Shop Online
Customer Testimonial
Nothing touches our hearts more than hearing about your beautiful moment. Share your memorable engagement story with us by clicking the 'Share' button below.
Use our informative & easy-to-follow Guides, FAQs, Information and more, to assist you in finding a diamond that expresses your personal message.
Diamond FactsQ. In how many countries are diamonds found and mined?
Diamonds are mined in over 20 countries around the world. In descending order the following countries account for 95% of the world's production:
To this list Canada should be added as it is expected it will account for up to 10% of the total world production. Q. What is Fluorescence?
When exposed to ultraviolet light (UV), a diamond may have a more whitish, yellowish or bluish tint, which may imply that the diamond has a property known as fluorescence. Diamond grading reports will state whether a diamond has fluorescent properties or not, although fluorescence is not considered a grading factor, just a characteristic of that stone. If you are choosing a diamond in the D-F colour range, fluorescence can make the diamond appear milky or oily in sunlight, so we recommend choosing a colourless stone without this property. On the other hand, a diamond in the I or J colour range can appear whiter if it has medium fluorescence. It’s a matter of personal preference. Please note that EGL sometimes refers to this phenomenon as photoluminescence. Q. Why are Diamonds so expensive?
Diamonds are one of natures miracles. They have been formed over millions of years of extreme heat and pressure in circumstances that can never be repeated whilst we live on this planet. Diamonds are rare to find, expensive and difficult to mine. Millions of dollars that go into exploration and then only a small percentage are gem quality determine the obvious answer that not only are they are rare but command an appropriate price. Q. What are the 4 C's ?
The 4C's refer to the Cut, colour, Clarity and Carat Weight of an individual gem. Cut is the only element where nature has not played a part. The cut determines the fire and brilliance perceived by the observer. Together the 4 C's provide a world standard for determining the value of a diamond. Click here for more detailed information. Q. What kind of cut gives the best reflection ?
The round brilliant cut maximises the balance between life of the stone (brilliance) and fire (dispersion). The reasoning for this is that the 58 facet arrangement when cut to specific proportions allows total internal reflection of light. Q. What is Carat Weight ?
Carat weight is the weight of the diamond measured in carats. One carat is divided into 100 "points," so that a diamond of 75 points weighs 0.75 carats. Carat weight is the most obvious factor in determining the value of a diamond. But two diamonds of equal carat weights can have very different prices, depending on their quality. Diamonds of high quality can be found in all size ranges. If carat is not king, than why do we all try to buy the largest diamond available within our budget? Larger diamonds are found in nature much less frequently which, in turn, makes them more valuable. A three-carat diamond is always more expensive than several diamonds which add up to three carats. Please use the charts below as a guideline in assisting you in your search. The dimensions of the diamond should tell you how large the diamond will appear. The chart is not to scale and should only be used as a reference. Q. What is Diamond Clarity ?
And a diamond that is virtually free of interior or exterior inclusions (commonly referred to as flaws) is of the highest quality, for nothing interferes with the passage of light through the diamond. To determine a diamond's clarity, it is viewed under 10x magnification by a trained gemologist. Small inclusions neither mar its beauty nor endanger its durability. Did you know that the difference between finding an inclusion in a diamond at 60X magnification and one at 10X magnification is absolutely nothing to the naked eye, yet the price difference is staggering? Clarity refers to imperfections in the diamond. Lack of imperfections raises the cost of the diamond where as visible inclusions lower the cost. Q. What is Diamond colour ?
The colour grading scale varies from totally colourless to light yellow. The differences between one grade and another are very subtle and difficult to distinguish. Generally speaking, the naked eye cannot tell the difference between three colour grades in a mounted diamond. This means you can buy an "F", "G", or "H" colour diamond and not really be able to see the difference. A colourless diamond is colourless due to its ability to absorb rays of light equally. These diamonds are rare and expensive. Diamonds are evaluated according to a letter scale and graded. Diamonds that are in the "D-F" range are considered colourless and carry a slight premium. Diamonds in the "G-J" range will face-up completely white and are cheaper than colourless diamonds. Diamonds that are "K" colour or below will face-up with a slight tint. We recommend diamonds that are colour graded as "J" or better. Q. What is Diamond Cut and Proportions ?
Many people confuse cut with the shape of a diamond. Most diamonds are cut round with a full 58 facets, and a good cut, or make, has more scintillation, more sparkle. The shape of the diamond, however, is largely a matter of personal preference and does not directly affect the value. It is the work of a master cutter that allows the diamond to be cut in such a way as to permit the maximum amount of light to be reflected through the diamond, and that's a great reflection on you. It is the cut that enables a diamond to make the best use of light. So what is Ideal? Everyone has their own opinion on what Ideal is. Some people prefer a diamond to have a somewhat larger table, say around 60%, so the diamond "looks" bigger, some want the Tolkowsky Ideal cut, as calculated in the early 20th century by mathematician Markov Tolkowsky. The diagram below describes the Class 1 and 2 grades of GIA. They are the largest body in the world for diamond grading, and we use their classifications to grade our diamonds. Class 1 is Ideal. Class 2 is Very Fine, Class 3 is Fair, and Class 4 is Poor. We do not sell Class 3 or 4 diamonds. All diamonds we sell that are 0.50ct or larger on this website fall into the GIA's definition of "Ideal - Very Fine" Class, and are as follows: Please keep in mind that diamonds other than round brilliant do not always have their cuts measured in such detail because they are classified as "fancy cut" diamonds and have very loose tolerances. For more information regarding our "fancy cut" diamond specifications, please contact us. When buying a diamond, especially a round brilliant cut diamond, it is always best to have a complete analysis of cut. This will tell you all the specifications of the diamond's cut such as table percentage, depth percentage, etc. , usually obtained from a scope (or megascope). Ask your jeweller for this report on cut if you are making a large diamond purchase. Out of the 4 C's, colour and cut are the two most important characteristics of a diamond. Do not compromise on colour. A "H" colour or better is usually best. Q. Did you know that if the diamond is poorly cut, the colour and clarity cannot make up for it?
The cut of a diamond is what makes a rough diamond sparkle and shine. If a diamond is poorly cut, the light that enters the diamond from above will leak out of the sides and bottom of the stone, and the diamond will not have the optimum amount of sparkle or fire—regardless of its colour or clarity. Please use the charts below as a guideline in assisting you in your search. Preferred Proportions Round Diamonds Preferred Proportions for Oval, Pear, Marquise, and Heart-Shaped Diamonds Preferred Proportions for Emerald and Radiant Cut Diamonds Preferred Proportions for Princess Cut Diamonds See our Jewellery Care page |