All guides & articles

Diamonds & 4Cs

Lab Grown vs Mined Diamonds: Which Should UK Buyers Choose?

Lab grown diamonds are chemically, optically and physically identical to mined diamonds, yet they cost roughly half as much and hold their value very differently. This guide compares the two on appearance, durability, price, resale, certification and what family jewellers quietly think. It tells you who should buy lab grown, who should still choose mined, and why the difference matters more if you ever plan to sell or upgrade.

10 min read

Diamonds & 4Cs

How to Read a Diamond Certificate: GIA and IGI Reports

A diamond grading report is the only independent proof of what you are buying, yet most people never read past the headline grade. This guide explains what a GIA or IGI report actually contains, which fields matter and which are filler, how to check the report number online, why two labs can grade the same diamond differently, and what to do if the certificate does not match the ring in front of you. A mismatch is the single biggest red flag in diamond buying.

10 min read

Diamonds & 4Cs

Diamond Carat Size Guide: How Big Does 1 Carat Look?

Carat is a weight, not a measurement of across-the-finger size, which is why one 1-carat stone can look noticeably bigger than another. This guide shows you how a 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2-carat round brilliant actually reads on an average UK finger, why cut quality changes perceived size, what face-up size in millimetres really means, and how to get a bigger-looking stone without paying for extra weight that just adds depth you cannot see.

10 min read

Diamonds & 4Cs

Diamond Clarity Explained: From Flawless to I3

Clarity measures the internal and external flaws, called inclusions, that a diamond forms inside the earth. The scale runs from Flawless, which is museum-grade and ruinously expensive, down to I3, where inclusions are obvious to the eye and can weaken the stone. This guide tells you which clarity grade is actually eye-clean, why most grades above VS1 are a waste of money, how inclusions can be hidden under prongs, and why a skilled cutter can move a flaw somewhere you will never see.

10 min read

Diamonds & 4Cs

Diamond Colour Grading Explained: What D to Z Actually Means

Diamond colour is graded on a scale from D, completely colourless, down to Z, light yellow or brown. Most buyers chase D-F and overpay for a difference no one can see on a finger. This guide explains where the eye actually stops noticing yellow tint, why warm stones look better in yellow gold, how setting colour changes your perception of the stone, and which grades offer the best value for UK shoppers on a real budget.

10 min read

Diamonds & 4Cs

Diamond Cut Grade Explained: Why Cut Is the 4C That Matters Most

Of the four Cs, cut is the only one humans fully control, and the only one that decides whether a diamond looks alive. A perfectly colourless, flawless stone with a poor cut will look dull and glassy, while a slightly included stone with an excellent cut will sparkle from across a room. This guide explains what cut grade actually measures - proportions, symmetry and polish - why GIA and IGI use slightly different scales, and how to read the numbers on a grading report without becoming a gemologist.

10 min read

Diamonds & 4Cs

Three 4C Myths You Should Stop Believing

The pieces of conventional wisdom about the 4Cs that are just not true. Includes the "eye-clean" lie and the "colourless is best" trap.

1 min read

Diamonds & 4Cs

Emerald vs Round Cut: Which Shape Suits You?

Round brilliants are safe and bright; emerald cuts are modern and graphic. Here is how to choose between the two.

1 min read

Diamonds & 4Cs

What Is a Lab-Grown Diamond?

Lab-grown diamonds are chemically identical to mined ones but cost less. Here is how they are made, how they are graded, and what to know before you buy.

1 min read

Diamonds & 4Cs

The Diamond 4Cs Explained Simply

Cut, colour, clarity and carat — what each one actually means, which ones matter most, and where you can save money without anyone noticing.

2 min read