YOUR STORY - Diamond jewellery

Our beautiful diamond collection

Diamond (jewellery) is forever. It takes forever for them to grow, because natural diamonds have ages up to 3.5 billion years. Most from inside the earth’s mantle and carried to the surface during volcanic eruptions. Diamond is mainly found in the south of Africa, but also in Australia, Russia, Canada and Brazil.

Under pressure

Diamond is a solid form of pure carbon. Under huge pressure and heat, carbon will crystallise and found as a double pyramid. Diamond is the hardest natural material; it scores a 10 on Mohs hardness scale. It can only be scratched with another diamond. A diamond’s hardness depends on its purity, crystalline perfection and orientation – the latter two concern the way the atoms arranged during crystallisation and the structure of the diamond. Because of its hardness, diamond is very suitable as a gemstone in jewellery and particularly in engagement and wedding rings. As these are worn every day,  you don’t want them to scratch!

The four C’s

A diamond's four C's represent the four main components of its structure and beauty: Cut, Colour, Carat and Clarity. The four C’s together determine a diamond’s worth.

Cut

Gemstones turn into diamonds through the delicate process of cutting and polishing, during which the stone loses up to 50% or 60% of its weight. This takes a lot of skills, knowledge and craftmanship: not quite a do-it-yourself kinda job. Additionally, after careful analysis of the stone: its flaws, crystalline perfection and orientation, the optimal cutting shape (Cut) is chosen. This can be Brilliant, Pear, Baguette, Princess or Heart. Also, the diamonds will be polished.  If this is wrong, the reflection of the stone is not optimal. The polishing can be Excellent, Very good or Good.

Colour

Pure diamonds are colourless, but impurities and structural defects cause diamonds to occur in the whole spectrum of the rainbow: brown, yellow, orange, red, pink, purple, blue, green, black, grey and white. The colourlessness of diamond ranges from D (colourless) to O.

Carat

The term Carat refers to the overall weight of a diamond. This because instead of ounces or grams, diamonds weigh in carats. A diamond’s carat weight is not the same as its size; a common mistake. It is possible for two diamonds to have the same carat weight and yet be different sizes.

Clarity

Finally, the clarity refers to the absence of blemished and inclusions, ranging from Flawless to Included on the GIA Diamond Clarity Scale.

Tips and tricks

Before you go diamond jewellery hunting, some tips and tricks: 

  • Always check the loose stone without its setting. This way you can inspect the diamond properly.
  • Make sure to receive a certificate of your diamond, that way you know what you are buying. Also, it keeps the diamond’s value higher. Renowned certificate houses are GIA in America and HRD in Antwerp.
  • Are you buying a diamond as a surprise or engagement proposal? Please check the ring size upfront, determine the preferred colour of gold and be on time!

Want to see some of our diamonds? You can view them here.