Ask the Experts

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Our experts advise using the four C’s to help pick the perfect stone or stones.  By considering the stone’s unique profile – you can find something you love, that also fits your budget!

Colour: Diamonds range from colourless, through tints of colour, until completely saturated and classed as a fancy colour. This is mainly seen in yellow or brown diamonds often called canary yellow or cognac Diamonds.

Clarity: This refers to a Diamonds optical quality. Grading is based on the number, size and visibility of internal flaws and imperfections called inclusions.

Cut: The cut determines both the shape and fire in the stone. A well cut Diamond will show its best fire and brilliance as the light refracts off of its facets.

Diamonds are cut in the following shapes: Round Brilliant, Princess cut (Square), Emerald cut, Oval, Pear shaped, and marquise, to name a few.

Carat: Carat refers to the weight of the diamond. There are 100 points in a carat. For example: half a carat (50pts) is written 0.50ct, whereas 5pts is written 0.05ct, and half a point is written 0.005ct.

All diamonds are priced on the above factors. The larger, whiter, cleaner and more brilliance a Diamond has, the higher the value.

This is a tricky question we get asked a lot.  

Don't worry though, our experts are here to help. For an accurate measurement please visit us in store. The easiest and most effective way is to borrow a ring worn already on the correct finger (or same finger of opposite hand) and bring it into us – we will size that ring and then advise you.  If there isn’t a suitable ring, it’s much harder to covertly get the correct size!

You can also use our chart if borrowing a ring for a few hours isn’t an option! Download it here: jody-cory-ring-sizer

Alternatively, we can offer another very special service.  Come in store and browse our range of precious, loose gemstones (appointment required).  We have a very wide range to suit all tastes and once you find something special, we will create a presentation gift package for you.  Whether it’s a proposal, birthday or anniversary or just because … you can surprise and delight the one you love with a handpicked gem and then return with us together, to design the final item – something bespoke and handmade, something unique!

Here is a little information on the different precious metals from our onsite expert goldsmiths.

Silver is white in colour and hallmarked ‘925’ so it’s easy to identify. Silver will tarnish over time and will appear black or grey when this occurs. but it’s easily cleaned up and can dazzle as new once polished.  Maintenance of silver jewellery is important as it’s naturally quite a soft material.  Check the stones are still firmly held in place and that catches are still strong. We are happy to offer advice and help with maintenance if needed.  Silver is a great conductor of heat so when you wear it, it’s comfortable and warm on your skin and is also a good antibacterial material!  Silver is easily carved and moulded so it’s a great metal for creative jewellery. 

Pure gold is 24ct and very rich in colour. As with silver, it is very soft in its pure state. It is alloyed to create different colours and hardness – making it more durable and suitable for everyday wear.  For example, palladium, silver and other white metals are added to create white gold. The higher the palladium content the whiter the gold becomes. Copper and other metals are amalgamated to produce rose gold.

9ct is the toughest and is hallmarked at ‘375’, 14ct is hallmarked at ‘585’, 18ct is hallmarked at ‘750’ and 22ct is hallmarked at ‘916’. The higher the carat number the higher the gold content and the softer it becomes; yellow gold will become richer in colour.  White Gold is often rhodium plated to give it a brighter, whiter appearance. Rhodium plated white gold will require maintenance, to remain very white.

Palladium is a pure metal and of the same family of metals as platinum. It has recently been recognised by the assay office and is now hallmarked at ‘950’. It has a very similar colour to platinum.

Platinum is the rarest of the precious metals and therefore fetches the highest price. It is white in colour. Platinum is also hallmarked at ‘950’ but can be identified by a Goldsmith as it has a different shape to the ‘950’ seen on Palladium. Platinum also has an extremely high melting temperature at 950°C