Education
Gem & Metal Education
Everything you need to know about our materials and why we chose them.
What is Sterling Silver 925?
Sterling silver is an alloy containing 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals, typically copper. The "925" stamp you see on jewellery indicates this precise composition. Pure silver (99.9%) is too soft for everyday jewellery, so the addition of copper creates a durable material that maintains silver's beautiful lustre.
Benefits of Sterling Silver
- Affordability: Significantly more accessible than gold or platinum, allowing for larger, more elaborate designs at reasonable prices
- Durability: The copper content provides strength while maintaining workability for detailed craftsmanship
- Hypoallergenic: High-quality sterling silver is suitable for most people with sensitive skin
- Timeless appeal: Silver's cool, bright tone complements all skin tones and pairs beautifully with both colourless and coloured gemstones
- Easy maintenance: Simple to clean and polish at home; develops a beautiful patina over time
Caring for Your Silver Jewellery
Store pieces in a dry place, preferably in individual pouches to prevent scratching. Remove jewellery before swimming, showering, or applying lotions. Light tarnishing is natural and can be removed with a soft polishing cloth.
What Are Lab-Grown Diamonds?
Lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds created in controlled laboratory environments using advanced technology that replicates the natural diamond formation process. They have the same physical, chemical, and optical properties as mined diamonds — the same carbon crystal structure, the same hardness (10 on the Mohs scale), and the same brilliance.
How Are They Made?
Two primary methods are used:
- HPHT (High Pressure High Temperature): Mimics the natural conditions deep within the Earth where diamonds form
- CVD (Chemical Vapour Deposition): Grows diamonds layer by layer from a carbon-rich gas in a vacuum chamber
Both methods produce genuine diamonds that are indistinguishable from mined stones without specialised laboratory equipment.
Comparison
| Property | Lab-Grown Diamond | Natural Diamond |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical Composition | Pure carbon (C) | Pure carbon (C) |
| Hardness | 10 (Mohs scale) | 10 (Mohs scale) |
| Brilliance & Fire | Identical | Identical |
| Price | 60-80% less | Higher |
| Environmental Impact | Lower | Higher (mining) |
| Origin Traceability | Fully traceable | Varies |
The Origin of Moissanite
Moissanite was first discovered in 1893 by Nobel Prize-winning chemist Henri Moissan in a meteor crater in Arizona. Natural moissanite is incredibly rare — almost all moissanite available today is lab-created silicon carbide (SiC). It has become one of the most popular diamond alternatives due to its exceptional brilliance and durability.
Key Properties
- Hardness: 9.25 on the Mohs scale — harder than sapphire and ruby, excellent for everyday wear
- Brilliance: Higher refractive index (2.65) than diamond (2.42), resulting in more sparkle and fire
- Fire: Dispersion of 0.104 compared to diamond's 0.044 — more rainbow flashes in light
- Durability: Highly resistant to scratching, chipping, and heat
Moissanite vs Diamond: At a Glance
| Property | Moissanite | Lab Diamond | Natural Diamond |
|---|---|---|---|
| Composition | Silicon Carbide | Carbon | Carbon |
| Hardness | 9.25 | 10 | 10 |
| Brilliance | Very high | High | High |
| Fire (rainbow flashes) | More | Less | Less |
| Price (1ct equivalent) | Lowest | Mid-range | Highest |
Is Moissanite Right for You?
Moissanite is ideal for those who love brilliance and want a durable, beautiful stone at an accessible price. Its extra fire gives it a distinctive sparkle that many find even more eye-catching than diamond. Because it's lab-created, every stone has excellent clarity and consistency.
The Science Behind Lab-Grown Coloured Gems
Lab-grown rubies, sapphires, and emeralds are chemically and physically identical to their natural counterparts. They're created using methods that replicate natural geological processes, resulting in gemstones with the same crystal structure, hardness, and optical properties.
Lab-Grown Ruby
Lab rubies are crystallised aluminium oxide (corundum) with chromium providing the red colour — exactly like natural rubies. Most are grown using the flame fusion, Czochralski, or flux methods.
- Hardness: 9 (Mohs scale) — extremely durable
- Colour: Consistent, vivid red without the inclusions common in natural stones
- Value: A fraction of natural ruby prices, especially for larger sizes
Lab-Grown Sapphire
Like ruby, sapphire is corundum — the colour depends on trace elements. Blue sapphires get their colour from iron and titanium. Lab sapphires can be produced in virtually any colour, including the prized Padparadscha (pink-orange) and cornflower blue varieties.
- Hardness: 9 (Mohs scale)
- Colour range: Blue, pink, yellow, green, and more — all with excellent saturation
- Clarity: Typically eye-clean, unlike many natural sapphires
Lab-Grown Emerald
Lab emeralds are beryllium aluminium silicate coloured by chromium and/or vanadium — the same composition as natural emeralds. They're typically grown using hydrothermal or flux methods.
- Hardness: 7.5-8 (Mohs scale)
- Clarity: Often cleaner than natural emeralds, which are famously included
- Colour: Rich, saturated green that rivals the finest natural stones
Lab-Grown vs Natural: Comparison
| Aspect | Lab-Grown | Natural |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical composition | Identical | Identical |
| Hardness | Same | Same |
| Clarity | Typically higher | Often included |
| Colour consistency | Excellent | Variable |
| Price | 80-95% less | Higher, especially for quality |
| Ethical sourcing | Guaranteed | Varies by source |
Why Choose Lab-Grown Coloured Gems?
Natural rubies, sapphires, and emeralds of good quality are extremely expensive, often costing more per carat than diamonds. Lab-grown alternatives offer the same beauty, durability, and visual impact at a fraction of the price — making coloured gemstone jewellery accessible to more people.