CARAT

Carat refers to the weight of a diamond. Diamonds are all weighed in metric carats rather than grams or ounces. This is a standard industry practice around the world.

Diamond is expressed to the hundredth of a carat. Carat weight of less than a carat is expressed in points. So, for example, a 0.75ct diamond will be 75 points. Most jewellers will refer to carat weight in this terminology.

Another way to explain this would be using pounds, 100 pence equals 1 whole pound. Therefore 50pts will be 0.50ct and so on.

A common misconception is that it refers to the physical size of a diamond, which is incorrect. The diamond weight does not govern the size of stone.

We always recommend trying a range of carat weight on to determine which will be best for you. This way you will also be able to assess the visible size.

CLARITY

This will determine the number of natural inclusions that are inside the diamond. The higher the quality (such as VS1 or VVS1) will mean there are less inclusions, and the light is able to refract out of the diamond better than a lower clarity (such as SI2 or I1).

PLATINUM

Platinum has become one of the most popular metals to be used in wedding ring. Platinum is a naturally white coloured metal, meaning it will not tarnish and lose its brilliance. Platinum is also a very rare metal that is only mined in a few select areas of the world, making it a more expensive metal in comparison to Gold and Palladium.

Platinum will also enhance the colour of a diamond and its natural sparkle.

Platinum is usually hallmarked at ‘950’, meaning it is 95% pure platinum with the remaining 5% usually being palladium, iridium ruthenium and other alloys. Platinum is also a great choice for those who have contact allergies, as the purity of the platinum reduces the likelihood of any irritation during wear.

As with all metals, Platinum can scratch, however with proper care the wear should be minimal and can be polished again to return the metal to its original look.