The Ultimate Guide to Diamond Jewellery & Hallmarking: Tips & Insights

When it comes to buying fine jewellery, understanding the details behind your pieces can help you make informed and confident purchases. From unraveling industry terminology to making your diamonds stand out, here is an essential guide to knowing your jewellery.

1. What is Lab-Grown Polki?

While most people are familiar with lab-grown diamonds, lab-grown polki is a relatively newer concept that combines traditional aesthetics with modern technique.

• Understanding Polki: Polki refers to an irregular, sliced diamond cut that delivers a raw, vintage, and old-world charm.

• The Process: Lab-grown polki is created using lab-grown diamond material. Instead of being cut into a standard, highly faceted brilliant shape, it is cut in a classic polki style.

• Craftsmanship: Lab-grown polkis are cut and polished by the exact same artisans who work with natural mined polkis. This ensures that the finish, quality, and craftsmanship remain identical.

• The Takeaway: "Lab-grown" indicates where the diamond material was produced, while "polki" describes its traditional cut and look.

2. Does Silver Hold Diamonds Securely?

A common misconception is that silver cannot hold diamonds properly or that the stone might fall out over time.

• The Reality of Setting: A diamond's security does not depend on whether the setting metal is gold or silver. Instead, it relies entirely on good craftsmanship, proper settings, and precise manufacturing.

• Quality Assurance: High-quality silver pieces—such as those crafted in 925 sterling silver with rhodium or gold plating—securely set diamonds just like traditional gold jewellery.

• Tarnish & Wear: Rhodium-plated silver jewellery retains its appearance over years of wear. Even as plating gradually wears off over time, the natural silver color underneath reflects through, preventing it from turning black.

• The Takeaway: Don't let myths about silver settings stop you from acquiring quality jewellery at a more accessible price point.

3. 3 Design Secrets to Make Your Diamond Look Larger

If you want your diamond to have a grander presence without increasing its carat weight, these three setting techniques can help maximize visual impact:

1. The Halo Setting: Surrounding the center stone with a border of tiny diamonds adds extra brilliance and makes the main diamond appear noticeably larger.

2. The Prong Setting: Minimizing the metal coverage around your diamond allows it to look bigger. Choosing a 4-prong setting over a 6-prong setting exposes more of the stone and lets in more light.

3. The Open Gallery: An open gallery design features an opening underneath the stone. This allows light to pass through from below, making the diamond look brighter, larger, and almost suspended in air.

4. Understanding Hallmarks: What Do Those Stamps Mean?

That small stamp inside a ring or on a pendant is known as a hallmark—and it serves as your official proof of quality.

• Why Hallmarking Matters: A hallmark confirms the purity of the metal and guarantees authenticity, purity, and trust.

• Silver Markings: For silver jewellery, look for the "925" stamp, which signifies genuine 925 sterling silver.

• Gold Markings: For gold jewellery, always look for an official BIS Hallmark alongside the carat indication, such as 14K or 18K.

• The BIS Certification: In India, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) manages the official certification system that guarantees metal purity.

Checking for proper stamps on every gold or silver purchase ensures you get the exact purity and value you are paying for.