Diamonds & Gemstone Information

 

Picking an engagement ring style can be overwhelming and so can settling on the star of the show, the centre stone. Here is some information about the different stone types on our website that may be helpful.

Important note - Some of these stones you will not see as an option on the product listing of the website due to the wide variation of size and pricing. So, if there is a stone you have your heart set on but you don’t see it in this list or on our website, contact us here and we can quote you directly.

 MOISSANITE

Moissanite is very similar to a natural diamond but with some added features. Moissanite naturally has more fire dispersion and brilliance than most natural diamonds. It also has a hardness rating of 9.25 on the MOHS scale which make them an excellent, hard wearing alternative to diamonds. 

Did I forget to mention at a fraction of the cost also??? While Natural Diamonds come with a hefty price tag... Moissanite is a great, affordable comparison for those who want that white diamond look but don't want to burn a hole in their pockets. 

Traditionally we use carat as the unit of measurement for a diamond's weight. Moissanite is not measured in carats because it weighs approximately 10 percent less than diamond. For example, a 6.5mm round diamond would weigh 1.0ct, while a 6.5mm round moissanite would weigh 0.88ct. The two stones would be the same size - 6.5mm in diameter. For this reason, all moissanites for sale are listed on our website with their size in millimetres.

The ECO-FRIENDLY aspect of Moissanite is so important to our business along with educating our customers and recognising growing consumer consciousness around large scale diamond mining. Windfall Jewellery is so proud to offer an alternative as part of our range.

Moissanite's are grown in a carefully controlled laboratory setting. The lab we use have 18 years of experience and high quality control standards.

 

LAB GROWN DIAMONDS VS NATURAL WHITE DIAMONDS

 

If going down the path of a diamonds, you may ask yourself why you would get a lab grown over a natural diamond or vice versa. It is a good thing to contemplate and the final decision will really be based on your budget and what is important to you. There is no right or wrong answer there. Different strokes for different folks as they say.

You may consider lab grown diamonds if you would prefer them for ethical reasons (Even though we of course only use conflict free, ethically sourced diamonds, some clients do not want to contribute money towards the mining industry as a whole), personal preference or your budget extends past moissanite and you want a “real” diamond but again wish to keep the cost down as much as possible. 

You may consider natural diamonds because let’s face it, they are beautiful and having a little piece of mother nature of your own, knowing this stunning rock was created all by the wonders of the Earth and Mother Nature herself is rather enchanting. Some people also don’t like that lab grown diamonds don’t have the natural energy within them that natural earth made stones have. And finally, lab grown diamonds aren’t far off the price of naturals in many instances, you may just decide, why not the real natural deal.

 

LAB GROWN vs NATURAL SIDE BY SIDE

 

SALT AND PEPPER DIAMONDS

 

I mean who doesn’t want a little galaxy inside their diamond?!

Salt and Pepper diamonds are not graded like your regular white diamonds so as such they do not come with any kind of certification. This is because the diamond industry does not grade Salt and Pepper diamonds the same way they do with white diamonds and the 4 C’s that usually apply (colour, clarity, cut and carat) don’t apply / aren’t graded for salt and pepper diamonds. If you wish to have a certification done, you must let us know at point of purchase as this needs to be done whilst the stone is loose and not set into a ring and we can arrange for this to be done independently by a qualified and accredited gemologist at your own expense. This will provide a gem stone certification that basically just confirms it is a salt and pepper diamond but still will not have the same grading information a standard diamond certificate would include as it doesn't apply to salt and pepper diamonds.

One thing to note about Salt and Pepper diamonds is despite their mysterious beauty, they don’t have as much sparkle and fire as their white diamond cousins as not as much light can pass through the stone. If you are wanting to feature a salt and pepper diamond AND have lots of sparkle, you may consider a rose cut salt and pepper diamond which has more facets on the face of the stone for light to bounce off, or you can pair the salt and pepper diamond with white diamond accent stones either in a halo around the stone, or down the ring band to add that extra zazz and sparkle.

Another thing to note about salt and pepper diamonds is due to being heavily naturally included, these inclusions can show at surface level when the stones are cut and faceted. This means on a usually flat smooth faceted side of the stone, sometimes there can be a “chip” or cavity as when the stone is polished this would have naturally been within the surface. Not all salt and pepper diamonds have these but if they do, we will of course alert you that the stone has this inclusion so you are fully aware before purchasing the stone. This is part of the rawness, imperfection and beauty of salt and pepper diamonds.

 

 

PARTII AND SINGLE COLOURED SAPPHIRES

 

Another of our best selling and most coveted stones is the Partii Sapphire. The term Partii means more than one colour. It’s usually the presence of two colours within the one stone but sometimes even extends to three, part blue, part green, part yellow; hence Partii! Most of the Partii sapphires we use are blue/green or green/yellow and are usually of Australian or Madagascar origin. The difference between the Australia and Madagascar partii sapphires is the naturally occurring shades of blue and green. 

If you are after a coloured stone in your engagement ring we highly recommend sapphire as your choice if available in the colour you desire as they are most durable and hard wearing of all coloured stones.

BLACK DIAMONDS

 

Black diamonds have become a popular choice for those seeking an unconventional engagement ring.

Black diamonds are not graded like colourless diamonds. Instead they are graded based upon qualities which are used to grade fancy colour diamonds or coloured gemstones such as size, quality of the cut, symmetry etc. If you wish to have a certification done, you must let us know at point of purchase as this needs to be done whilst the stone is loose and not set into a ring and we can arrange for this to be done independently by a qualified and accredited gemologist at your own expense. This will provide a gem stone certification that basically just confirms it is a black diamond but still will not have the same grading information a standard diamond certificate would include as it doesn't apply to black diamonds.

Due to their porous nature, black diamonds can be more brittle and therefore knocks or blows to the stone can be disastrous and can literally chip or scratch the stone. We recommend extra care be taken with a black diamond and it should certainly not be worn during any physical work with your hands, at the gym, heavy lifting etc. You should refrain from exposure to heat and chemicals etc.

We will never knowingly send out a damaged stone. Once we finish your black diamond ring and inspect it, it will leave our studio in perfect condition. We have records of any natural inclusions, pits etc on the stone prior to the ring going out. Your warranty does not cover if you are to accidentally damage your stone.

Keep these factors in mind when purchasing your black diamond rings. We are here to assist you each step of the way and guarantee our workmanship and choose only the finest black diamonds but it's up to you to take care of her once she's in your care.

If after reading this information you are thinking you would like a black stone but perhaps black diamonds are not for you a fantastic alternative is black moissanite which look almost identical and are much more durable.

 

MORGANITE

 

This stunning stone has gained a lot of popularity particularly in engagement rings as it is a stone of divine love and brings with it compassion, assurance and healing. Delicate and feminine with it’s soft colour, Morganite comes in both peachy and pinky tones. While the most revered stone of the beryl family, Morganite is also a popular alternative choice for those who want a gorgeous coloured stone in this colour palette without the price tag of an equivalent sapphire or champagne diamond.

Morganite is rated 7.5-8 on the Mohs Scale (Hardness rating scale). Within the Mohs scale, stones rated 7 and above are considered hard and appropriate for ever day wear though it is important to understand there is a remarkable difference between a 7 and a 9 for example in hardness so these stones will require a bit more care than say a sapphire.

 

 

GARNET
Garnet is the birthstone of January, a deep rich beauty and is one of the most ancient of talismans known for its protective energies. It is a sensual stone and helps in the ability to work lovingly on the physical plane. Garnet represents the creation of the world out of a chaos, purification and love and is a stone of strong, intense feelings.

It has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale so it is considered hard enough for every day wear when the proper care is taken however should not be subjected to any hard blows or rough wear.

 

 

LONDON BLUE TOPAZ
Almost all blue topaz is actually naturally colourless topaz that has been  irradiated or heated to achieve the colour you now see. There are varying shades of blue topaz however we love the striking deep rich blue of London Blue Topaz and have made this a part of our options available in our collection. Blue topaz is also the birth stone of December.

London Blue Topaz has a hardness rating of 8 which makes it a hardy alternative to Blue sapphires for those whom want a stunning blue centre stone but whose budget doesn’t quite extend far enough for a blue sapphire.

There is no need to worry about the colour changing or wearing off etc or fading with exposure to light as the radiation and heat treatment used to produce the blue colour is permanent. That said, due to the possibility of separation of cleavage within the stone and possibility of a stone including liquid-filled inclusions which can cause the gem to fracture when heated. For this reason, London Blue Topaz should be cleaned carefully with a soft brush and warm soap and water. Steam and ultrasonic cleaning should not be used.

 

 

CITRINE
Carrying the power of the sun, it is warm and comforting, energizing and life giving stone and stunning to boot.

This November birth stone, has a hardness rating of 7 on the Mohs scale so it is considered hard enough for every day wear when the proper care is taken however should not be subjected to any hard blows or rough wear. This stone will be ok for everyday wear in rings so long as the wearer understands Citrine’s limited hardness.

 

 

LAVENDER MOONQUARTZ
A Windfall fan favourite and staple in our collection the Lavender Moonquartz aka Lavender Moonstone is a feminine, pastel beauty. Sitting pretty in both our every day and engagement collections it is available in a more milky opaque and a more translucent option.

This stone has a hardness rating of 7 on the mohs scale so is suitable for everyday wear so long as the wearer understands the stones limited hardness.

 

AQUAMARINE
Aquamarine is known for it's famously pastel transparency but can also vary from a vary light blue, through to a darker more vivid colour. The name is derived from Latin, meaning seawater and was said to calm waves and protect sailors at sea. It is also one of March's birthstones! 

Aquamarine is rated 7.5-8 on the Mohs Scale (Hardness rating scale). Within the Mohs scale, stones rated 7 and above are considered hard and appropriate for ever day wear though it is important to understand there is a remarkable difference between a 7 and a 9 for example in hardness so these stones will require a bit more care than say a sapphire.