Buying guides
Diamonds, sizing and care, explained plainly
No jargon and no upsell. What actually matters when you spend money on a piece, written by the people who sit at the bench.
The 4 Cs, in order of what to care about
1. Cut
This decides sparkle
A well-cut stone returns light; a badly cut one looks dead regardless of size. Never compromise here.
2. Carat
This decides size
Price jumps at the 0.50ct, 0.70ct and 1.00ct marks. Dropping 0.05ct under a mark saves real money with no visible difference.
3. Colour
D to H is the sweet spot
In white metals, H looks colourless to the eye. In yellow or rose gold you can go lower still and nobody will ever notice.
4. Clarity
Eye-clean is enough
VS1 and VS2 are eye-clean. Paying for VVS grades buys you nothing you can see, only letters on a certificate.
The honest comparison
Natural vs lab-grown diamonds
Both are diamond, same carbon, same hardness, and any jeweller telling you they can tell them apart by eye is having you on. We stock both and we will talk you through whichever fits your budget. The honest differences:
- Lab-grown costs 50 to 70% less for the same grade
- Natural stones hold value better and are the pick for heirlooms
- Both come certified: GIA or IGI, so you always know what you bought
Ring size guide
Size it right the first time
- Borrow a ring they already wear on the right finger and bring it in. We size it in seconds, free.
- No ring to borrow? Trace the inside of one on paper and we work from that.
- Sizing at night beats morning. Fingers swell through the day and cold shrinks them.
Wide bands (5mm and up) fit tighter, so go half a size up. And every ring we sell is resized free for life anyway, so a near miss is never a disaster.
Care
Keep it looking new
Do
- Warm water, drop of washing-up liquid, soft brush
- Take rings off for the gym and the garden
- Bring pieces in yearly, we clean and check claws free
Avoid
- Chlorine pools, it eats gold alloys
- Pearls near perfume and hairspray
- Ultrasonic cleaners on emeralds and opals
Still stuck? That is what the showroom is for.
Bring the guide, bring questions, bring nothing at all. Consultations are free and there is zero pressure to buy on the day.
Book a free consultation