations, making it is easy to see why Shimansky is the go-to brand for unique designer engagement rings and wedding bands in South Africa.

Note: ‘Cut’ does not refer to the shape of the diamond (pear, oval), but rather the symmetry, proportioning and polish of a diamond. The cut of a diamond greatly impacts a diamond's brilliance; this means if it is cut poorly, it will be less luminous.

SHIMANSKY’S PATENTED DIAMOND CUTS

The My Girl™ diamond
This specific cut was researched, pioneered and developed by Yair Shimansky over a period of three years and is now internationally patented across 35 countries. The unique eight-sided square displays a diamond-shaped table which is most visible when moving the diamond under light. Whilst the majority of diamond cuts reflect light from the top of the stone, the My Girl diamond sparkles from every angle, displaying a perfect balance of scintillation, fire and brilliance.

The Brilliant 10™
In the constant pursuit for perfection and after years of research into specific light behaviour, Shimansky developed this unique patented cut to feature 71 facets. Polished to precise proportion by a handful of skilled diamond cutters, the Brilliant 10 diamond displays a perfect 10 arrow star from above and a 10 hearts pattern from below when viewed through an Ideal Scope, your proof that the diamond has been polished to perfection. Tested in a leading European laboratory, the Brilliant 10 scores up to 25% more brilliance as compared to other round brilliant cut diamonds, earning recognition as the world’s most brilliant cut diamond.

SHIMANSKY’S SIGNATURE DESIGNS: TOP-QUALITY ENGAGEMENT RINGS AND WEDDING BANDS IN SOUTH AFRICA

The Evolym ring (‘my love’ spelt backwards)
This creation consists of a carefully set solitaire diamond (a single gem set alone) that’s firmly secured between three bands. The diamond can be viewed from any angle due to a 360- degree exposure to light, and the design demonstrates maximum brightness and contrast.

The Millennium Diamond ring
Symbolising the coming together of two lives, this design consists of two parallel bands that act as a bridge upon which the diamond rests. It is a timeless design, created by Shimansky and protected by international copyright laws, that perfectly captures the essence of commitment.

The “I Do” Engagement ring
Looking for engagement ring options? The Shimansky “I Do” collection is a classic design that features a beautiful piece with a round brilliant cut solitaire diamond and a matching wedding band. It is available in platinum, 18K white and 18K yellow gold.

The Two Hearts Diamond Engagement ring
Featuring a magnificent diamond in the centre cradled by two hearts, the Shimansky Two Hearts solitaire diamond engagement ring symbolises the coming together of two soul mates as they enter into the journey of life together.

The Max-Line Palladium men’s wedding bands
Set in the finest palladium, a hard-wearing and naturally white metal and a more affordable alternative to platinum, the Shimansky Max-Line men’s wedding band collection features an array of unique designs that represent love and commitment for years to come.

The Eight Hearts Design
The Shimansky Eight Hearts diamond displays eight arrows when looking directly at the top of the diamond and eight hearts when looking directly at the bottom. The gem takes three times longer to polish, can only be shaped by one in a thousand cutters and is handmade with the utmost precision.

Circle of Love engagement ring and wedding band set
The Shimansky Circle of Love diamond engagement ring and matching wedding bands for him and her feature two circles of diamonds that are precision-set on either side, visible only to the wearer of the ring. 

Every Shimansky diamond is laser inscribed with an independent international certificate number on the girdle, and registered designs are protected by the Copyright Act. Gems are certified by the Gemological Institute of America and the European Gemological Laboratory to ensure quality.

Note: Shimansky offers clients the opportunity to conceptualise their own designs providing their creations don’t infringe on any copyrights or patents. All their staff members are qualified consultants and they can sit you down in the showroom and take you through the entire process and make suggestions for what to look for when buying diamonds. 

Entrance to the Shimansky flagship jewellery showroom will cost R50/p.

THE EVER-GROWING SHIMANSKY BRAND

Following the success of its debut perfume, My Girl, Shimansky has added a his and her fragrance line called Captivated to its growing brand.

Captivated Pour Homme
A warm fragrance with a distinct scent: patchouli and cashmere wood mingle with hints of cinnamon and cedar wood; spicy hits of black pepper, anise and thyme follow before the fragrance mellows into a base of amber musk.

Captivated Pour Femme
This luxurious blend of sandalwood and musk, freshened up with top notes of jasmine and melon, makes for a sultry and sophisticated signature winter scent that is all about sheer indulgence.

Available exclusively from Shimansky stores, Captivated is a limited edition fragrance; only 1,000 bottles of each are available.

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Take a piece of Cape Town wherever you go with these souvenirs.

Read more to find out what you should know about buying diamonds and tanzanite in South Africa.

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