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ABOUT OUR STONES
While we agree that nothing sparkles quite like a natural gemstone, we are also certain that you will not find a better alternative than CARAT*. Many jewellers have admitted that they have difficulty telling our gems apart from naturals because of their very similar optical characteristics.
It takes around nine months to train a single technician in the stages of sawing, pre-forming, faceting and polishing a cut CARAT* gem. Each stage of the process is performed with care and attention to the ideal proportions that will yield the most brilliant stones.
We hand cut and polish every stone with meticulous attention to detail and our gems are never mass-produced by machine. Because we only use highly trained and experienced stone cutters, we create high quality gems that are second to none.
Hardness:
Measuring an impressive 8.5-9.0 Mohs (the scale of mineral hardness), with only diamond measuring the maximum 10 Mohs, our stones are close to sapphire and ruby in Hardness. While being very hard, our stones still demand the same respect you would give their natural inspirations. Keep them clean and try not to knock the mountings and they will last a lifetime.
Cut Comparison:
All our stones normally exceed Geological Institute of America (GIA) accepted ‘ideal’ cutting tolerances. By doing this we ensure they are some of the most beautiful simulants in the world.
Colour Comparison:
Normally when compared on the GIA diamond colour scale our stones have an equivalent D or E colour (D being the very top of the scale).
Clarity Comparison:
Typically we yield a clarity of "IF" (internally flawless) although VVS1 (very very small inclusions) can be noted in some larger stones. By definition you will need a jeweller's Loupe to see if there are any inclusions in CARAT* stones.
CARAT* Cutting Styles
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Round
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 brilliant expressions of a cutter’s wheel. With 58 facets to refract and reflect on, it represents the most popular form of cutting in the 21st century.
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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, they burst with reflected light.
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Pear
Another Brilliant cut, this stone bears many of the facets of a round except the proportion is 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 called French Tipping to 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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Oval
Yet another Brilliant cut, it borrows the same faceting techniques from the Round Brilliant. Additional facets are added to eliminate the bowtie effect in the stone’s mid section. 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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Marquise
This stone is another adaptation of the 58-facet Round Brilliant. Previously the domain of royalty, this stone has a unique shape and 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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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 the other Brilliant cut diamonds. However, the Emerald cut stone reveals a classic beauty and elegance not seen in other cuts.
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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 has a combination Brilliant-step cut arrangement and the pavilion section has more of a Brilliant styling with 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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Asscher
This shape is nearly identical to the Emerald cut, except that it is square. It also has a pavilion that is 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 and the invention of the modern diamond sawing machine made it uneconomical to cut. However, its beauty is breathtaking and thus the cut has been revived and improved with the addition of 16 extra facets to add even more brilliance and life to this outstanding cut.
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Heart
Another Brilliant cut and a slight variation of the Pear cut, the Heart has a small slice removed from the top section, 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.
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Cushion
The Cushion cut was one of the most popular cuts for almost 70 years, starting in 1830. Until the early 1900s this is how most diamonds were cut and was usually referred to as the Pillow cut due to its slightly rounded sides. The Cushion cut was cut to sparkle in the candle light of the period and can definitely hold its own in a room full of round stone wearers.
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Flanders
This cut is an example of a modified Round Brilliant and as a result is comparable, if not superior, to the best cut Rounds or Princess cuts. 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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