Cut

The most important factor. An excellent cut maximises brilliance, fire and scintillation — making the diamond appear larger and more radiant than its carat weight suggests.

Colour

Graded D (colourless) to Z (light yellow). We recommend D–H for a bright white appearance. I–J stones offer outstanding value and appear white when set in platinum or white gold.

Clarity

Measures inclusions and blemishes. VS1–VS2 (Very Slightly Included) is the sweet spot — any inclusions are invisible to the naked eye yet the price premium over FL is significant.

Carat

Carat is a unit of weight (1ct = 0.2g), not size. Two diamonds of the same carat can look very different depending on cut. A well-cut 0.90ct often appears larger than a poorly cut 1.00ct.