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Diamond studs are a fabulous start to any jewelry wardrobe, PS Member Lunamortem took to the Show Me the Bling! forum at PriceScope to introduce us to hers, and we love them! In fact, they are the Jewel(s) of the Week! Lunamortem said: “Thanks to PriceScope and tons of research I canceled […]
The post Stellar Studs appeared first on PriceScope.
In-depth information and ring size conversion chart.
Read on if you want to know more about how we determine ring size. This article includes detailed guidance on how to find out your finger size. In addition to expert guidance, we offer a free UK ring sizer. We also send our actual size samples Worldwide for clients to double-check their ring size.
Depending on where you live in the World, you could be working to a variation on another country’s size system.
Some systems use a number (US) or letter (UK) — we can work to either system, without needing to convert. Please just advise us whether you wish to order in the UK or US size.
We can create almost every engagement ring and wedding ring design in most finger sizes. This includes finger sizes considered to be oversize and undersize—outside the norm for many jewellers.
Please note that if you do not see your finger size on our product pages, message or email us with your design and we’ll come straight back to you.
Click to view wedding rings
Click to view diamond engagement rings
If you would like a Multisizer tool, our UK ring sizer is available to purchase and is refunded against any order or jewellery. In addition, we offer in-depth help and guidance on all aspects of finger size. Finally, if you prefer to order in a US size, this is no problem at all.
Our video showing how to measure your finger and get the perfect fit.
Within the UK, letters are used, to denote finger size. The nearer the letter to the start of the alphabet, the smaller the finger size. Most jewellers measure size with a set of dummy rings which can be tried to find the correct size. Identifying size from an existing ring requires the size stick which carries markings to denote size.
Our size sticks carry UK, and International markings allowing easy accurate conversions to be made.
As a rule of thumb, the following sizes give you an idea of where some of the small, medium and larger UK finger sizes lie.
Small finger sizes are finger size that are size F or G through to size J.
Example of a small wedding ring finger size
A larger proportion of people have a finger size between size K and size O. Within the UK, L is one of the most popular finger sizes. Sizes within this range tend to be considered average finger sizes.
Larger finger sizes tend to range from sizes P and Q upwards. Engagement rings and wedding rings are made in larger finger sizes, but sizes S and T upwards are most popular for men’s wedding rings. Above size Z, sizes typically increase with +1, +2, +3 indicating incremental full sizes above Z. Keep in mind that engagement rings in larger sizes will sometimes be considered a bespoke ring design, made to order specially.
The following factors influence finger size and should be considered before you make your purchase.
1. Temperature – Depending on whether you are warm or cold, finger size can vary slightly. Colder weather normally results in rings feeling slightly looser.
2. Tissue fluid – Water levels within the tissues of the human body can affect the size of your finger. This can include particular times of the month falling in line with the female Menstrual Cycle. Pregnancy is also a factor.
3. Ring width – Wider bands tend to feel closer to the finger than narrower bands. This is because the ring is in contact with a greater surface area of the finger. If you are purchasing a wider band (engagement or wedding ring) you are wise to try on any ring of similar width or use a set of wider band ring sizers.
4. Knuckle size – Although knuckle size has little to do with finger size, the ring still needs to slide over the knuckle when placed on the finger, and when removed. If you have larger knuckles, there are suggestions for working around problems. Arthritis can be a significant problem which we allow for. Contact us for more advice on this particular subject.
5. Pregnancy – [See point 2 above]
6. Dominant hand – Please keep in mind that the dominant hand can be upto 2 finger sizes larger than the other hand. If you are basing her size on a ring fitted to the third finger of her dominant right hand, then you might want to consider at least one size smaller for a left (non-dominant) engagement ring finger.
Although we send out a free ring sizer (see our product pages) we recommend obtaining your finger size during a visit to an experienced jeweller. Within a short space of time, you will judge how certain sizes feel.
Your wedding ring should feel snug without discomfort. When you shake your hand it should remain firmly in place. It should not easily turn on the finger. A light tug on the ring should not remove it from the finger. Stretch out your finger with a firm grip on the wedding ring and pull – your wedding ring should now come off the finger without too much effort (perhaps just a gentle waggle.)
If you’re seeing a ridge on your wedding ring finger, this is perfectly normal. Most wedding rings cause a smooth depression below the wedding ring. This forms a natural indent into which your wedding ring rests. If your wedding ring causes discomfort, irritation, redness or swelling we recommend removing the ring and re-assessing finger size.
It is a fact that two rings of the same size, in different widths, vary in their fit. Wider bands with a flat inner surface hold more surface area. As a result a wider band will feel more snug on the finger than a narrower band of the same size.
If your engagement ring or wedding ring is too large or too small, it will need to be resized. Some designs and size differences are easier to size than others. The first step is to contact us for expert guidance. If you purchased your ring elsewhere, we recommend contacting the original seller first. For simple, plan wedding rings most metals can be stretched or reduced slightly in size. Engagement rings with claw settings are easier to size than other styles such as tension style settings.
It typically takes around one and a half weeks to resize a ring. Rings are cleaned and re-finished as part of the process. As a note, we quote in advance, before any work commences as part of our policy when it comes to changing a ring size.
Men tend to have larger fingers compared to women. Men also tend to go for wider wedding bands, therefore fitting more snuggly compared to a thinner band. With this being said, men can use our Multisizer, however for a more accurate size we recommend our Mens Trial Wedding Ring Sizers.
An average men’s size would typically be Q – T. This of course ranges from the individual. Our size chart shows the full conversions to US and European sizes, and also includes the inside diameter in mm to help determine the correct size.
The ring profile can also affect how a ring will fit. For example, a comfort fit profile may fit differently to a flat profile wedding band.
The post Which Finger Size? – Small, Medium and Large Ring Sizes Explained appeared first on Serendipity Diamonds Blog.
This seven-stone ring is unbelievably lovely, PS Member ZestfullyBling shared it in the Show Me the Bling! community at PriceScope and we absolutely swooned! It is always good to enjoy beauty again, and so we chose to feature this stunning ring for Throwback Thursday! There are many reasons why we must let […]
The post Seven-Stone Stunner appeared first on PriceScope.
Why would you choose Platinum over any other precious metal for your wedding ring?
Most people are aware of the existence of Platinum as a precious metal. However, few buyers understand the benefits and merits of choosing Platinum for their wedding ring.
Metal choices vary greatly in cost. For example, some buyers choose budget industrial metals like Titanium at one end of the spectrum. Conversely, others choose Platinum at the other end of the scale. Most importantly, different options offer different costs.
Men’s Platinum wedding ring shown with women’s wedding ring—both featuring a heart-shaped fingerprint engraving.
So, what is Platinum? Through many articles, we have explored the benefits of Platinum for jewellery. Moreover, we recommend Platinum every week to new clients. Some take our advice—others do not.
Platinum presents an opportunity to choose a naturally white precious metal. To clarify, by white metal, we refer to a silver-white colour.
Many jewellers describe Platinum as grey-white in appearance. Most importantly, Platinum does not tarnish or change colour. It wears with a natural Pattina but does not tarnish in the same way that White Gold does.
To achieve its bright silver-white appearance, jewellers coat White Gold with Rhodium—a hard, electro-plated metal. Rhodium disguises the off-white natural colour of White Gold. This applies to both 9 carat White Gold and 18ct White Gold. Interestingly, 9ct White Gold is a less durable choice out of the two choices.
On the other hand, Platinum is uncoated and untreated with the exception of finishing. In the final stages, men’s Platinum wedding rings receive a mirror-polish or a matte-brushed finish depending on choice.
Mens Platinum heartbeat wedding ring featuring a brushed satin outer finish.
Stamped 950, the number inside a Platinum ring identifies 95% purity. Additional metals make up the other 5%. For example, Cobalt and Iridium to increase surface hardness and to improve the flow of molten metal during casting.
The high level of purity benefits wearers with 100% hypo-allergenic properties. In fact, some wearers with allergies often misdiagnose Platinum as the cause of rashes whilst wearing this metal.
Overall, we regard Platinum as the purest choice of precious metal for men’s wedding rings.
The Osborne wedding ring, 5mm wide—our most popular Platinum wedding ring for men.
Many of our clients love the way that Platinum restores to an as-new condition. An old, dull Platinum wedding ring is transformed through professional polishing. It really is remarkable how different a ring looks after years of wear, once it goes through re-polishing. With this in mind, Platinum makes a great choice for a lifetime of wear.
Most importantly, we should point out that Platinum does scratch and wear over time. In fact, all precious metals scratch and wear.
Interestingly, many antique jewellery lovers covet the natural patina that develops over many years of wear.
Did you know, Platinum weighs a third heavier than Gold? We sometimes quote a fact that a 6-inch cube of Platinum weighs around the same weight as an average adult man.
During wedding ring appointments in our showroom, many clients agree that the density and weight of Platinum add to the luxurious feel of this precious metal. Platinum weighs a third more than the same ring made in 18ct Gold.
During times of economic uncertainty, many investors pile money into Gold. As a result, the price climbs. Often, this has an adverse effect on the cost of jewellery. Unlike Gold, Platinum rarely experiences the same volatility as Gold.
But, at the same time, the rarity of Platinum helps this precious metal retain its intrinsic value. Most importantly, at the time of this article, 80% of wedding rings sold at Serendipity Diamonds are made of Platinum for all of the above reasons.
The cost of a single men’s Platinum wedding ring varies based on two main factors. Firstly, the depth of the wedding ring. For each of the different wedding ring profiles, we create a light, medium and heavyweight ring. In addition, we offer each variation in a choice of widths. For men, we recommend a width from 3mm upwards.
The following video shows a light, medium and heavyweight variation of three very popular wedding ring styles. (6mm wide).
In contrast, a lightweight men’s Platinum wedding ring weighs far less than a heavyweight ring of the same design. As a result, the cost will be far less for the ring. For this reason, there is an enormous difference in cost for every single design available.
If you’re struggling to find the perfect Platinum ring. Or, if you just need some additional guidance, please contact us. We have a lovely, friendly team on hand Monday to Saturday to help.
We provide showroom appointments to try designs from our UK store. In addition, we offer a try-at-home service for most of our designs. Look out for regular monthly promotions online and don’t forget to subscribe for updates and to follow our work on social media.
The post Mens Platinum Wedding Rings – A Guide to Mens Platinum Wedding Bands appeared first on Serendipity Diamonds Blog.
The best diamond clarity is Flawless (FL). To explain, a Flawless diamond features no internal or external blemishes. Similarly, the Internally Flawless (IF) grade means the diamond has no internal flaws, but might have external blemishes. But how important is the Flawless or Internally Flawless grade for a diamond ring?
A Diamond clarity grade gives a standardised value expressing the concentration of natural characteristics present within a diamond.
Flawless diamonds demand very high prices. It is important to realise that you don’t need to choose an Internally Flawless diamond for the assurance of a high-quality eye-clean diamond.
Through our work at Serendipity Diamonds, we regularly advise clients to choose a good clarity grade. But not necessarily the best. In addition, we guide clients towards a good whiteness for the colour grade.
SI1 clarity diamonds work very well in the Daisy diamond cluster ring
Most of our diamond rings come in a choice of clarity. However, most rings with multiple diamonds are priced in SI1 clarity. Why? SI1 provides a clear unaided eye-clean diamond. In addition, most SI1 diamonds appear clear to the naked eye. Also, known as eye-clean diamonds. Marks present in the stone remain unseen without the use of a lens.
The above diamond bubble engagement ring is created using SI1 clarity diamonds —our standard for eye-clean diamond brilliance.
There are some important notes to consider when choosing the best diamond clarity for an engagement ring. Although the SI1 clarity level is suitable for many rings, please keep in mind the following.
Most good quality diamonds above 0.30 carats include a report. Despite a certificate, some labs will grade diamonds better than they are. For this reason, we advise GIA reports (Gemological Institute of America). Their strict grading is well respected. GIA certified SI1 clarity diamonds appear clean to the naked eye. In contrast, some laboratories grade worse diamonds better. See below for an example.
Showing identical clarity grades but graded by IGI (left) and GIA (right)
Step cut diamonds (Emerald cut, Baguette cut, Carré cut) show inclusions and blemishes more easily. For Emerald cuts, we advise buying VS1 clarity. This is important when choosing the best diamond clarity for your engagement ring.
Diamond inclusions within 1.5 carats and above can be more visible due to the diamond size. A larger diamond will naturally have a larger table facet. Small marks below the table may be more visible to the naked eye. Once you see the diamond inclusions, it can become easier to spot.
Small marks are less visible in small diamonds. For this reason, a diamond cluster ring will appear bright, and clear even when it has average clarity diamonds. Despite this, a less brilliance results from the inclusions in each diamond. For this reason, consider the size of diamonds when choosing the best diamond clarity for your ring.
Here at Serendipity Diamonds, the offer of detailed photography and microscopy of the Diamond can be supplied upon request if needed to show you any inclusions within your Diamond. This option works particularly well if visiting our showroom is not an option.
When buying a diamond it is always a good idea to request to view the diamond certificate. The most respected diamond grading lab as mentioned above is GIA – Gemological Institute of America.
All of the diamond characteristics appear noted onto a diamond certificate. These range from the carat weight of the stone down to the diamond tables measurement.
On occasion for larger diamonds, typically 1.00ct and over the certificate will feature a clarity diagram. With markings showing where the diamonds’ inclusions are located.
For diamonds graded at i1 – i2 these will appear particularly included. With inclusions and blemishes visible to the eye.
These characteristics will more than likely include heavy black marks. For this reason, Serendipity don’t offer diamonds with a clarity grade under Si2. Unless under special request.
Although viewing a diamond on paper can help with finding the perfect stone. Some clients prefer to view the proposed diamond in the flesh prior to making a decision.
Here at Serendipity Diamonds, we arrange appointments to visit our Ryde Showroom. By having a range of diamonds to be available upon arrival they can be viewed under a 10 x jewellers loupe or under our microscope.
Our knowledgable team can then point out the diamond inclusions.
No two diamonds have the exact same clarity characteristics. Which makes the diamond you select a truly unique diamond.
The post What’s the Best Diamond Clarity for an Engagement Ring? appeared first on Serendipity Diamonds Blog.
