Diamonds

Deciding on a Diamond

Diamonds are the most precious and enduring of all gemstones and they have long been the ultimate token of love. All diamonds are judged on their own individual qualities. We believe there are SIX factors to consider when choosing a diamond. These are Carat, Colour, Clarity, Cut, Cost and Crafted. On this page we explain more about each point of choice, and provide some handy charts.

Shapes

Diamonds are available in a variety of differently shaped cuts.

Round

Round

The round brilliant cut diamond is by far the most popular choice worldwide. In 1919 Russian mathematician Tolkowsky calculated the theoretical proportions for this specific cut in such a way that 100% reflection (sparkle) is obtained. All round brilliant diamonds are polished according to these proportions. This classic shape is perfect for a diamond engagement ring or any other piece of jewellery. The round brilliant has been fashionable in the past, is fashionable today and will always be fashionable in the future. It remains a popular first choice.

Princess

Princess

The princess cut is fast becoming one of the most popular fancy shaped diamonds today. The face-up shape of the princess cut is square and its side profile is an inverted pyramid. Its unique shape and pointed corners put it in a different class than other shapes. Its unique, defining look is distinguishable from other shapes.

Emerald

Emerald

With its large pavilion in the lower half, the emerald cut shaped diamond has a unique style. Due to the large table it highlights the clarity of the diamond. Its rectangular shape sets it apart from other shapes in such a way that it is easily identifiable with the naked eye.

Oval

Oval

At first sight an oval cut diamond looks quite similar to a round brilliant. However, when looking at it more closely, one can see that it has longer sides and two sharper corners. When considering a ring this shape is excellent for a person who has long, slender fingers.

Marquise

Marquise

The marquise cut is a traditional shaped diamond which can be described as the "skinny" brother of the oval. This shape brilliance is further enhanced if surrounded by other shaped smaller diamonds. Carat for carat this unique shape has one of the largest crowns (upper half), making it a good choice to maximise the perceived size.

Pear

Pear

The pear, also known as the tear drop, is a traditionally shaped diamond which becomes wide as opposed to longer when the carat increases. This shape is more popular in pendants and earrings.

Cushion

Cushion

The cushion-cut diamond is a square cut with rounded corners, much like a pillow (hence the name). This classic cut has been around for almost 200 years. It was the most popular shape in its first century of existence (much like the round brilliant today).

Carat

Carat (Ct) is the term given to the weight of a gemstone. Generally speaking the larger (heavier) the diamond, the more expensive it will be, however it is possible to purchase a larger diamond for less than a smaller one, provided a compromise is made with colour, clarity and cut.

0.25 Ct

0.25 Ct

0.5 Ct

0.5 Ct

0.75 Ct

0.75 Ct

1 Ct

1 Ct

1.5 Ct

1.5 Ct

2 Ct

2 Ct

3 Ct

3 Ct

4 Ct

4 Ct

5 Ct

5 Ct

Colour

Diamonds come in many different shades of colour. From totally white (D) to fancy yellow, green, pink or blue. Purchasing a diamond that has been certified by the GIA or HRD laboratories guarantees the colour, clarity, carat weight and cut.

Certified diamonds are usually slightly more expensive than non-certified stones. Diamonds as small as 0.25 carat are now available with certificates. Smaller diamonds set in eternity rings etc are not usually certified. Our standard non-certified diamond quality is G colour and VS purity.

Colourless

D - F

Colourless

Near Colourless

G - J

Near Colourless

Faint Yellow

K -M

Faint Yellow

Very Light Yellow

N - R

Very Light Yellow

Light Yellow

S - Z

Light Yellow

Clarity

When a rough diamond is found it has spent millions of years evolving in the Earth. Nature is rarely perfect and a totally flawless diamond (IF) is a very rare thing. Most diamonds contain small natural imperfections called inclusions. These imperfections are graded and this partly determines a diamonds value. A diamond that has been certified by the GIA or HRD laboratories guarantees the clarity for that stone.

Internally Flawless

Internally Flawless (IF)

No inclusions are visible to a skilled grader at 10x magnification.

very very small Inclusions

Very, Very Small Inclusions (VVS1, VVS2)

Minute inclusions, which are extremely difficult for a skilled grader to see at 10x magnification.

very small Inclusions

Very Small Inclusions (VS1, VS2)

Minute inclusions that are difficult for a skilled grader to see at 10x magnification and are invisible to the naked eye.

Small Inclusions

Small Inclusions (SI1, SI2, SI3)

Inclusions are visible under 10x magnification and might be visible to the naked eye (particularly in the case of SI3).

Inclusions

Inclusions (I1, I2, I3)

Obvious inclusions are visible to the naked eye and these may affect transparency and brilliance.

Cut

The cut refers to the make of the diamond. All brilliant-cut diamonds have 52 facets. Two diamonds of the same weight can look different in size. One might look dull compared to another. This is due to its cut. Certificated diamonds will detail the type of cut and symmetry.

Too Shallow

Too shallow

Ideal

Ideal

Too Deep

Too deep

Fluorescence

This is the term given to a natural characteristic that occurs in some diamonds.

Under a UV light some diamonds will show a fluorescence.

This can have an influence on a diamonds value.

Cost

By blending Colour, Clarity, Cut and Carat a diamond can be chosen to fit any budget. With Diamonds, size is not everything! However, the more money spent, the greater the choice in balancing the carat size and quality of the diamond.

Crafted

There are two types of stones. Natural Diamonds and Cultured Lab Grown Diamonds. Natural Diamonds take millions of years to naturally grow in the Earth. Lab Grown Diamonds are created in a laboratory using the latest technologies. There is a significant difference between a Natural Diamond and a Lab Grown Diamond's initial and secondhand values. Please ask us for our advice.

Video Guide

The following 10 minute video from GIA further explains the above concepts.

Is it Hallmarked?

Our jewellery is independently tested and hallmarked by the London or Birmingham Assay Office.

Hallmarked Guide

Since the Hallmarking Act of 1974, all our jewellery has been independently hallmarked by the British Hallmarking Council. This gives you the purchaser a guarantee of the quality and type of precious metal in our jewellery. All our jewellery carries our own Sponsors mark, Assay Office mark, Date mark, Common Control Mark and Metal Fineness mark.

Make sure before you buy jewellery that it has a proper independent hallmark like ours, otherwise you may not be buying what you think it is.

Cultured Lab Grown Diamonds

Our Cultured Lab Grown Diamonds are considered to be Ethically and Environmentally friendly. However their resale value is far less than a Natural Diamond. A decision has to be made between buying a stone that maybe larger, whiter and cleaner than its Natural equivalent, but is almost worthless secondhand.

Our Cultured Diamonds will be invoiced as Lab Grown Diamonds.

Finger Size Guide

UK Continental USA Internal Diameter(mm) Internal Circumference(mm) UK Continental USA Internal Diameter(mm) Internal Circumference(mm)
A - 0.25 12.03 37.83 A 1/2 - 0.50 12.22 38.42
B - 0.75 12.41 39.02 B 1/2 - 1 12.61 39.67
C - 1.25 12.8 40.22 C 1/2 - 1.5 12.99 40.82
D 1 1.75 13.18 41.42 D 1/2 2 2 13.37 42.02
E - 2.25 13.56 42.61 E 1/2 3 2.5 13.75 43.27
F 4 2.75 13.94 43.81 F 1/2 - 3 14.13 44.41
G 5 3.25 14.32 45.01 G 1/2 - 3.5 14.51 45.61
H 6 3.75 14.7 46.2 H 1/2 - 4 14.89 46.8
I 7 4.25 15.08 47.4 I 1/2 8 4.5 15.27 48
J - 4.75 15.46 48.6 J 1/2 9 5 15.65 49.2
K 10 5.25 15.83 49.77 K 1/2 - 5.5 16.03 50.39
L 11 5.75 16.22 50.99 L 1/2 - 6 16.41 51.59
M 12 6.25 16.61 52.19 M 1/2 13 6.5 16.8 52.79
N - 6.75 17.01 53.47 N 1/2 14 7 17.21 54.1
O 15 7 17.42 54.74 O 1/2 - 7.25 17.62 55.38
P 16 7.5 17.82 56.02 P 1/2 - 7.75 18.03 56.66
Q 17 8 18.23 57.3 Q 1/2 18 8.25 18.43 57.96
R - 8.5 18.64 58.57 R 1/2 19 8.75 18.84 59.21
S 20 9 19.04 59.85 S 1/2 - 9.25 19.25 60.49
T 21 9.5 19.45 61.13 T 1/2 22 9.75 19.65 61.77
U - 10 19.86 62.4 U 1/2 23 10.25 20.06 63.04
V 24 10.5 20.26 63.68 V 1/2 - 10.75 20.47 64.32
W 25 11 20.64 64.88 W 1/2 - 11.25 20.83 65.48
X 26 11.5 21.02 66.07 X 1/2 - 11.75 21.21 66.67
Y - 12 21.41 67.27 Y 1/2 - 12.25 21.6 67.87
Z - 12.5 21.79 68.47 Z 1/2 - 12.75 21.99 69.09

Anniversaries & Dates

Birthstones
Month Suggested Stone Colour
January Garnet Dark Red
Febuary Amethyst Purple
March Aquamarine Light Blue
April Diamond White
May Emerald Bright Green
June Pearl Cream
July Ruby Red
August Peridot Pale Green
September Sapphire Deep Blue
October Opal Variegated
November Topaz Yellow
December Turauiose Turquoise

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