Diamonds

English Traditional Jewellery are craftsman jewellers and diamond merchants. We can teach you about diamonds, finding the best to suit your engagement ring or special piece of jewellery.

Our policy is to only sell diamonds accompanied by a certificate of grading either from:

• The Gemmalogical Institute of America (GIA); or
• The High Council for Diamonds of Belgium (HRD)

The 4 C's - Carat, Colour, Clarity and Cut

Carat

This refers to the weight of a diamond and is calculated in carats and points. 100 points = 1 carat.

Colour

Diamonds are graded by colour using the alphabet. It is unusual that the top grade is not A, but D. This is followed through to M, below which the colour is not considered desirable.

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Clarity

Diamonds are graded by clarity or the lack of inclusions or marks inside the stone. Pure stones are called internally flawless. After this comes VS (very slight) VS1 (very slight one) VS2 (very slight two). After this SI (slight inclusions) SI1, SI2, SI3, then piqué (or pk). Only at piqué 1, would normal eyesite see internal marks in a diamond.

Cut

This can have two interpretations. It could refer to the shape of a stone, or the technical proportions which a particular shape stone is cut to.