Category: Diamond jewellery

Diamonds Don’t Need To Be Expensive For An April Birthday

Post author By prudenandsmith
Post date 12th April 2022

Diamonds Don’t Need To Be Expensive For An April Birthday. Prices for our rough diamond stacking rings start at £195 and you can build them up each birthday into a fun stack.

We can also add a small diamond to any of our handmade silver or gold jewellery at £40 per 1.5mm diamond added to the price of any item. During the week when the workshop is open we can add your diamond or any other birthstone to any piece you purchase off the shelf while you wait. Here are our favourite pieces as examples. You can choose your own from our jewellery section:

Tiny hammered shapes are ideal backgrounds for your diamonds

Add in a little family gold from an inherited piece of jewellery to create a two tone gold effect

Go a little larger and create a fun diamond ring

Tiny earstuds are fun, choose from silver, silver gilt or 9ct gold. Interesting metal designs show off your tiny diamond highlights.

Hand-forged silver metalwork with the hammer-marks left in create an additional sparkle of their own.

Our silver and gold nuggets are another fun option

Rose Cut Diamond Jewellery

Post author By prudenandsmith
Post date 19th May 2021

Rose cut diamond jewellery has risen in popularity over the last few years. They are prized for their understated charm that is both feminine and unusual. Their flat shape gives them a larger surface area. This means that, not only can you often have a larger diamond for your budget, you can also use them in flatter designs that sit snugly against the finger. Both pretty and practical!

What is rose cut diamond jewellery?

Rose cut diamonds are cut by hand with a flat base and most commonly 24 triangular facets on a gently domed top. The name comes from the arrangements of the facets which is said to resemble the overlapping petals of a rose bud. This antique diamond cut originated in the 1500’s and became particularly fashionable in the Georgian and Victorian eras. The large, wide facets are designed to catch the light in the low light conditions of candlelight.

With the invention of modern cutting techniques rose cut diamonds fell out of favour. By contrast to the 24 facets of a rose cut, the modern round brilliant cut has 57-58 facets. Whilst a rose cut will sparkle due to the light reflecting on the surface facets of the stone, brilliant cuts reflect light internally as well. An ‘ideal cut’ brilliant diamond has the perfect arrangement of facets for light to enter the stone, be internally reflected and exit the stone through the table (top surface). This is what causes the diamond to sparkle or ‘shine’.

In addition to the traditional single rose cut with a flat base, rose cut diamonds can also be faceted underneath. This is known as a double rose cut diamond. Rose cuts also aren’t necessarily round. Antique diamond are often not perfectly round due to being hand-cut. Modern rose cut diamonds are often deliberately cut in unusual irregular shapes to maximise their uniqueness. These are the stones that we love to work with.

Their hand-cut uniqueness gives each rose cut diamond its own character. This organic charm, coupled with their flatter shape, makes them perfect for our rough diamond collection. Each setting in our rough collection is individually handmade to fit the stone. This makes each ring one of a kind!

Diamond jewellery Diamonds

Square Cut Diamond Rings Princess Emerald Cuts

Post author By prudenandsmith
Post date 11th April 2019

Cappuccino diamond vintage engagement ring

Square Cut Diamond Rings Princess Emerald Cuts are hitting the headlines this week with the largest square diamond in the world unveiled by Graff Diamonds of London. The massive square emerald cut diamond weighs in at 302.37 cts. It was cut from the rough diamond named Lesedi La Rona. The Lesedi La Rona which translates as “Our Light” in the Tswana language was found in the Lucara Karowe Mine in Botswana and at 1109 cts. is the third largest diamond ever to be discovered. The Lesedi La Rona has been cut as a square using the emerald cut style of parallel facets and trimmed corners to maximise the size of this record breaking D colour diamond.

Square emerald cut diamonds are not very common, usually being rectangular. The most popular cut for a square diamond is a princess cut. The princess cut diamond has its corners on making it perfect for angular designs. Like the round brilliant cut diamond it has over 50 facets which when perfectly cut refract the light entering the diamond table is bounced straight back out giving the stone its “brilliance”. The princess cut is usually comprised of either 57 or 76 facets with a maximum ratio of 1:1.05.

Pruden and Smith love to use the clean lines of the princess cut square diamond in their “block” and “twist” collections. In the block collection the princess cut diamond is seated in a sharp sided rub over setting that frames and emphasises its angularity. The rings have a contemporary Art Deco feel and the straight sided settings of the pendants and earstuds a modernist simplicity. The Twist collection uses a tension setting to lend movement and a sense of play to these modern classics.

Here is our inspiration board made up of square cut diamond rings commissioned recently to inspire you

Princess cut diamond engagement rings the “block” and “twist” collections

Unusual dress rings featuring square white and coloured diamonds and sapphires

Creative unusual handmade jewellery Square Cut Diamond Rings Princess Emerald Cuts

Diamond jewellery

Amazing rose and old cut diamonds redesigned

Post author By prudenandsmith
Post date 2nd February 2018

Have you got any old cut diamonds languishing in the back of your jewellery box? At Pruden and Smith we specialise in redesigning them for you. We love the results we’re getting using the diverse shapes of these lovely old gems such as this old cut diamond ring. These antique diamonds are rare and unique, created by hand. The level of craftsmanship and skill required to create a beautiful diamond using only the most basic bruting techniques is astonishing. The connection that the diamond cutters had with their creations was much more labour intensive and personal than with modern laser cutting and each stone has it’s own character. Much more emphasis was put on the natural beauty of the diamond. Most of these older stones would come from the mines of Brazil and Venezuela.

old cut diamond old cut diamonds yellow old cut diamond

An old cut diamond comes in many forms. The most commonly found old cut that we see mounted in items like this ring or brooch are the Old European Cut. These are are the earlier version of the modern round cuts that we know today. They are as close to a round shape as the diamond cutters were able to create when cutting by hand. Though not technically as perfect as the modern brilliant round cut diamonds, these diamonds are also often taller than modern cuts. Contemporary cutting techniques on the other hand, tend to focus on keeping the bulk of the carat weight- and therefore the value – in the face of the diamond. This cut often features a large, flat culet which is clearly visible through the face of the diamond. The old European cut dates back to the 1800s, and was most prominent during the Victorian, Edwardian and Art Nouveau eras.

old cut diamond brooch

The rarest style is incredibly ancient and rare, originating from 1300. This was the first known diamond cut because it was the closest shape to the natural octahedral form which the diamond would’ve been discovered in. Most antique Table cuts are so precious that they are housed in museums or private collections, rather than being available to the public. Rose Cuts or Dutch Cut are the only diamond cut in which there is not one primary flat face facet. Instead there are multiple cuts, all of which form a dome shape above the jewellery setting, rather than having a flat peak. This cut is known as both a rose cut and a Dutch cut. Its ‘rose’ comparison arose due to the fact that the diamond cut resembles the shape of a rose bud. This unique cut dates back to the 1500s and was common during the Victorian, Edwardian and Georgian eras. Old Mine Cut Diamonds are distinctive as they have a more square shape than the Old European Cut. It is a more basic, simplistic, and less delicate style than the Old European Cut. The most distinct feature of the old mine cut diamond is the fact that they were handcrafted, meaning that the facets, sides and rounded corners are not uniform. This is unique amongst diamond cuts, as now the value of diamonds is rooted in their uniformity within their specific cut.

Why Choose Old Cut Diamonds?

Previously, these stones would’ve been purchased as rough material to be re-cut into a more fashionable shape. Now however, because they are rarer, people are appreciating the stones for the historical significance that they hold.

Some old cut diamonds re-purposed at the end of 2017. we love the way the uneven shapes give an organic and rocky feel to these pieces.

Birth Stones Diamond jewellery

April Birthstone Diamond

Post author By prudenandsmith
Post date 11th April 2017

There are many benefits to being born in April; spring blossom, extra Easter eggs, and having diamonds as your birthstone! The April Birthstone Diamond is the perfect excuse to buy your loved one or even treat yourself to an interesting diamond ring, a contemporary diamond bracelet or pair of unusual diamond earrings.

At Pruden and Smith, we can provide you with specialist advice when buying diamonds, taking all the 4Cs into account. We are very experienced in buying certified diamonds (where the diamonds have been expertly graded, assessed and recorded) and navigating the market on your behalf. We frequently obtain diamonds on approval from our expert suppliers, so you can choose your favourite stone from a selection prepared to your requirements. We can equally buy the best available stones for your budget whilst providing advice on thresholds of carat, clarity, colour and cut and how the effect these have on your chosen design.

With 25 years of design expertise and priding ourselves on contemporary design we aim to provide you with your perfect piece of modern diamond jewellery; be it a round brilliant cut diamond in a contemporary platinum ring, a set of unusual stacking rings using irregular cuts of diamonds in delicate hammered metalwork, or unique diamond necklaces using uncut drilled diamond beads combined with our world famous nuggets. Take a look at our range of work using the link below…

Desired throughout history, diamonds were discovered in India in around 500BC. They are the hardest gemstone, and as well as being made into stunning jewellery by designers and craftsmen such as ourselves, they have many industrial applications such as in cutting and polishing tools. Diamonds are a form of pure carbon, formed under high temperature and pressure deep into the earth’s crust (140-190km deep), over very long periods of time (1 billion to 3.3 billion years). Volcanic activity brings diamonds to the Earth’s surface, or close enough to be mined.

Diamonds are valued based on the 4 Cs – carat, clarity, colour and cut. Carat refers to weight (and therefore translates into size), with one carat weighing 0.2grams. A one carat round diamond of average proportions is approximately 6.5mm in diameter.

The colour of a diamond can vary significantly, and indeed there are other colours than white (termed as ‘fancy diamonds’ with red being the rarest, and canary yellow also being very highly sought after). Colour is a result of the composition of the diamond, and it never changes over time. Because a colourless diamond, like a clear window, allows more light to pass through it than a coloured diamond, colourless diamonds emit more sparkle and fire. The formation process of a diamond ensures that only a few, rare diamonds are truly colourless. Thus the whiter a diamond’s colour, the greater its value. To grade ‘whiteness’ or colourlessness, jewellers refer to a professional colour scale that begins with the highest rating of D for colourless, and travels down the alphabet to grade stones with traces of very faint or light yellowish or brownish colour.

The cut of a diamond, combined with some of its inherent qualities is one of the reasons diamonds reflect light with a brilliance not associated with other, less superior gemstones. When light passes from one medium to another, the light rays are refracted or bent at an angle. Diamonds are one of the (relatively few) gemstones which are termed ‘singly refractive’, meaning light entering the stone is not significantly bent or split onto different pathways. Gemstones with higher refractive index (RI) are generally more brilliant than those with low RI, and diamond is almost at the top of the scale – more light is returned back out the top or crown of the stone, instead of passing through the bottom or pavilion. The high RI of diamonds is one reasons why when more facets are included in the cut of a diamond, added brilliance shines through – one of the most popular round cuts of diamond is termed the ‘brilliant cut’. It is also reason to consider the relationship between cut and clarity of the diamond when buying a stone – for example, a diamond cut with fewer facets, e.g. an ‘emerald’ cut, to be of a pleasing quality will need a relatively high quality diamond in terms of clarity as any inclusions will be more noticeable.

April Birthstone Diamond commissions are also welcome, do get in touch with your diamond ideas!

prelive.prudenandsmith.com

Bespoke rings Diamond jewellery Dress rings

Update your jewellery: old diamond rings

Post author By prudenandsmith
Post date 6th April 2017

Update your jewellery. Inherited or unworn jewellery sits in your jewellery box for years. Why not bring it in to us and have it redesigned into a stunning unusual contemporary piece. These rings are all one off unique pieces of jewellery designed with the client to suit their character and expression. Here are three rings from this year just photographed:

This 1.5ct diamond was set in a traditional platinum claw setting which had worn thin and the client felt was not fun to wear. They loved our rough diamond stacking rings with rough hammered silver and 18ct yellow gold shanks. the rough diamonds have a brown to champagne colour and come in interesting shapes complimented by the rough hammered texture that was applied to the three ring shanks.

This remade ring features a 0.5ct emerald cut diamond and variously sized baguette diamonds from an old engagement and eternity ring. The central 18ct yellow gold band spins inside the 10mm handmade wide hammered convex shaped ring.

Roman hesart ring diamond 18ct yellow rose gold

This Roman inspired ring features a 1.5ct recycled diamond. A heavy planished (hammered) 18ct yellow gold shank. A rose gold and yellow gold top with a pierced heart pattern.

Update your jewellery this year, call for an appointment with our designer Rebecca Smith

Update your jewellery 18ct Gold Nugget Ring with 4 Diamonds

We can also reuse your small diamonds like in this rough hammered 18ct yellow gold eternity ring with the 2mm round diamonds from an old necklace.

Diamond Earrings Diamond engagement rings Diamond jewellery Diamond Pendants Diamonds

Diamond Jewellery West Sussex

We are a family based diamond jewellers based in Ditchling, East Sussex and due to being on the Sussex borders, we see many customers from East and Diamond Jewellery West Sussex. Many of our customers who visit us from West Sussex are from Haywards Heath, Burgess Hill, Crawley and Worthing and really like the fact that they are not buying their diamond jewellery from a store in Brighton, but that they feel like they are getting a piece of jewellery or silverware that is just a little bit different from everyone else.

We have spent many years perfecting our craft and are very proud of our handmade diamond jewellery. We have many customers come back time and time again as they like to choose from our beautiful handmade engagements rings, wedding rings, and eternity rings.

We are extremely happy to offer you the choices and the benefits of our years of experience in the diamond industry. You can either select a piece of stunning diamond jewellery from our range of designs, or if you want to have your own piece of diamond jewellery designed, then please make an appointment with our designer Rebecca Smith, online, by phone on 01273 848338 or in our gallery in Ditchling near Brighton. Rebecca will guide you through the commissioning process from creating your dream design to helping you to understand diamond certification grades. The knowledge we give you means you can be sure that you are getting the very best in design, craftsmanship and materials.

So, if you are looking for that perfect piece of diamond jewellery and live in East or West Sussex, whether it is an engagement ring, a pair of earrings, a dress ring or a diamond pendant then have a browse through our stunning designs and please give us a call on 01273 848338 or Email Us to find out more about commissioning you own piece of diamond jewellery.

Please also note that if you are looking for diamond engagement rings, then we also offer you 10% discount on a pair of wedding rings up to two years after purchase of your engagement ring.

We look forward to welcoming you to our little jewellery shop in Ditchling…

Diamond jewellery Diamonds

Diamond Jewellery London

We are a family based diamond jewellers based in Ditchling, East Sussex and are really pleased to see many visitors coming down from diamond jewellery London. Our London customers find us on the internet and decide to have a day down in Brighton, with the intention of calling in and see us. Many of our customers who visit us from London really like the fact that they are not buying their diamond jewellery from a store in the city, but that they feel like they are getting a piece of jewellery or silverware that is just a little bit different from everyone else.

We are extremely happy to offer you the choices and the benefits of our years of experience in the diamond industry. You can either select a piece of stunning diamond jewellery London from our range of designs, or if you want to have your own piece of diamond jewellery designed, then please make an appointment with our designer Rebecca Smith, online, by phone on 01273 846338 or in our gallery in Ditchling near Brighton. Rebecca will guide you through the commissioning process from creating your dream design to helping you to understand diamond certification grades. The knowledge we give you means you can be sure that you are getting the very best in design, craftsmanship and materials.

So, if you are looking for that perfect piece of diamond jewellery and live in or around London, whether it is an engagement ring, a pair of earrings, a dress ring or a diamond pendant then have a browse through our stunning designs and please give us a call on 01273 846338 or Email Us to find out more about commissioning you own piece of diamond jewellery.

We look forward to welcoming you…

Diamond jewellery Diamonds Engagement rings Jewellery

Diamond Jewellery Burgess Hill

At Pruden and Smith, many of our regular clients of diamond jewellery Burgess Hill come and visit us in Ditchling, just a few miles away. They like the fact that our diamond jewellery is different from all the other jewellers in Burgess Hill as we design our own! We are very proud of all our fantastic testimonials so please take a couple of minutes to see what our customers are saying about us…

We are extremely happy to offer you the choices and the benefits of our years of experience in the diamond industry. You can either select a piece of stunning diamond jewellery from our range of designs, or if you want to have your own piece of diamond jewellery designed, then please make an appointment with our designer Rebecca Smith, online, by phone on 01273 848338 or in our gallery in Ditchling near Burgess Hill. Rebecca will guide you through the commissioning process from creating your dream design to helping you to understand diamond certification grades. The knowledge we give you means you can be sure that you are getting the very best in design, craftsmanship and materials.

So, if you are looking for that perfect piece of diamond jewellery and live in Burgess Hill, whether it is an engagement ring, a pair of earrings, a dress ring or a diamond pendant then have a browse through our stunning designs and please give us a call on 01273 848338 or Email Us to find out more about commissioning you own piece of diamond jewellery.

Diamond jewellery

Diamond Jewellery Haywards Heath

At Pruden and Smith, many of our regular clients come out of Haywards Heath to come and visit us in Ditchling, just a few miles away. They like the fact that our diamond jewellery Haywards Heath is different from all the other jewellers in Sussex!

We have spent many years perfecting our craft and are very proud of our handmade diamond jewellery. We have many customers come back time and time again as they like to choose from our beautiful handmade engagements rings, wedding rings, then on to dress rings and eternity rings.

We are extremely happy to offer you the choices and the benefits of our years of experience in the diamond industry. You can either select a piece of stunning diamond jewellery from our range of designs, or if you want to have your own piece of diamond jewellery designed, then please make an appointment with our designer Rebecca Smith, online, by phone on 01273 846338 or in our gallery in Ditchling near Haywards Heath. Rebecca will guide you through the commissioning process from creating your dream design to helping you to understand diamond certification grades. The knowledge we give you means you can be sure that you are getting the very best in design, craftsmanship and materials.

So, if you are looking for that perfect piece of diamond jewellery and live in Haywards Heath, whether it is an engagement ring, a pair of earrings, a dress ring or a diamond pendant then have a browse through our stunning designs and please give us a call on 01273 846338 or Email Us to find out more about commissioning you own piece of diamond jewellery.

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