The Essential Information you need to know about Diamonds
Looking to buy your diamond set wedding rings, but don't know where to begin? We have the best information ever in this article, and all you need to know about diamonds.
Diamond is the hardest substance on earth and was discovered in India over 3000 years ago. Technically, it is carbon, but it is classed as a mineral. They brought to mind words like beauty, wealth, and power at the time (and still do) and became associated with mystical and magical properties by the Greeks, who took them to war as signs of strength and immortality.
Today, they are mined in the following countries: South Africa, Canada, Brazil, and Australia. However, the world's largest diamond mine is in the cold lands of Siberia. The British Crown Jewels in the Tower of London house some of the world's largest diamonds.
The diamond engagement ring
A diamond is a genuine symbol of love that many women choose to wear on their engagement finger, and both conventional and unusual engagement rings are still one of the most common pieces of jewellery worn today. Romance and love are, of course, associated with diamonds, most famously Cupid's arrow tipped with them.
It is essential to think carefully about price and your budget before buying your diamond ring, as prices vary considerably depending on the diamond's size and quality. The reflective qualities of diamonds depend on the quality of the cut, one of the 4 Cs, which refers to cut, clarity, colour and carat.
Below is a chart showing diamond size and shape to help you understand some of the jargon surrounding the purchase of your diamond ring. We measure diamonds in points and carats. Sizing in mm is as follows, for example:
2.4mm = 0.05ct = 5pt
3.0mm = 0.10ct = 10pt
4.1mm = 0.25ct = 25pt
5.2mm = 0.5ct = 50pt
6.5mm = 1.00ct = 100pt
You will see that the mm scale does not increase in the same manner as the point or carat size, which can be difficult to explain over the phone. You should now get an idea of the size in mm from your ruler.
Diamond colour
We use SI G/H white diamonds, meaning they are not only affordable but also sparkle. SI G/H stands for slightly imperfect and near colourless. The chart below indicates where on the grading scale this sits. We know from over a decade of experience how beautiful our diamonds look.
The diamond grading colour chart
| colour | d | e | f | g | h | i | j | k | l | m | n | o | p | q | r | s | t | u | v | w | x | y | z | fancy |
| scale | colourless | near colourless | faint yellow | very light yellow | <------light yellow------> | colour | ||||||||||||||||||
The diamond clarity scale
The chart here indicates a diamond's quality in terms of imperfections and how light interacts through the stone. Again, all of our diamonds sparkle at prices you can afford.
| clarity |
fl |
if |
vvs1 |
vvs2 |
vs1 |
vs2 |
si1 |
si2 |
i1 |
i2 |
i3 |
|
scale |
flawless- |
very very slightly imperfect |
very slightly imperfect |
slightly imperfect |
imperfect |
||||||
We have been selling diamond rings for over ten years and have never received a complaint about the cut and sparkle.
Additional reading
The BEST Information & Advice EVER on Buying a Diamond Ring
