Buying a diamond is a purchase most people make only a few times in a lifetime. Since this is such a rare and valuable purchase it is important that you have expert advice and guidance to help you to the correct choice.

DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER

We pride ourselves on our expertise in all aspects of jewellery but foremost is our knowledge of diamonds.

Every month our buyers personally select, from the vast stock of diamonds Antwerp offers, only those stones which are considered fine enough to meet our own exacting quality standards.

Our buyers use their expertise gained through decades of buying to ensure that you have the finest choice of stones at the very best possible price.

Our buyers must consider various features before selecting any stone. You too should consider these features before selecting your stone and only experts can tell you about diamonds. We hope you will allow our experts to advise you.

Diamonds can be sorted into over 2000 categories according to size, shape, clour and clarity. Obviously this would be very confusing (even for us!). To make everyone's life easier these 2000 categories are condensed into 4 simple easy to understand headings known as "The Four C's", CUT, COLOUR, CLARITY and CARAT WEIGHT.

These are the basic factors which affect every diamond and you should consider each one individually.

CUT

This is not only the visual shape - round, square etc, but how bright the fire and sparkle are, due to the perfection and faceting or the cutters skill. Antwerp has been polishing diamonds for over 500 years and they are quite simply the world's best.

 

COLOUR

The best colour for a diamond is no colour at all, however these stones are very rare (and very expensive) and are referred to as 'D colour'. The majority of stones fall below this anywhere down to 'Z' and even into fancy yellows, pinks and browns (which can also be very expensive).

 

 

 

CLARITY

Most diamonds contain tiny internal marks known as inclusions. These are like natural birthmarks and can vary in size and concentration. They vary in form from tiny carbon spots to bubbles and internal fractures which can affect the passage of light. Complete freedom from these inclusions is very rare and these stones are called FL (flawless). Most stones we select are VS/SI (very small/small inclusions) though even these you will see only with a 10x lens.

FL	IF	VVS1-VVS2	VS1-VS2	S11-S12	P1-P2-P3
(Flawless)	(Internally Flawless - minor surface blemishes)	(Very, very small inclusions)	(Very small inclusions)	(small inclusions)	(Inclusions: visible to the naked eye)

CARAT

Weight

1.00ct = 0.2g,	0.50ct = 50 points,
0.25ct = 25 points	1.00ct = 100 points,

In this aspect bigger is not always better. Other features all being equal a bigger stone will be more expensive, but a small stone could easily out price a large stone which has been poorly cut and is of poor colour and clarity. As larger stones are more rare this does affect price, double the weight for example will be far in excess of double the price providing all other features are equal.

Our staff will show you how to use a loupe or 10x lens, only with this eye glass can you fully understand and appreciate the beauty of your diamond.

You will occasionally see or hear of diamond certificates. These certificate are generally used for larger high quality stones, however, any stone can be certified as the result of laboratory examination. The leading official bodies are - HRD, GIA and CIBJO. Some stores may offer their own 'certificates' but these are often based on individual and inexpert opinion and can be misleading. If claims are being made about stones of fine colour and clarity you should demand to see a certificate but pay particular attention to the organisation that has prepared it.

Now that you understand the finer points of choosing a diamond you can decide on the design of the ring or piece of jewellery that you desire.

You should take your time and allow our staff to take you though the range of traditional, modern and individually designed pieces we offer, set in the finest of metals; 18ct yellow/white gold or platinum.

With your choice made the ring will be presented to you beautifully boxed and gift wrapped if required.

Your jewellery is like any other fine work of art and should be cared for. Your diamonds should be cleaned regularly to maintain their brightness and we would urge you to return your ring to us as often as you like so that the settings can be examined and the ring given a professional clean and polish, thus maintaining the security and beauty of the first day you wore your diamonds. There is no charge for this service.

It is this expertise and quality and service which has made us premier diamond specialists. You may wish to shop around. If so, please bear the above facts in mind. We will be most happy to welcome you to our showroom and look forward to being of service.

Remember, our quality, value and depth of knowledge guarantees a diamond buying experience you won't regret. Purchasing a diamond is a rare occasion; let us make it a memorable one.

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