DIAMOND EDUCATION
01 — CHOOSE YOUR DIAMOND TYPE
Both can make a beautiful centre stone. The difference begins with origin, rarity and how you choose to allocate your budget.
Lab-grown diamonds are created in controlled environments using technology that reproduces the conditions in which diamond crystal forms.
For many buyers, their main advantage is the ability to consider a larger stone or higher specifications within the same budget.
Natural diamonds formed beneath the earth over geological timescales and are valued by many clients for their natural origin and comparative rarity.
The right choice is personal. We recommend deciding first what origin means to you, then comparing diamonds within a budget that feels comfortable.
02 — START WITH SHAPE
Shape is usually one of the easiest decisions to make because it has an immediate effect on the personality and proportions of the finished ring.
Classic, balanced and known for brilliant light performance.
Elongated, elegant and generous in face-up appearance.
Architectural step facets with a clean, sophisticated look.
Angular outline with lively brilliant-style faceting.
Soft corners with a romantic square or elongated silhouette.
A distinctive combination of rounded and pointed proportions.
Long and dramatic with excellent visual spread.
A contemporary square shape with brilliant faceting.
Geometric step facets with a distinctive hall-of-mirrors effect.
Expressive, recognisable and unmistakably romantic.
03 — UNDERSTAND THE 4Cs
Cut, colour, clarity and carat provide a useful framework for comparing diamonds, but they should be considered together rather than treated as four independent scores to maximise.
Cut describes how effectively a diamond has been proportioned and faceted to interact with light. For round brilliant diamonds, cut quality can have a major influence on brightness, fire and overall visual performance.
For white diamonds, colour grades describe how little body colour is observed under controlled grading conditions. Differences between neighbouring grades can be subtle once a diamond is mounted.
Shape, size and metal colour can all influence how colour is perceived in the finished ring.
Clarity grades describe internal and external characteristics seen under standard grading conditions.
A higher clarity grade does not necessarily create a visibly more beautiful diamond. Inclusion type, size and position can matter as much as the grade itself.
Carat is a measurement of weight, not diameter or visible size. Two diamonds with the same carat weight can look noticeably different from above because of their shape and proportions.
BUY THE DIAMOND, NOT JUST THE GRADE
A grading report gives you valuable information, but it cannot communicate every aspect of a diamond's appearance. Proportions, inclusion placement, transparency, facet pattern and the individual character of the stone can all influence what you actually see.
04 — LOOK BEYOND THE 4Cs
Look at length and width in millimetres as well as carat weight. These dimensions tell you much more about how large the diamond will appear from above.
Ratio is especially useful for oval, radiant, cushion, emerald, pear and marquise diamonds. A lower or higher ratio can make the same shape appear noticeably wider or more elongated.
These proportions describe how weight is distributed through the diamond and can influence face-up spread and light behaviour. They are useful reference points, but should not be judged independently of the rest of the stone.
A clarity grade alone does not tell you where an inclusion sits. A small inclusion near the edge may be far less noticeable than one positioned directly under the table.
Fluorescence describes how some diamonds react under ultraviolet light. Its effect varies from stone to stone and should be considered in context rather than automatically treated as positive or negative.
Fancy shapes can show very different patterns even when their grading information looks similar. This is especially important with ovals, cushions, radiants, pears and step cuts.
05 — CHECK THE GRADING REPORT
An independent grading report documents important information about a diamond, including characteristics such as measurements, carat weight, colour and clarity.
Review the report number, measurements, proportions, clarity characteristics and other available grading information.
For certain diamonds, additional information such as inscription details can help you verify the stone against its report.
Certification is extremely useful when comparing diamonds, but two stones with similar reports can still have different visual characteristics.
Use the grading report together with the available images, video, proportions and overall appearance.
06 — THINK ABOUT THE RING
The setting changes how a diamond is framed, protected and perceived on the hand. Choosing the diamond and ring together often leads to a more considered result.
A simple solitaire puts almost all visual attention on the centre diamond, making shape, proportions and face-up appearance especially important.
Additional diamonds create more overall brilliance and can change how large or prominent the centre stone appears.
White metals create a cooler visual frame, while yellow or rose gold introduce warmer contrast. Metal colour can also influence how you perceive the diamond once it is set.
07 — SPEND WHERE YOU CAN SEE IT
There is no universal rule for how much an engagement ring should cost. Start with a comfortable budget, then decide which characteristics deserve the greatest share of it.
Start with the silhouette you genuinely prefer rather than choosing only according to price per carat.
Use both carat weight and actual measurements to determine the presence you want on the hand.
Avoid sacrificing too much cut quality or attractive proportions simply to reach a particular carat number.
Consider the shape and metal before paying for a colour difference that may be difficult to notice in the finished ring.
Once inclusions are difficult to see without magnification, higher clarity grades may deliver diminishing visual benefit.
08 — BEFORE YOU CHOOSE
Before making your final selection, make sure you have looked beyond the carat number and headline grades.
CONTINUE LEARNING
Go deeper into cut, colour, clarity and carat and understand what each grade can — and cannot — tell you.
Read the 4Cs Guide →Learn more about how we approach diamond sourcing, production partners and quality control.
Learn More →Comparing several diamonds? Send us the options you are considering and we can help you look at the differences.
Contact Us →COMMON QUESTIONS
READY TO EXPLORE?
Compare shape, size, specifications and price — then pair your chosen diamond with a setting to create your ring.
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