Diamonds

Romantic History of Diamonds

The ancient word for diamond was 'adamant', coming from the Greek 'Adamas', meaning unconquerable. Until the 15th century diamonds were worn mainly by kings as a symbol of strength, courage and invincibility.

But the Greeks also believed that the fire within a diamond reflected the constant flame of love.

The stone's association with romance and legend has grown over the centuries. In 1477 when Archduke Maximillian of Austria gave a diamond ring to Mary of Burgundy, the tradition of diamond engagement rings was born.

Diamond Buying Advice

Although size is the most obvious factor in determining the value of a diamond, we have seen that it is only one of the 4Cs. By taking your budget as a starting point, it is up to you to balance which of these four principle criteria are of greater or lesser importance. The order in which you rank them is purely a matter for individual preference.

It is worth considering, for example, your recipient's style, before automatically opting for the largest stone available to your budget. Consider the size of her hand and the shape of her fingers, and ask friends or family for their advice. You can of course ask one of our customer service advisers, who will be delighted to help.
For many people size is the most important consideration and so they will buy the largest diamond they can afford. Others may feel more strongly about quality, and so are prepared to sacrifice some size so as to afford a stone of exceptional colour and clarity.