Frequently Asked Questions
How much should I spend on an engagement ring?
Yes, a diamond engagement ring does symbolize everlasting love and a lifetime commitment. But that doesn't mean you have to spend a
lifetime paying for it! What to spend is completely up to you and only you know what makes sense for your particular situation.
Fortunately, diamonds are available in a wide range of qualities, sizes, and prices - and each diamond or gemstone is unique -
so you're bound to find one you'll both love at a cost you are comfortable with.
What diamond shapes are available?
Although diamond cutters frequently create new shapes to accommodate unusual rough crystals, the most
common diamond shapes used for diamond jewelry are round, pear, heart, marquise,
oval, emerald and princess cuts. There are other gemstone shapes used as side or accent stones in jewelry, such as baguette,
tapered baguette and trillion.
Do you sell Loose Diamonds and Gemstones too?
YES. We offer a comprehensive bespoke service, so apart from handcrafting everything it also means we source LOOSE DIAMONDS and
GEMSTONES to order too. So do contact us because its all part of the service! We can even set your stone in
our "Proposal Ring" for FREE.
Can I use some diamonds and gemstones that I have inherited or bought myself?
Carrying on a family tradition with jewellery is one reason that jewellery is so sentimental. At Daniel Prince we
are experts at custom jewellery and we can advise you on the use of your diamonds and gemstones. Technology has improved
vastly over the years so modern diamonds will always be more brilliant than old cut diamonds and gemstones.
Can you use stones that I have sourced myself?
Yes we have done this on numerous occasions for our customers and we decide whether we can use particular stones on a case-by-case basis.
If you can be sure that you are confident that the stone you have bought is suitable for setting in jewellery (e.g. no
flaws appear near the girdle or the corners). Please bear in mind that we do charge more for our handmade jewellery when
providing your own stones (our handmade ring prices include a 30% discount so if you supply your own stone you will not be
eligible for this discount).
DISCLAIMER:
As your own item has been made or obtained from elsewhere, we cannot guarantee its nature, including its quality, authenticity, material or construction. Therefore we accept no responsibility for any damage caused, owing to the item’s unknown nature
If a diamond is certifed can its quality be assured?DISCLAIMER:
As your own item has been made or obtained from elsewhere, we cannot guarantee its nature, including its quality, authenticity, material or construction. Therefore we accept no responsibility for any damage caused, owing to the item’s unknown nature
If the world were perfect we would all adopt the highest standards and stand by them. Unfortunately this world isn't
perfect and discrepancies do occur between diamond grading bodies. Just because a diamond comes with a certificate does
not guarantee its quality. Within the jewellery industry it is widely accepted that some diamond grading labs have higher
standards than others and even the best labs will still grade a "dog" of a diamond. Having a certificate with a
diamond helps determine its credentials but backing that up with informed knowledge from a professional helps give you peace of mind
Why are you more expensive than Blue Nile?
I’m afraid that most online diamond stores give an unrealistic or false expectation. Pure internet based “jewellery stores”
like Blue Nile sell their diamonds barely above trade price, and their rings etc are usually cheap imports from China and India
or mass-produced casts. Its easy to look at their price and expect to get something similar from a company like ours in the UK,
but you’re dealing with vastly different business models, selling vastly different quality products. Its like comparing the price
of an egg at Asda with the price of an Omelette at a top London restaurant. Diamond merchants may deal in the ingredients, but real
jewellers are the chefs!
Which diamond shape offers the best sparkle?
Because a round diamond is symmetrical, it reflects nearly all light that enters it. The round brilliant cut has been mathematically
researched to produce the maximum brilliance - liveliness or sparkle and fire - variety and intensity of rainbow colours - from the
diamond's natural properties.
What is a facet?
A facet is a flat face or plane that has been cut and polished on a gemstone. Facets are placed at varying angles to one another.
The placement, angle and shape of the facets are carefully planned and executed to maximize the stone's inherent fire, colour and
brilliance.
What are inclusions?
Inclusions are the tiny "birthmarks" inside the stone that make every diamond unique. They refer to any mineral or crystal
trapped within the diamond crystal at the time it is being formed deep within the earth.
Do inclusions and colour affect sparkle?
Only to a degree. Sparkle relates to the diamond's brilliance - the intensity of the white light reflected back to the eye when you
look down into a diamond. It is really the cut and proportioning of the stone that determines its sparkle. In some instances, a
small white or black inclusion could be reflected within the stone.
Which quality characteristic affects the price of a diamond the most?
The diamond 4Cs of Colour, Clarity, Cut and Carat can be considered independently or collectively. We suggest you
consider the value of a diamond based on all four characteristics, but also take into account which feature is most
important to you as the buyer.
Where do most diamonds come from?
For the last 150 years, most diamonds have come from Africa. The South African diamond output was unrivaled until
1954 when major deposits were found in Siberia. The biggest diamond discovery in history occurred in 1966 when South
Africa's massive diamond deposits along the Orange River were discovered. Currently, Western Canada is the site of the
world's newest diamond rush. Diamond deposits also can be found in Africa, the United States, Australia and China.
Why are diamonds so rare and expensive?
When mining diamonds, it takes approximately 23 tons of blueground - the earth in which diamonds are formed - to yield
5 carats of rough diamond material. Furthermore, only 20% of any diamonds recovered are gem quality, while the remaining
80% are suitable only for industrial purposes.
Can you scratch a diamond?
Yes, but only with another diamond. The diamond is the hardest substance known to man and is almost
100 times more resistant to scratching than the next hardest material.
If I hit my diamond will it crack or break?
It very well could. Even though the diamond is the hardest substance known to man, it can still be damaged if struck
hard and against the grain. Think of the diamond's crystal structure as similar to the grain of wood. There are growth
lines as well as a "hard" and a "soft" direction. A blow against the grain of a diamond can cause
it to crack, chip, split or even shatter. In fact, diamond cutters determine how to cut a stone based on their
understanding of the rough crystal's structure and growth lines.
If I get something made and I don't like it what can I do?
The benefit of dealing with an experienced and trusted jeweller is that we have your best interests at heart.
At Daniel Prince we are committed to our customers being 100% happy with their purchase and therefore we are
prepared to move heaven and earth to achieve this. We will make all reasonable alterations to your jewellery
until you are entirely satisfied.
Is a diamond a good investment?
Diamonds, at least those worn as engagement rings or other jewellery, should be viewed as an investment in romance
alone. While diamonds are incredibly rare, they are at the mercy of the laws of supply and demand. Rarity does come
into play regarding price, but buying a diamond is not like purchasing stock. Historically, diamond prices have not
fluctuated greatly from one year to the next. That could change, however, if diamonds become more or less abundant over time.
Are you a real jeweller or just an online retailer?
We are a real full service jewellery company and one of the only companies in Britain
specialising in entirely in traditional handmade techniques. Established in 2003 by our founder
Daniel Prince; and bringing together skilled craftsmen with years of experience at some of the
world's most prestigious jewellers, Daniel Prince of London have the technical ability and network
of global contacts to meet all your jewellery needs and to provide the highest quality workmanship,
honesty and integrity you can trust.
Are you cheaper than the high street?
The short answer to this is No. We handcraft all our pieces to order and you should not simply compare our prices with
"Blue Nile" type online jewellers any more than you should compare the prices of a tailor in Saville Row with Marks &
Spencer. If you are looking to get the cheapest quote possible, you will be disappointed. However if you appreciate
the difference in quality only attainable by traditional handmade techniques then we do compare very favourably with
the High-End jewellers of Bond Street and we would be delighted to assist you.
Some diamond prices seem far cheaper than others. Why is this?
There are many factors that determine the price of a diamond. Most people judge a diamond by its size, colour
and clarity, but these are only three criteria of many that will effect on price. The way a diamond
is cut can represent as much as 50% of the total price.
Other factors like fluorescence can make the diamond appear milky.
Some merchants drill and fill diamonds with synthetic material. It is important therefore that you trust your
jeweller will know about and disclose these details. If you have a quote for what appears to be an identical
diamond that seems well below all the others then beware! As with
most things in life, if it seems too good to be true it usually is.
Can I purchase online?
You cannot purchase online from our website because we do not sell readymade jewellery. Each and
every single piece we sell is a unique one-off, designed and handmade especially for each client.
That means its personalised, and that means the price is only established once we agree on a specification and design.
Do you use CAD software and Rapid prototypes
NO. Everything is made by hand not a machine. We make it very clear throughout the website that we
are unique in the sense that we make everything in a traditional manner by hand. It is more expensive
to make things this way, but we can still compete with the high end jewellers of Bond Street. If you
are looking for us to make something cheaper than another jeweller that uses cad and casting then you
will be disappointed. We make high quality pieces only for discerning buyers, and that means NO CAD, NO CASTING. sorry!
Do you ship to International destinations?
YES. We only get to meet around 10% of our clients face-to-face so we are used to dealing with clients
over email or phone. We will give you as much information as possible so that you feel comfortable about
making an informed decision before confirming an order with us.
Can I reclaim TAX?
YES. If you purchase from us in the UK and you are planning on travelling back to a non-EU country, we can
provide you with the necessary forms to enable to you reclaim the VAT (currently 20%) at the airport. Ask for details!
What about diamonds on the Internet?
True beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Diamonds that may seem to have good credentials can still
appear glassy and dull if their cut is flawed.
The tiniest variation in the dimensions or angle of a facet can be so important to the way a
diamond sparkles. Remember, there are so many different factors that determine the value of a
diamond that simply shopping by carat, colour and clarity alone is not enough to ensure an truely
informed decision. A responsible jeweller with diamond grading skills will take all the criteria
into account before presenting you with a diamond to view, as well as providing the long term service
to back it up. Can you be sure that an internet-only seller would do the same?
