Cut
How well the stone is proportioned and finished, and the only C that creates sparkle. This is where Andrea tells clients not to compromise: a well-cut smaller stone outshines a poorly cut larger one, every time.
Diamond & gemstone guide
Know what you're looking at.
You do not need to become a gemologist to buy a diamond; you need one on your side of the counter. This is the short version of what Andrea walks every client through, so the consultation starts further ahead.
Every stone sold here is examined and explained by a GIA Graduate Gemologist before you commit to it.
The 4Cs
Four letters, one budget.
Color
Graded from D (colorless) down the alphabet. On a hand, in real light, several grades are indistinguishable, and the metal you choose changes what you see. Paying for a letter nobody can perceive is the most common mistake we prevent.
Clarity
Internal characteristics, graded under 10x magnification. The question that matters is simpler: is it clean to your eye? Many stones with modest clarity grades are, and cost dramatically less.
Carat
Weight, not size. Two stones of equal weight can face up differently depending on cut. Decide the three Cs above first, then buy the weight the remaining budget affords honestly.
Shapes
Read Diamond Shapes 101
Shape is not the same as cut.
Round, oval, pear, emerald, radiant, cushion: these are shapes, the outline of the stone. Cut is the quality of its proportions. People use the words interchangeably, and the confusion costs money.
Shape is taste, and taste is personal: it changes how a stone carries weight, how long it makes a finger look, and how much it costs per carat. Rounds command a premium; fancy shapes often deliver more visual size for the money.
Lab & natural
Two honest options, one honest answer.
Lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds: same crystal, same sparkle, graded on the same scales, at a fraction of the price. Natural diamonds carry rarity and hold sentiment differently. Neither is the wrong choice; they are different purchases, and we have made beautiful rings with both. Many of our bridal sets, including client favorites you will find in our reviews, are lab diamonds by the client's own preference.
What Andrea will not do is let the label decide for you. Bring your budget and your priorities, look at real stones side by side, and choose with your eyes open.
Colored stones
See colored stones in the gallery
Sapphires, emeralds, and the rare ones.
Colored gemstones play by different rules: color quality outranks everything, treatments matter, and certificates tell only part of the story. This is where a trained eye earns its keep. We have sourced everything from classic Ceylon sapphires to a rare Trapiche emerald for clients who wanted something nobody else would have.
The best education is an hour with real stones. Start yours.
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