Buying a diamond is an exciting and memorable experience. With the right knowledge, it can also be simple and stress-free. We’ve put together everything you need to feel confident when choosing your perfect diamond.

including a breakdown of the 4 C’s : Cut, Colour, Clarity, and Carat.You'll also find our How to an Engagement Ring guide, offering practical tips to help you make the right decision with ease.We also invite you to visit us for a complimentarY no-obligation diamond consultation with one of our expert jewellers.

You’ll be able to view a curated selection of diamonds, explore the differences between grades, and have all your questions answered in person.


The 4Cs is the universally accepted method for assessing and communicating the quality of a diamond. Understanding these different characteristics and how they affect the appearance of a diamond, will help you to make an informed and confident choice when choosing the right diamond for you.

Cut

The cut of a diamond determines its brilliance and refers to its proportions, symmetry and finish.

Whilst a diamond’s Colour and Clarity are dictated by nature, the Cut is determined by the human hand and is in our opinion the most important of the 4 C’s.

The angles and proportions determine a diamond’s ability to handle and reflect light and generate brilliance.

In a diamond that is well-cut, light enters through the table and travels through the stone where it is reflected from one side to the other before the light is returned back to the viewer’s eye. While Cut is the most important factor in a diamond’s beauty, unfortunately there is no uniformity in cut grading terminology between the major labs.

Each lab uses its own terminology which can sometimes be confusing. For instance, GIA calls its top grading “Excellent” followed by “Very Good”, whilst other labs use the term
Whilst the grades are not identical, we generally recommend buying a diamond with a “Good” grade or better regardless of who has provided the certificate.

Avoid diamonds with grades of “Medium”, “Fair” or “Poor”, as the alignment of their facets may misdirect light so severely that it affects the brilliance of the diamond.

COLOUR

Diamond colour describes how colourless a stone appears. The GIA grades diamonds on a scale from D (completely colourless) to Z (visible yellow or brown tint).

While D–F diamonds are prized for their rarity, G–I grades are still considered “white” and offer excellent value.

When choosing colour, consider the setting :Platinum or White Gold works best with diamonds in the D–G range Yellow Gold is more forgiving and can suit diamonds with slightly lower grades, though anything below J may show a noticeable yellow hue.
Diamonds also come in shades like pink, champagne, blue, and black these are known as fancy colours and follow a separate grading scale.

CLARITY

Diamond clarity refers to the degree to which a diamond is free from natural internal features (inclusions) or surface irregularities (blemishes).

These microscopic characteristics are formed during the diamond’s creation deep within the earth and serve as unique identifiers of each stone’s natural origin.While inclusions are almost always present to some extent, their size, number, position, and visibility determine a diamond’s clarity grade. The GIA clarity scale ranges from Flawless (FL)** — no visible inclusions under 10x magnification — to **Included (I3)**, where imperfections are easily seen with the naked eye.

Though Flawless diamonds are exceptionally rare and highly valued, they are not essential for visual beauty. Diamonds graded **VVS (Very, Very Slightly Included)** and **VS (Very Slightly Included)** offer an excellent balance of purity and brilliance.

Even **SI (Slightly Included)** diamonds can appear flawless to the unaided eye and represent a more accessible option without sacrificing overall appearance.Every certified diamond comes with an **independent grading report** that verifies its clarity and provides full transparency in your selection process.

carat

The term carat refers to the weight of a diamond, not its size a common misconception.

One carat is equivalent to 0.2 grams and can be subdivided into 100 points (1 point = 0.01 carat), providing a precise measurement for diamonds of varying sizes.

Larger diamonds are much rarer, so a 1.00 carat diamond typically commands a higher price than a pair of 0.50 carat diamonds, assuming other factors like Colour, Clarity, and Cut are consistent.Although carat weight influences the diamond’s size, its actual dimensions depend on the cut proportions.

For instance:A 1.00 carat round brilliant diamond typically has a 6.4mm diameter.A shallow cut diamond may appear larger but will lack brilliance.A deep cut diamond may be smaller and less reflective of light.Thus, carat weight should be evaluated alongside the cut quality to achieve the desired balance of size and sparkle.

The word carat derives from the carob seed, used in ancient Greece and the Arab world for its consistent weight, which merchants used as a counterbalance for precious commodities. In 1913, the Metric Carat system was universally adopted, setting the standard of 1 carat = 0.2 grams in the diamond and gemstone industry.