When you are buying a diamond you cannot hold, paperwork matters as much as the stone. Here is exactly what we supply, how to verify it, and what every marking on your jewelry means.
A Lab-Grown Diamond Is a Diamond
Lab-grown diamonds are produced by two methods — HPHT (high pressure, high temperature) and CVD (chemical vapour deposition). Both reproduce the conditions under which natural diamond forms. The result is a crystal with the same cubic lattice, the same Mohs hardness of 10, the same refractive index and the same dispersion as a mined diamond.
The trade describes them identically in every other respect: they are graded on the same 4Cs scale, by the same laboratories, and set by the same jewelers. What they are not is a simulant. Cubic zirconia and moissanite are different materials that imitate the appearance of diamond; a lab-grown diamond does not imitate anything.
Your Independent Report
Loose diamonds of 0.50 carat and above are supplied with a report from an independent laboratory, either IGI (International Gemological Institute) or GIA (Gemological Institute of America). The report is issued for the stone itself and states:
- Shape and cutting style, with a scaled diagram of the cut.
- Measurements in millimetres.
- Carat weight.
- Colour grade and clarity grade.
- Cut, polish and symmetry grades.
- Fluorescence, and a statement identifying the stone as laboratory-grown.
How to Verify a Report
- Find the report number printed at the top of the certificate, and on your authenticity card.
- Go to the report-check page at igi.org or gia.edu.
- Enter the number exactly as printed, including any leading zeros.
- Compare every figure on screen with the paper certificate — carat, colour, clarity, measurements and the diagram shape.
- Check the laser inscription described below, if your stone carries one.
If anything on the online report differs from the paper certificate, or the report number returns no result, stop and contact us before you wear the piece. We will resolve it immediately.
The Laser Inscription
Diamonds of 0.50 ct and above normally carry a microscopic laser inscription on the girdle — the thin edge around the widest part of the stone — showing the report number, and often the words LAB GROWN. It is invisible to the naked eye and can be read by any jeweler with a loupe or microscope. This is the fastest way to confirm that the certificate and the stone belong together.
Sterling Silver Markings
Every silver piece is stamped S925 or 925, indicating 92.5% pure silver. Pieces described as rhodium-plated carry a thin layer of rhodium over the silver, which gives a brighter white finish and delays tarnishing. Gold pieces are stamped with their karat mark, such as 14K or Au585.
What Arrives in Your Box
- The piece itself, in a protective jewelry pouch.
- An authenticity card stating the metal, stone type, carat weight and grade.
- The independent laboratory report, for loose stones of 0.50 ct and above.
- A polishing cloth.
- A care card with cleaning and storage instructions.
Our Grading Standard
| Attribute | Our standard | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Cut | Excellent / Very Good | Cut has more influence on sparkle than colour or clarity combined |
| Colour | D–F | Colourless; G–H available on request for a lower price |
| Clarity | VS–SI | Eye-clean at normal viewing distance |
| Polish | Excellent / Very Good | Affects surface lustre |
| Symmetry | Excellent / Very Good | Affects light return |
| Metal | 925 sterling silver, or 10K / 14K / 18K gold | Stamped, plated as described |
Every piece is checked by hand before dispatch against the specification on your order. If a stone or a setting does not meet the grade you paid for, it does not leave the workshop.
A Note on Terminology
You will see lab-grown, lab-created, lab-cultured, man-made, created and synthetic used interchangeably in the trade. They all mean the same product. We avoid synthetic because it implies an imitation, which is misleading. Whatever the label reads, the material is diamond.
Care of Your Certificate
Store the report with your invoice somewhere dry — not in the jewelry box, where it can be creased or marked. Both documents are what you will need if you ever insure the piece, resell it, or make a warranty claim.