Our selection of the best icy white diamonds of 2017 | The Jewellery Editor

We are dreaming of a white Christmas and to conjure up our vision of a perfect snowy landscape, we have chosen some of the most impressive icy-white diamonds we came across in 2017.

Boucheron came closest to capturing a winter wonderland with the Hiver Impérial collection of high jewellery that evokes the dazzling purity of a bright, Northern winter day. The Baïkal necklace, (below) inspired by the frozen depths of the Siberian lake, is the masterpiece of the collection and fit for an ice queen. Shot through with a chill Arctic air, just looking at it makes me shiver.

Hiver Impérial Baïkal pearl and aquamarine necklace — A 78.33-carat Santa Maria aquamarine is the star of Boucheron’s Hiver Impérial Baïkal necklace, which was chosen because it resembles the colour of the crystal-clear waters of Lake Baïkal in Siberia (POA).

And who could say no to the Boule de Neige (below) , a snow globe for the finger? A rock crystal dome is filled with diamonds mimicking with fascinating reality this favourite childhood toy.

Hiver Impérial Boule de Neige rock crystal and diamond ring — Boucheron Hiver Impérial Boule de Neige ring in 18-carat white gold with a rock crystal dome filled with diamonds and pavéd on the outside with diamonds to resemble a snow globe (POA).

Cartier’s Resonance brings a very contemporary spin to traditionally sized, high-quality stones. The Orbite ring is so pure in design that two slices of half-moon shaped ice appear to suspended in time. The Rhythmic necklace with its geometric rows of diamond chevrons fanning out from a central kite-shape diamond sparkles with all the beauty of sunlight on freshly fallen snow.

A trail of diamond-set platinum V shapes fan out from the central kite-shape diamond in the Rhythmic necklace from Cartier’s Résonances collection of high jewels.
The Orbite ring features two unusual half-moon shaped diamonds of approximately 5 carats each bound by white gold bands set with rubies and diamonds.
The size of a diamond makes a difference to clarity as imperfections are easier to detect in larger stones. SI2 inclusions are often visible in diamonds over 1.00 carat and over 2.00 carats, most jewellers would advise a clarity grade of at least VS2.
This flawless D colour 50-carat round brilliant is the biggest of three exceptional diamonds in Chopard’s Garden of Kalahari necklace (POA). A suite of jewels was created from the D Flawless 342-carat rough found n Botswana.
A Fancy light purplish pink pear-shape 5.02-carat diamond appears to hover above a 30.09-carat green beryl in this ring by Boghossian (POA).
Boucheron Hiver Impérial Boule de Neige ring in 18-carat white gold with a rock crystal dome filled with diamonds and pavéd on the outside with diamonds to resemble a snow globe (POA).
The 709-carat rough diamond unearthed in Sierra Leone in March this year, which has been renamed the Peace Diamond and bought by Graff Diamonds of London on 5 December for $6.5 million.
A 78.33-carat Santa Maria aquamarine is the star of Boucheron’s Hiver Impérial Baïkal necklace, which was chosen because it resembles the colour of the crystal-clear waters of Lake Baïkal in Siberia (POA).
Nestled amongst the trees were Boucheron's new Hiver Impérial jewels – an expansive collection inspired by the vast snowy wilderness of the Far North of Russia.

The impressive trio of Graff diamond rings (below) we spotted in Place Vendôme would brighten anyone’s Christmas. The round brilliant is a D colour 27-carat diamond, the marquise a DIF 23-carat stone and the pear-cut a DIF at 11.16 carats.

The size of a diamond makes a difference to clarity as imperfections are easier to detect in larger stones. SI2 inclusions are often visible in diamonds over 1.00 carat and over 2.00 carats, most jewellers would advise a clarity grade of at least VS2.

We spotted some more perfect ice at De Grisogono where a 23.35-carat emerald cut diamond took our breath away. One of the largest diamonds to rest on my hand this year is the D flawless 50-carat Garden of the Kalahari pendant cut from the 342-carat Queen of the Kalahari rough diamond.

One of the most unusual diamond rings I tried on this year is Boghossian’s Kissing Diamond rings (below) with Fancy light purplish pink pear-shape 5.02-carat diamond that appears to hover above a 30.09-carat green beryl.

Kissing Diamonds pink diamond and green beryl ring — A Fancy light purplish pink pear-shape 5.02-carat diamond appears to hover above a 30.09-carat green beryl in this ring by Boghossian (POA).

Nirav Modi has worked hard at making diamonds appear to float and the hundred of diamonds in the Luminance necklace settle on the skin like snowflakes.

The 709-carat rough diamond unearthed in Sierra Leone in March this year, which has been renamed the Peace Diamond and bought by Graff Diamonds of London on 5 December for $6.5 million.

But I have saved the most significant diamond of the year to the last. The 709-carat Peace Diamond (above) found in Sierra Leone is a beacon of hope for some of the poorest miners in the world. Thanks to the integrity of the local pastor, the proceeds from its sale will directly benefit those in the community where it was found. And that has to be the most positive message of 2017.