The stone guide.
The stone is the starting point for every ring we design — a natural or lab-grown diamond, or a precious gemstone like an emerald or sapphire.
Diamonds
Natural & lab grown.
Both are real diamonds, and both are beautiful. We only work with ethically and sustainably sourced stones, in an unlimited variety of shapes and sizes, certified by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA).
Natural
Formed deep in the earth over billions of years.
Lab grown
Chemically identical, grown above ground.
The worldwide standard
The Four C’s.
In the 1940s the GIA established the Four C’s and the International Diamond Grading System™ — still the way every diamond is judged today. Here’s what you need to know.
How it plays with light.
Cut is how a diamond has been faceted, polished and proportioned. A well-cut diamond makes the most of light, creating a stunning display of sparkle.
Brightness, fire and scintillation describe the light. Weight ratio, durability, polish and symmetry describe the craftsmanship.
Graded on 7 criteria
All about what you can’t see.
White diamonds are valued by how close they come to colourless. The less colour, the higher the value.
The GIA scale starts at D for colourless, moving through the alphabet as colour increases.
GIA colour scale, D to Z
D–F
Colourless
G–J
Near colourless
K–M
Faint
N–R
Very light
S–Z
Light
Weight, not size.
Diamonds are weighed in metric carats. One carat is 0.2 grams, about the weight of a paperclip, and divides into 100 points.
Two diamonds of equal weight can differ widely in value depending on the other three C’s.
In numbers
Every stone’s birthmarks.
Formed under extreme heat and pressure, diamonds often carry inclusions (inside) or blemishes (outside). Clarity is the absence of these.
Truly flawless diamonds are rare, and rarity drives value.
GIA clarity scale · 11 grades
Most diamonds fall into the highlighted VS and SI grades.
Cuts we source
Every shape, every size.
Round
Oval
Pear
Marquise
Emerald
Cushion
Coloured gemstones
Diamonds not your thing? Fear not.
The alternatives are every bit as exciting. Tell us what you love and we’ll source the best possible stones and build them into the perfect design. You name it, we’ll find it.
Free, no-obligation call