Buying Guides

Plain-English answers to the questions people ask before buying a diamond or a piece of fine jewellery.

• Lab-Grown vs Natural Diamonds — Both are real diamonds. The difference is where they formed — and what that does to the price.
• Diamond 4Cs: Cut, Colour, Clarity, Carat — The four measures every diamond is graded on — and where your money makes the most visible difference.
• How to Choose an Engagement Ring — A practical order to make the decisions in, so the ring comes together without second-guessing.
• How to Find Your Ring Size — The reliable ways to measure, the ones to avoid, and what to do when the ring is a surprise.
• Diamond Certificates: Compare IGI, HRD and GIA — Learn what a diamond report tells you, how to compare laboratory names and grades, and what to check before paying more.
• How Your Jewellery Is Made: What to Expect — Follow your jewellery from design to finished piece, understand what you approve, and know which questions to ask before ordering.
• Caring for Diamond Jewellery — Most of what shortens a piece's life is avoidable, and most of what dulls it washes off.
• Diamond Ratios: Choose the Shape That Suits You — Use recommended ratios to compare fuller and slimmer diamond shapes, then check the size, sparkle and outline you prefer.
• Gold Finishes: Choose the Look You Like — Compare shiny, soft and textured finishes, see how they wear, and choose a surface that suits your jewellery and daily life.
• Diamond Inclusions: How Much Clarity Do You Need? — Understand common marks inside diamonds, what clarity grades mean, and when paying for a higher grade may make a visible difference.
• Diamond Settings: Choose a Style for Everyday Wear — See the main setting styles and compare their appearance, comfort, protection and care before choosing your ring.
• Diamond Quality: What Is Worth Paying For? — Understand colour, clarity, cut, polish, symmetry and fluorescence so you can compare diamonds without paying for differences you cannot see.
• Diamond Shade and BGM: What to Check Before Buying — Learn what brown, green and milky mean, why a report may not settle the question, and how to check the diamond you are buying.
• Jewellery Plating: Compare Gold, Rhodium and Platinum — Understand what is underneath a plated finish, how the coating wears, and what future maintenance could cost.
• Prong Shapes: Round, Claw, Petite Claw and Tab — Round tips look softly beaded; claws taper to a point; petite claws are finer; tabs have a flatter, squared finish. Choose the look you like, then check the complete setting and how well it fits the stone.
• Earring Backs: Push, Screw, Locking and Ball — Choose an earring back by its fastening mechanism, its fit on the post and how easily you can use it. A round or butterfly-shaped back can hide different mechanisms; its shape alone does not tell you how it locks.
• Bracelet Clasps: Nine Fastenings Explained — A good bracelet clasp suits the bracelet’s weight, fits its connecting parts and is easy for you to close fully with one hand. Compare the mechanism and any safety catch, not just the clasp’s shape.
• Ring Anatomy: A Simple Guide to Every Part — The shank is the band around your finger; the head holds the centre stone. Learning the smaller parts helps you compare side views, explain a design preference and ask better questions about fit and maintenance.
• Ring Profiles: Court, D-Shape, Flat and Comfort Fit — A ring profile is the shape of the band’s cross-section. Compare the outside appearance and the surface against your finger separately, then try the width and depth you intend to wear.
• Jewellery Casting: From a Model to a Finished Piece — Jewellery casting turns a model into a metal form. In lost-wax casting, the model is removed from a heat-resistant mould and molten metal takes its place. The casting then needs careful preparation, stone setting and finishing before it becomes jewellery you can wear.
• Jewellery Polishing: How a Beautiful Finish Is Made — Jewellery polishing refines the metal surface so it reflects light evenly and feels smooth. A beautiful finish starts with accurate shaping and careful preparation, followed by progressively finer work. The aim is to enhance the surface while preserving the piece’s contours and delicate details.
• Diamond Setting: How Stones Are Secured in Jewellery — Diamond setting is the skilled work of fitting a stone into jewellery and securing it with metal. A good result balances support, alignment, a neat finish and the intended view of the diamond. The setting must suit the individual stone as well as the design.
• Choosing your metal — Compare gold, platinum and silver, including purity numbers, everyday wear and care.
• Choosing your gold colour — Explore yellow, white and rose gold: how their colours are created and what to consider for care.