OUR GUIDE TO DIAMONDS

Let us help guide you in choosing the perfect diamond for your engagement ring.

THE 4 C'S OF DIAMONDS

When you are buying diamonds you are sure to come across the 4's during the purchasing process. The C's denote the characteristics of a diamond and are important to consider when choosing the right diamond for you.

The most important of the Cs a this determines how the diamond interacts with light and get the sparkle or 'fire'.

The cut of a diamond is determined by three things:

1. Precision - cut and angle of diamond 

2. Symmetry - the alignment and intersection of facets.

3. Polish - the outside finish of a diamond 

A well cut diamond will reflect and refract light for maximum brightness and sparkle!  

The highest cut grade in the industry is Triple Excellent and this is given to a diamond when the precision is excellent, symmetry is excellent and polish is excellent.

Cut is determined by human hands so craftsmanship is essential.

The second most important of the 4 C's when selecting a diamond ring.

In nature most natural diamonds have a hint of yellow. Diamonds with a low colour grade appear yellow instead of the desired brilliant colourless white. The closer a colourless diamond is, the rarer the diamond is.

Diamonds are graded from D (colourless) - Z

DEF = colourless (D being brilliant white)

GHI = near colourless 

This is the industry suggestion of what is best when looking for a brilliant white diamond. However, the choice and preferance is entirely yours!

This is the assessment of the imperfections in a diamond.

A diamond with a low clarity grade, has multiple blemishes and incisions which interrupts the refraction and return of light and directly affects sparkle which can make a diamond appear cloudy. 

The clarity of a diamond is classified in the following way:

  • FL - diamonds are flawless.
  • IF - diamonds are internally flawless.
  • VVS1 VVS2 - (1 and 2) diamonds are very, very slightly included.
  • VS1 VS2 - (1 and 2) diamonds are very slightly included.
  • SI1 SI2 - (1 and 2) diamonds are slightly included. 
  • I1 I2 I3 - (1, 2 and 3) diamonds are imperfect.

Often misinterpreted as the size of a diamond, carat actually refers to the weight.

1 carat = 0.2 grams

By itself carat weight does not determine a diamonds value. Two diamonds with the same carat weight can appear to vary in size, if one is cut deeper than the other, they can also vary in quality, due to colour, clarity and cut.

DIAMOND SHAPE

The shape of diamond chosen for your ring is a personal preference. There are a range of beautiful options. You can choose to have the diamond set on its own (solitaire), with smaller diamonds set across the band, with smaller diamonds surrounding the main stone (halo), or a group of diamonds set together (cluster). The choice is yours!

NATURAL OR LAB GROWN DIAMONDS

Natural and Lab Grown Diamonds are both great options and which one to choose is based purely on personal preference. Below we have provided some further information to help you make the right choice for your diamond ring.

NATURAL DIAMONDS

Natural diamonds are natural and formed underneath the earth with intense heat and pressure and are formed over billions of years. Natural diamonds cost more and the value of natural diamonds continues to rise.

LAB GROWN DIAMONDS

These diamonds are created in a lab and are the same as natural diamonds physically, chemically and optically.

They are grown in two ways: a High Pressure, High Temperature (HPHT) process that mimics their natural formation in the Earth, or a Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) process. Both processes begin with a pure carbon seed arranged in a crystalline structure and result in a lab diamond that is identical to a mined diamond.

Visually they look the same and have the same chemical composition as a natural diamond - carbon. 

Lab grown diamonds are around 50-60% less expensive than natural, but don't gain value over time in the same way that natural diamonds do.