CHOOSING A DIAMOND
For your insight, highlighted below are the qualities that will guarantee you come away with a beautiful stone.
Shapes
Brilliant
Pear
Oval
Cushion
Heart
Asscher
Emerald
Marquise
Princess
Carat
A carat is the unit of measurement for the physical weight of diamonds. One carat is equivalent to 0.2 grams and is subdivided into 100 points. Michael Thornton offers diamonds from half a carat to upwards of 10 carats.
Colour
A diamond’s highest rating is ‘D’, being colourless, and continues down to ‘Z’, with increasing presence of colour, tingeing it light yellow or brown.
Michael Thornton selects only the finest colour diamonds with which to work, from colourless ‘D to F’, and ‘G’ or ‘H’, the latter still being colourless to the naked eye.
Clarity
-
Flawless no inclusions or blemishes inside or on its surface.
-
Internally Flawless no inclusions and may possess very minute undetectable surface blemishes.
-
VVS1 to VVS2 inclusions so slight they are difficult for a skilled grader to see under 10x magnification.
-
VS1 to VS2 inclusions are observed with effort under 10x magnification.
-
SI1 & 2 inclusions visible under 10x magnification.
Michael Thornton selects only Flawless to VS2 clarity diamonds, guaranteeing that small inclusions are not visible to the naked eye.
Cut
The quality of a diamond’s angles, its proportions, symmetrical facets, brilliance and finishing details all combine to determine a diamond’s ability to sparkle.
Cost
The price of diamonds typically increases with higher carat weight, given the scarcity of larger stones. However, depending on their qualities, two diamonds of equal weight can have very different prices.
Fluorescence
Some diamonds fluoresce when they are exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light. This can cause them to emit a bluish light.
Michael Thornton does not select diamonds with fluorescence.
Certificate
The GIA (Gemmological Institute of America) is the most globally recognised diamond certification company, confirming the weight of your diamond, its colour and clarity. Additionally, the stones are graded for Cut, Polish and Symmetry, from Excellent down to Very Good, Good, Fair or Poor.
Michael Thornton selects only those diamonds with Excellent Cut, Polish and Symmetry, otherwise known as ‘Triple X’ diamonds.
Setting the diamond
Each unique piece of Michael Thornton jewellery is hand crafted here in London. Once your diamond has been selected, we can set about designing the ring. This may range from an elegant, four-claw model to a more elaborate design with shoulder stones or a diamond halo.
Delivery
From sourcing the diamond, through to design and manufacture of the ring, we estimate 4 to 6 weeks, though more complex designs may require additional time.
Please get in touch for further detail.