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Diamond Inclusions Explained: Feathers, Crystals, Clouds and What They Mean

Every diamond grading certificate lists the inclusions present in a specific stone. The terms — feathers, crystals, clouds, needles, twinning wisps — describe very different things in terms of what...

Salt and Pepper Diamonds: What They Are and Who They Are For

A salt and pepper diamond is one that contains visible inclusions — the “salt” being white or light reflective inclusions, and the “pepper” being dark carbon inclusions — distributed throughout the...

The Best Diamond Shape for Your Hand: A Practical Guide

The relationship between a diamond shape and the hand it sits on is one of the most practically useful things to understand before buying an engagement ring. Jewellery that photographs beautifully ...

How Big Is a 1 Carat Diamond? A Practical Size Guide by Shape

Carat is a measure of weight, not size. One carat equals 0.2 grams. But what buyers really want to know is: how large will this diamond look on my finger? The answer depends on the shape of the sto...

Baguette Diamonds: The Rectangular Step Cut and How It Is Used

The baguette diamond is a small, rectangular step-cut stone that plays one of the most important supporting roles in fine jewellery. Unlike the brilliant-cut diamonds that draw attention as centre ...

Solitaire Engagement Rings: Why Simple Usually Wins

The solitaire engagement ring — one diamond, minimal metal — is the most enduring design in fine jewellery. It has remained continuously in fashion since the late nineteenth century and shows no si...

Fancy Coloured Diamonds: Yellow, Pink, and Blue Diamonds Explained

Most diamonds sold for fine jewellery are assessed for how close they come to colourlessness — the D to Z colour scale exists to measure the absence of colour. Fancy coloured diamonds are an entire...

Channel Settings: The Sleek Alternative to Claw-Set Diamonds

The channel setting places diamonds in a continuous row between two parallel walls of metal, with no prongs holding individual stones. The result is a clean, flush line of diamonds that is protecte...

Yellow Gold Engagement Rings: Why the Classic Metal Is Back

For most of the 1990s and 2000s, yellow gold was unfashionable for engagement rings. White metals — platinum and rhodium-plated white gold — dominated the market so completely that yellow gold came...

Pavé Settings: How the Technique Works and When to Choose It

Pavé — pronounced “pah-VAY” and derived from the French word for cobblestone pavement — is one of the most widely used diamond setting techniques in contemporary fine jewellery. It involves setting...