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About Our Stones
Leader in created gemstones since 2003
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carat* london // gentle diamonds
We use several alternatives to mined gemstones. We believe they represent the future of a more sustainable gemstone world. They are a vote for what you believe in.
Our sister brand, GENTLE DIAMONDS works exclusively with lab-created diamonds, and is the result of 18 years of work to bring lab-created diamonds to the consumer marketplace.
The short story is, they are the same as the mined diamond kind, just not from a mine. Simple as that.
Learn more about the incredible story of lab-created diamonds here
We also cut and polish lab-grown Ruby and Sapphire (Corundum) and lab-created Emerald gemstones. Again, the same molecular and atomic makeup as the mined kind, just not mined.
Our fashion brand CARAT* LONDON principally uses high-quality hand and machine cut Cubic Zirconia crystal.
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Standard Cutting Styles
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Flanders
This cut is an example of a modified Round Brilliant, and as a result, it is comparable, if not superior, to the best Round cut or Princess cut diamonds. It is becoming a more popular way to cut rough diamonds as it yields a relatively higher carat weight than equivalent Round Brilliants or even Princess cuts.
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Cushion
Starting in 1830, the Cushion cut became one of the most popular cuts. For 70 years, until the early 1900s, most diamonds were cut in this style. The Cushion cut is often referred to as the "Pillow" cut because of its slightly rounded corners. The Cushion cut was cut to sparkle in candlelight, which was common in that era. Till today, Cushion cut diamonds continue to hold their own in a room full of Round stones.
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Asscher
The shapes of Asscher cut stones are nearly identical to those of Emerald cut stones, except that they are square. Asscher stones also have pavilions that are cut with rectangular facets in the same style as the Emerald cut. The original Asscher cut was very popular in the early 1900s, before the Great Depression. The eventual invention of modern diamond sawing machines, however, made them uneconomical to cut. Nonetheless, their beauty is breathtaking and thus the cut has been revived and improved with the addition of 16 extra facets that add even more brilliance and life to this outstanding cut.
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Emerald
The Emerald cut is classified as a step cut; with larger facets, which act like mirrors. The Emerald cut has fewer facets than most cuts. Because of the angle, size and shape of the facets, the Emerald cut shows less brilliance and fire (dispersion) than other Brilliant cut diamonds. However, the Emerald cut stone reveals a sense of classic beauty and elegance not seen in other cuts.
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Round Brilliant
The Round Brilliant, or Brilliant Round, is what comes to mind for most people when they think of a diamond. It is one of the simplest yet most dazzling expressions of a cutter's wheel. With 58 facets to refract and reflect light on, the round brilliant cut represents the most popular form of cutting in the 21st century.
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Oval
Yet another Brilliant cut, Oval cut stones borrow faceting techniques from the Round Brilliant. Additional facets are added to eliminate the bowtie effect in the stone’s midsection. The overall effect is a stone that is more often seen as the exclusive domain of the very rich, since they look a little different from the ubiquitous Rounds.
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Princess
Second in popularity to the Round Brilliant is the Princess cut. Slightly modified from traditional cutting, it reveals the true potential of its brilliance. Full of fiery scintillation, Princess cut stones burst with reflected light.
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Pear
Another Brilliant cut, Pear cut stones bear many of the facets of a round except their proportions are elongated along the tip. One of the keys to cutting a good Pear shape is reducing the bow-tie effect that appears in the lower mid section of the stone. Additional facets are also added to the tip of the stone, known as French tipping. This facets counter light leakage in the area. Through superior cutting techniques, we have been able to achieve a brilliantly proportioned Pear that will outshine most others.
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Marquise
This stone is another adaptation of the 58-facet Round Brilliant. Previously the domain of royalty, Marquise cut stones have a unique shape that particularly suits long, slender fingers. The crown is modified in the Marquise to form what is called a French Tip, where the bezel facet at the point of the stone is eliminated. This allows a more even spread of scintillation along the length of the stone.
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Radiant
Our Radiant cuts have 70 facets and the stone is truly one of our most brilliant cuts. The crown section includes a Brilliant and Step cut arrangement. The pavilion section of each Radiant cut stone is styled similarly to Brilliant stones in that they have a slight step styling in the upper sections just below the girdle. The overall look is one of bewildering light and colour.
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Heart
Another Brilliant cut and a slight variation of the Pear cut, Heart cut stones have a small slice removed from their top sections, revealing a sparkling symbol of love. Our attention to detail ensures that the removed section is also hand polished for maximum brilliance. Something you will find lacking in many other simulants.