Diamonds for Dhanteras and the wedding season
When to order so a ring or pair of studs is ready in time, and what tends to sell out in October and November.
What to expect at a private diamond viewing
How long it takes, what we lay out, what to bring and what you will understand by the end of an hour.
Many people who book a viewing have never bought a diamond before and are a little nervous about being sold to. Here is exactly how an hour with us goes.
When you book, we ask three things: your budget, the shape you are drawn to, and whether you want natural, lab-grown or both. Before you arrive, Paresh pulls five stones that fit, plus one slightly above budget so you can see what the difference buys. You sit at a table under daylight lamps, which show colour more honestly than the warm lights in most showrooms.
Each stone is placed on a white card next to a slip with its weight, colour, clarity and measurements. You will look at each one with your own eye first, then through a 10x loupe, which we teach you to hold close to your eye and bring the stone towards it. Most people find they cannot see the difference between VS2 and SI1 without help, which is useful to know. We then place your two favourites in a sample mount so you can see them on your hand.
Bring your ring size if you know it, or a ring that fits the right finger. For a surprise proposal, a ring borrowed from the jewellery box works; slide it onto a paper straw and mark where it stops. You are under no pressure to decide on the day. We hold a chosen stone for seven days without a deposit, and many couples come back after a weekend to think it over.
