Jewellery Buying Guide

Your Journey to the Perfect Piece: The Aspire Diamonds Buying Guide

Welcome to Aspire Diamonds. We believe that choosing a piece of fine jewellery should be an exciting and personal journey, not a confusing one. Whether you're marking a milestone, declaring your love, or simply treating yourself to something beautiful, this guide is here to help you make a confident and informed choice. Our philosophy is that an educated customer is a happy customer.

Step 1: Understanding the Diamond – The 4Cs

The heart of many of our pieces is a diamond, a symbol of strength and beauty. A diamond's quality and value are determined by four universal standards known as the 4Cs.

• Cut: Often considered the most important 'C', the cut is not about the diamond's shape (e.g., round, oval), but about its proportions, symmetry, and polish. A well-cut diamond will interact with light to create breathtaking brilliance (brightness), fire (flashes of colour), and scintillation (sparkle). An excellent cut can make a diamond appear larger and more vibrant.

• Colour: A diamond's colour is graded on a scale from D (colourless) to Z (light yellow or brown). The less colour a diamond has, the rarer and more valuable it is. For a classic, icy-white appearance, we recommend diamonds in the D-G range. However, a hint of warmth in the H-J range can be beautiful, especially in yellow or rose gold settings.

• Clarity: Diamonds are formed under immense heat and pressure, and as a result, they often contain tiny internal characteristics called 'inclusions' and external blemishes. The clarity grade measures how free a diamond is from these imperfections. Grades range from Flawless (FL) to Included (I). Many inclusions are microscopic and do not affect the diamond's beauty to the naked eye, offering excellent value.

• Carat: Carat is a measure of a diamond's weight, not its size. One carat equals 0.2 grams. While carat weight significantly impacts price, it's crucial to balance it with the other Cs. A beautifully cut diamond with a lower carat weight can appear more brilliant and larger than a poorly cut diamond of a higher weight.

Step 2: Choosing Your Precious Metal

The metal you choose sets the tone for your entire piece. Each has its own unique character and benefits.

• Platinum: The rarest and most durable choice. Platinum is naturally hypoallergenic and has a cool, silvery-white lustre that will never fade or change colour. Its density makes it feel substantial and provides an incredibly secure setting for diamonds.
• Gold: A timeless and versatile classic. Gold is measured in karats (k), which indicates its purity.
  • 18k Gold: Consists of 75% pure gold, offering a rich colour and excellent durability.
  • 9k Gold: Consists of 37.5% pure gold, providing a more affordable and very durable option for everyday wear.
• Gold Colours:
  • Yellow Gold: The traditional, warm choice that offers a beautiful contrast with sparkling diamonds.
  • White Gold: A modern and popular alternative to platinum. It is created by alloying yellow gold with white metals and is typically coated in rhodium for a bright, reflective finish.
  • Rose Gold: A romantic and unique option, created by adding copper to the gold alloy, which gives it its signature warm, pinkish hue.

Step 3: Finding the Perfect Fit – Your Ring Size

Ensuring your ring fits perfectly is essential for comfort and security. Here are a few ways to find your size:

• Use Our Professional Sizer: The most accurate way is to use a professional ring sizer. Contact us, and we can guide you on how to get one.
• The String or Paper Method (At-Home Guide):
  1. Wrap a piece of non-stretchy string or a thin strip of paper snugly around the base of the intended finger.
  2. Mark the point where the end overlaps with a pen.
  3. Unwind the string or paper and measure the length in millimetres (mm) with a ruler.
  4. Use our international ring size conversion chart on our website or contact us with the measurement, and we can determine your UK ring size.

Top Tip: Your fingers can swell in warm weather and shrink when cold. For the most accurate measurement, measure your finger at the end of the day when it's at its largest.

Step 4: Selecting Your Jewellery Style

From timeless solitaires to meaningful bands, understanding the different styles can help you find the piece that tells your story.

• Engagement Rings: Traditionally given at a proposal, the engagement ring is typically the most elaborate of the rings, often featuring a central diamond or gemstone. Popular styles include the classic Solitaire, the sparkling Halo, and the symbolic Three-Stone ring.
• Wedding Rings: Exchanged during the wedding ceremony, a wedding band is a symbol of your vows. It can be a simple, plain metal band or a diamond-set band designed to complement the engagement ring.
• Eternity Rings: Often given to mark a significant anniversary or the birth of a child, an eternity ring features a continuous line of diamonds around the band, symbolizing never-ending love. They can be full-eternity (diamonds all the way around) or half-eternity (diamonds on the top half).

A Note on Our Diamonds: Lab-Grown & Mined

We are proud to offer both mined and lab-grown diamonds to suit your preferences and values.

• Mined Diamonds: These are the traditional choice, formed over billions of years deep within the Earth. They are marvels of nature, each with a unique story of its creation.
• Lab-Grown Diamonds: These are real diamonds, not imitations. They have the exact same chemical, physical, and optical properties as mined diamonds. Created using advanced technology that replicates the natural diamond-growing process, they offer exceptional value and are a highly sustainable and ethical choice.

Ultimately, the choice is yours. Both are beautiful, durable, and certified for their quality.

Your Journey Starts Here

We hope this guide has been helpful. Remember, there are no wrong answers—only what feels right for you. If you have any questions at all, our expert team is always here to help.