Melbourne CBD
Melbourne showroom
257 Collins Street, Level 3Melbourne VIC 3000
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Arrange your visitDiamond Education — Everything you need to make a confident choice
A diamond is a graded product. The four standard quality metrics — colour, clarity, cut, and carat — combine to determine how a stone looks in the hand and what it costs. Below: the 4Cs explained, every shape we sell with its trade-offs, and specialty topics covering lab-grown diamonds, our custom ring process, and the insurance valuations we issue at our Frankston workshop.
The 4Cs
Diamond Colour
The D-to-Z grading scale and how apparent colour varies with the stone, setting and lighting.
Diamond Clarity
The FL-to-I3 scale, what "eye-clean" really means, and how shape changes the calculation.
Diamond Cut
Why cut grade outranks the other three Cs at the same budget — light return, fire, and scintillation.
Diamond Carat
Weight vs size, the carat-to-millimetre chart, and why prices jump at the magic weights.
| C | What it measures | Rule of thumb |
|---|---|---|
| Cut | How well the proportions return light — sparkle, fire, brilliance | Prioritise first; Excellent is the floor for rounds |
| Colour | How close to colourless, graded D to Z | Compare apparent colour in the individual stone and setting |
| Clarity | Internal inclusions and surface blemishes, FL to I3 | Buy "eye-clean", not the certificate — VS2/SI1 usually is |
| Carat | Weight — 1 ct = 0.2 g; size follows from cut proportions | Buy just under the magic weights (0.90 vs 1.00 ct) |
Choosing a shape
Cushion Buying Guide
Soft squares and antique fire — modern brilliant facets in a rounded outline.
Emerald Buying Guide
Step cuts, hall-of-mirrors effect, and why clarity matters more than carat.
Radiant Cut Buying Guide
Brilliant-style sparkle in a rectangular outline — the trade-off between fire and face-up size.
Asscher Buying Guide
Square step cut, Art Deco signature, and the windmill-pattern check that separates good from great.
Princess Cut Buying Guide
Square brilliant — sharp corners, modern look, and the chip-risk question every princess buyer asks.
Heart Cut Buying Guide
The most symmetry-dependent shape — when the cleft, lobes, and point sit right, nothing else looks like it.
Oval Buying Guide
Elongated brilliance, finger-lengthening on the hand, and the bow-tie effect to watch for.
Pear Buying Guide
Half round, half marquise — a teardrop that wears as a solitaire or as a halo piece.
Marquise Buying Guide
Elongated football outline, exceptional face-up size per carat, and bow-tie management.
Not sure which shape?
Not sure which shape? See all ten next to each other on brilliance, look-per-carat, durability, and price band.
Specialty topics
How Much Does a Diamond Cost?
Natural and lab-grown prices by shape and carat, from the diamonds we sell — updated every night, plus what your budget buys.
Lab-Grown Diamonds
Identical chemistry, identical optical properties, different price point. How to choose between lab and natural.
The Journey of a Custom Ring
From CAD design at our Frankston workshop, through casting by a specialist casting house, to hand-finishing and stone-setting back at our bench.
Appraisal & Insurance Valuations
Insurance-grade appraisals at our Frankston workshop — signed by Chris with GIA credentials.