The classic round cut, with 57 facets arranged for maximum sparkle. By far the most popular choice for engagement rings.
An oval outline with brilliant faceting, so it sparkles intensely. Its length flatters the finger, and it looks generous for its carat weight.
A square cut with sharp corners and crisp, modern sparkle. Best held by claws that protect its points.
A square or slightly rectangular cut with softly rounded corners and larger facets, giving a romantic, vintage glow.
A square step cut with cropped corners. Its stepped facets create a hall-of-mirrors effect with an Art Deco feel.
A rectangular step cut with cropped corners. Long, clean facets favour clarity over sparkle for a calm, elegant look.
A brilliant cut shaped as a heart. Symmetry matters most, so the two lobes should be evenly matched.
A long, boat-shaped brilliant with pointed ends. It makes the most of its carat weight and lengthens the finger.
A teardrop, rounded at one end and pointed at the other. Worn with the point towards the fingertip, it elongates the hand.
A rectangular cut with cropped corners and brilliant faceting, combining clean, structured lines with lively sparkle.
A slim rectangular step cut, most often used as side stones or set in a row for clean, sleek lines.
The piece combines stones of more than one cut in a single design.
A square cut with cropped corners and brilliant faceting, for crisp lines and lively sparkle.
A square step cut with cropped corners. Long, clean facets give a calm, mirror-like look rather than sparkle.
A square outline, cut either as a step cut or a brilliant.
A rectangular outline, usually step cut to show off the colour of the stone.
An antique round cut from around 1890 to 1930, with a small table, a high crown and broad facets that give a soft, flashy sparkle.
An antique cut from the 1700s and 1800s with a softly squared outline and rounded corners, cut by hand. Deep, with broad facets and plenty of character.
An antique cut with a flat base and a domed top covered in triangular facets. It glows softly rather than flashing.
A semicircle. Almost always used as a matched pair of side stones, one either side of a centre stone.
A four-sided cut shaped like a kite, longer at one end. Striking as a centre stone or as side stones.
An elongated rhombus with pointed ends, much loved in vintage and Art Deco designs.
A shield outline with a flat top and a pointed base, mostly used as side stones.
A four-sided cut, wider at one end, used as side stones to frame a centre stone.
A slim rectangular step cut that narrows at one end, designed to sit either side of a centre stone.
A long, narrow cut with one pointed end. Usually used as side stones.
A five-sided cut shaped a little like a calf's head, mainly used as side stones.
A three-sided cut. Bold on its own, and often used in pairs as side stones.
A triangular brilliant with gently curved sides, cut for sparkle rather than clean lines.
A five-sided cut. Unusual and architectural.
A six-sided cut, usually step cut. A geometric, contemporary choice.
A seven-sided cut. Rare and distinctive.
An eight-sided outline, often step cut, with an Art Deco character.
A teardrop covered entirely in triangular facets, with no flat top. Mostly used in earrings and pendants.
A cut with a star-shaped outline. A rare and playful choice.
A single centre stone on a simple band. Timeless, and it lets the stone speak for itself.
The centre stone is surrounded by a ring of small diamonds, adding sparkle and making it look larger.
Two rings of small diamonds around the centre stone, for the most presence on the hand.
A ring of small diamonds set just beneath the centre stone. You see it from the side, not from above.
Three stones side by side, often said to represent your past, present and future together.
Several stones of similar importance set together, rather than one centre stone.
French for "you and me". Two stones set side by side, often of different shapes or colours.
Plain metal shoulders, keeping all the attention on the centre stone.
The shoulders, the part of the band either side of the centre stone, are set with diamonds along their length.
A few small diamonds in the shoulders add a touch of sparkle without competing with the centre stone.
Tiny diamonds set closely along the shoulders, held by small beads of metal, so the band looks paved with sparkle.
Diamonds sit in a row between two walls of metal along the shoulders. Smooth to the touch and very secure.
The shoulders curve or twist towards the centre stone for a softer, flowing shape.
The band divides into two strands as it meets the centre stone, giving an open, airy look.
Each stone is held by small metal claws, letting in the most light for the most sparkle.
Very fine claws, so the metal almost disappears and the stones read as one continuous line.
Stones held by small claws with V-shaped cuts in the metal beside them, showing more of each stone.
Stones held by tiny beads of metal raised from the band itself. Delicate and low profile.
Small stones set close together and held by tiny beads of metal, for a surface covered in sparkle.
Stones sit in a row between two walls of metal. Smooth to the touch and very secure.
Each stone is held between thin bars of metal, leaving the sides open to the light.
A smooth rim of metal wraps around the edge of each stone. Very secure and practical for everyday wear.
Stones set edge to edge with no metal showing between them, held by grooves hidden underneath.
The stone looks as if it is held by the pressure of the band alone, almost floating.
Stones set into a polished metal plate that reflects light, making them look larger.
Stones set all the way round the band. The most sparkle, but it cannot easily be resized, so getting the size right matters.
Stones across the top half of the band only. Comfortable for everyday wear, and it can be resized later.
Rounded on the outside and the inside. The classic wedding ring shape, and the most comfortable for everyday wear.
Gently rounded on the outside and the inside, giving a soft, slim-looking band that is comfortable to wear.
Flat on the outside and the inside, with squared edges. Clean and contemporary.
Flat on the outside and rounded on the inside, so it looks modern and feels comfortable on the finger.
Rounded inside and out, with crisp, defined edges along each side.
Flat on top with defined edges, and a rounded comfort fit on the inside.
Rounded on the outside and flat on the inside. A traditional profile with a lighter feel.
The outside curves gently inwards, catching the light along both edges.
Shaped to sit neatly against an engagement ring, so the two can be worn together.
A slimmer, lighter band. Ideal if you prefer a delicate ring.
A balance of comfort and substance that suits most people.
A more substantial band with a reassuring feel on the hand.
The most metal and the most solid feel. Built for a lifetime of daily wear.
Flawless. No inclusions or surface marks visible under 10x magnification. Extremely rare.
Internally Flawless. No inclusions under 10x magnification, only the faintest surface marks.
Very, very slightly included. Tiny inclusions that are extremely difficult for a trained grader to find under 10x magnification. Invisible to the eye.
Very, very slightly included. Tiny inclusions that are very difficult for a trained grader to find under 10x magnification. Invisible to the eye.
Very slightly included. Minor inclusions that are difficult to see under 10x magnification and invisible to the naked eye.
Very slightly included. Minor inclusions that are fairly easy to see under 10x magnification, and normally invisible to the naked eye.
Slightly included. Inclusions are noticeable under 10x magnification, but the stone is often clean to the naked eye.
Slightly included. Inclusions are easy to see under 10x magnification and may be visible to the naked eye on close inspection.
Included. Inclusions are visible to the naked eye and can slightly affect sparkle.
Included. Obvious inclusions, visible to the naked eye, that affect sparkle.
Included. Prominent inclusions, clearly visible to the naked eye, that affect sparkle and can affect durability.
No inclusions visible to the naked eye at a normal viewing distance.
Small inclusions you may notice on close inspection. Usual for many coloured gemstones.
Inclusions visible to the eye. Common and accepted in some gems, such as emerald.
Colourless. The highest colour grade a diamond can receive: icy and bright.
Colourless. Exceptionally white, with no colour visible to the eye.
Colourless. Bright and white, with no colour visible to the eye.
Near colourless. Faces up white, especially in platinum or white gold.
Near colourless. A very faint warmth that is rarely noticeable once the stone is set.
Near colourless. A slight warmth that looks lovely in yellow or rose gold.
Near colourless. Gentle warmth, more noticeable in larger stones. Beautiful in yellow gold.
A light brown diamond with a soft, warm tone.
A deeper, richer brown diamond, named after the colour of cognac.
A rare natural diamond that temporarily changes colour, usually from olive green towards yellow, when warmed or kept in the dark.
Formed deep in the earth over millions, often billions, of years, then mined.
A real diamond, grown in a laboratory rather than mined. Chemically, physically and optically it is diamond in every way.
Gemological Institute of America. The world's most respected grading laboratory, and the benchmark for natural diamonds.
International Gemological Institute. One of the largest grading laboratories, and the leading grader of lab-grown diamonds.
HRD Antwerp. A well-respected European diamond grading laboratory based in Belgium.
GemResearch Swisslab. A leading Swiss laboratory for coloured gemstones, known for its origin reports.
American Gemological Laboratories, New York. Specialists in coloured gemstone reports.
Lotus Gemology, Bangkok. Highly regarded for ruby, sapphire and spinel.
Asian Institute of Gemological Sciences, Bangkok. A long-established coloured gemstone laboratory.
A flexible line of diamonds set all the way round the wrist.
A single, flexible line of stones, usually of matching size.
A rigid, rounded bracelet that slips over the hand.
A rigid bracelet with an opening, slipped on from the side of the wrist.
A flexible chain of linked metal, sometimes set with stones.
A chain designed to carry charms, which can be added over time.
