Natural Diamonds

Q Which of the 4Cs matters most for a diamond's appearance?

Cut is widely considered the most important factor for visual brilliance — a well-cut diamond with a slightly lower colour or clarity grade will often look better and sparkle more than a poorly cut diamond with "perfect" grades on paper.

Q What's the best clarity grade for value?

VS1 to SI1 clarity typically offers the best balance — these grades are generally "eye-clean" (inclusions invisible without magnification) without the substantial price premium of Flawless or Internally Flawless grades.

Q What color grade should I choose for a white diamond?

G to J color grades are the most commonly used in fine jewellery — differences from D (colorless) become difficult to see with the naked eye in this range, while pricing drops meaningfully as you move down the color scale.

Q Why is a 1-carat diamond so much more expensive than a 0.90-carat diamond?

Diamond pricing jumps sharply at popular round-number weight thresholds (like 1.00ct, 1.50ct, 2.00ct) due to buyer demand clustering at those marks — a phenomenon sometimes referred to as the "carat premium."

Q What is diamond fluorescence, and does it matter?

Fluorescence is a soft glow some diamonds emit under UV light, rated from None to Very Strong. Faint-to-medium fluorescence is generally not visible in normal lighting and often comes with a modest price discount, making it a detail worth understanding rather than automatically avoiding.

Q What's the difference between a natural and a lab-grown diamond?

Both are chemically, physically, and optically identical — genuine diamond. The only difference is formation: natural diamonds form underground over billions of years, while lab-grown diamonds are created in a controlled lab environment over a period of weeks, typically at a significantly lower price.

Q Can a jeweller tell a natural diamond from a lab-grown one just by looking at it?

No — the two are visually and gemologically identical to standard testing tools. Distinguishing them requires specialized laboratory equipment that detects specific growth characteristics, which is exactly why certified grading reports matter.

Q Is moissanite a type of diamond?

No — moissanite is a distinct mineral (silicon carbide) that resembles a diamond in brilliance but has a different chemical composition, different refractive properties, and a considerably lower price point. It's a diamond simulant, not a diamond.

Q Do natural diamonds hold resale value better than lab-grown diamonds?

Historically, natural diamonds have held resale value somewhat better, largely due to established secondary markets and finite supply; lab-grown diamond prices have also been declining as production scales up. Neither category should be treated as a strong financial investment for resale purposes.

Q Do I need a certificate to buy a natural diamond?

For any purchase of meaningful value, yes — an independent certificate from a lab like GIA, IGI, or AGS confirms the stone's actual grading and authenticity, rather than relying solely on a seller's own claims.

Q What is a conflict-free or "blood diamond"-free diamond?

A conflict-free diamond is one verified not to have been mined in a war zone or sold to fund armed conflict, typically confirmed through Kimberley Process certification or a signed dealer warranty statement.

Q What is the Kimberley Process?

It's an international certification scheme established to prevent conflict diamonds from entering the legitimate global diamond trade, requiring participating countries to certify shipments of rough diamonds as conflict-free.

Q What's the difference between GIA and IGI certification?

Both are respected independent labs, but GIA is generally regarded as the strictest and most globally trusted standard, particularly for larger stones, while IGI is very widely used and especially common for smaller and mid-size diamonds.

Q What's the difference between melee diamonds and a center stone?

Melee diamonds are small stones (generally under 0.18 carats) used for pavé and accent work, usually sold in bulk parcels by total carat weight. Center or solitaire stones are larger individual diamonds purchased and certified one at a time.

Q How is diamond wholesale pricing typically benchmarked?

Much of the global trade references the Rapaport Diamond Report, a widely used price list that serves as a baseline, with individual dealer prices set at a discount or premium to that benchmark depending on the specific stone's characteristics and market conditions.

Q Can I buy matched pairs of diamonds for earrings?

Yes — dealers commonly offer matched pairs or sets, selected specifically for close similarity in size, colour, and clarity, which is important for symmetrical settings like stud or drop earrings.

Q Will Jewelslly charge a commission on natural diamond purchases once suppliers are listed?

No — Jewelslly operates as a commission-free discovery platform across all categories. Buyers connect and transact directly with manufacturers and dealers at their listed price, with no added platform fee.