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For discerning clients wanting their belly piercing to complement the quality of their engagement ring and other diamond jewellery, Pobjoy collection and bespoke diamond belly ring designs are really the only option.  

A key component to our ethical policy is to clearly differentiate between natural earth mined diamonds and lab-grown diamonds across all our marketing channels. Providing as much transparency and educational resources regarding our diamonds and fine jewellery is paramount in achieving the very best outcomes for all our customers. Independent, third party diamond grading and certification provide perhaps the greatest assurance when making a purchase from Pobjoy Diamonds, as well as more granular details which are often not volunteered by other retailers. We therefore welcome a new standard for lab-grown diamonds, which will provide much-needed “clarity” for retailers and consumers when it launches in 2024, according to the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC). (For the full article see Professional Jeweller July 2023)   The organisation first unveiled plans to develop a standard for lab-grown materials (LGMs) in 2021 as a way to establish best practice – including the requirement for full disclosure – for such materials when used in jewellery products. It has gone through several rounds of public consultations and input from the multi-stakeholder Standards Committee to ensure the development provides a clear and robust framework for both the trade and consumers. Melanie Grant, executive director of the RJC, stated: “At the RJC we know there is a market and demand for both natural and lab-grown diamonds. “We believe that consumers should fully understand the source behind both – whether that is mined from the earth for natural diamonds, or manufactured in a factory for lab-grown diamonds. “There are existing standards for natural diamonds; the need for a completely new set of comprehensive standards covering lab-grown diamonds is recognised by the industry.   Courtesy of The Professional Jeweller   

This post includes excerpts from an article originally published online by JCK in 2021. We are increasingly asked how a natural diamond can be distinguished from a lab created stone. It is both a very good and extremely important question. After all, with the difference in value between a large high grade natural diamond and an equivalent grade lab grown diamond being tens of thousands of pounds, there is a lot riding on it. And the reality is that it is an increasingly challenging task, and of which the diamond grading institutes are acutely aware. Unsurprisingly, they often are called upon to verify whether a particular diamond is naturally formed or lab created, with fraudsters endeavouring to match lab grown diamonds with the precise grading specifications of existing natural diamonds' GIA and IGI certificates. To quote Tom Moses, the executive vice president of the GIA, one of the world's most respected grading institutes “What seems to be occurring with more frequency is people are being very careful in making the copy as close to the original as possible. So if you take a look at the report data and you take a look at the stone, look at the colour, look at the proportions, the girdle thickness, and put it on the scale, you’ll find they are virtually the same. [The cheaters] are being extremely careful at finding matches for material that mimics the natural diamond.” However, the GIA and the IGI say they can identify all lab grown diamonds using highly specialised scientific equipment. And in some cases, certain lab-grown diamonds have bluish, greenish or brownish tinges—due to treatments or boron doping—which could be a possible clue, although Moses notes some natural diamonds have these tinges too. (read more about BGM here). “It isn’t always such a red flag that most people would notice it,” he says. The GIA also now offers a low-cost update and verification service to both the trade and the public. Moses says that they are also working on an “imaging system where a dealer could take the captured image of the diamond and send it to the cloud and, using artificial intelligence and algorithms, we would be able to say, ‘Yes, that is the diamond that we graded,’ or ‘No, that is not the diamond we graded.’ I believe that will essentially make this issue go away.” This pragmatic and proactive approach adopted by the grading institutes is certainly reassuring.  Nevertheless, it demonstrates that even the most respected grading labs in the world are only able to tell the two types of diamond apart by remaining at the very top of their game.   Read more about lab grown diamonds Read more about diamond grading and certification  

In response to numerous requests from our existing clients, we have launched a new diamond jewellery and engagement ring replication service starting January 2023. While we offer a discount to clients who have previously purchased natural diamond jewellery from Pobjoy, this service is also available to new customers. The premise is straightforward enough; send us images of your existing piece of diamond jewellery (or the item itself) including key measurements and whatever details you have regarding it's diamond/s and we will create a copy.     We will then source certified lab created diamonds to perfectly match the original stone/s and match the precious metal in which it is set. So your finished piece will look and feel exactly the same as the original, but at a much lower price. Of course, if you would prefer us to set higher grade lab created diamonds or your preferred natural mined diamond in the replica piece, we will do that instead. And we guarantee that your new ring will display exactly the same exceptional quality and crafsmanship as every one of our other creations. If you have a personalised message or other unique feature that you would like us to include, no problem. We want to ensure that you feel just as happy wearing your replica piece as you do the original. So on those occasions when you don't feel comfortable wearing your high value diamond jewellery, now you can...   Wear your replica ring in circumstances you are concerned about theft Wear it in the event of loss of - or damage to - your natural diamond ring Reduce insurance premiums, subject to your insurer's terms & conditions    Find out more Request your obligation-free quote    

Pink diamonds continue to be the world’s most highly sought "fancy" diamond colour. So you can imagine the excitement when Western Australian-based Lucapa Diamond Company unearthed this huge 170 carat pink diamond from the Lulo mine in Angola.     The type IIa rough has been dubbed the Lulo Rose and is believed to be the largest pink diamond discovered in the past three centuries. The largest pink diamond, Darya-i-Noor, polished at 186 carats originates from the Kollur Mine in India. The diamond is currently part of the Iranian crown jewels in Tehran. The Pink Star (59.6 carats)  shattered auction records when it was sold for $71.2 million at Sotheby’s in 2017. Many other pink diamonds have produced staggering results at auction. The 34.65-carat Princie Diamond fetched $39.3 million while 24.78-carat Graff Pink was sold for $46.2 million. Lucapa has revealed plans to sell the diamond through an international tender conducted by Angola’s state-run diamond marketing company, Sodiam. Explore pink ethical diamonds Explore fancy coloured diamonds   This blog includes excerpts from an original article by Samuel Ord in Jeweller magazine, published July 28, 2022 .  

Diamonds displaying noticeable colour hues are also known as "fancy coloured diamonds". They come in all kinds of tones, with yellow being the most prevalent, while pinks and blues are much rarer.     As with white colourless diamonds, reputable gemological institutions such as the IGI and GIA evaluate, grade and certify coloured diamonds using standardised metrics. With fancy diamonds the focus is of course on colour. Colour is assessed based on tone and intensity starting from faint through to vivid and dark. This colour tone and intensity (assuming the diamond is well cut and proportioned) is what informs the beauty and desirability of each stone - and indeed it's rarity. Accordingly, a sought-after premium grade vivid blue or pink coloured diamond carries with it a hefty price tag.     And while the value of well cut white diamonds increases exponentially with carat weight, this is even more exaggerated in the case of fancy diamonds. For example, a half carat round brilliant cut fancy pink diamond of VS clarity is likely to set you back a cool £40,000 - assuming you can find one. See Colour Charts   However, a full one carat version will be nearer £100,000. In blue, the price may be as much as double that. Which leads us neatly on to the more accessible alternative; fancy lab created diamonds.    0.55 carat fancy intense pink VS2 lab diamonds As the focus of this particular blog is upon coloured lab diamonds we shall not delve too deeply into comparisons with mined diamonds in general. However, you can find out more about lab created diamonds here. Needless to say, a fancy lab diamond and a mined diamond of the same carat weight, colour, cut and clarity look identical and have the same chemical composition and properties. But when it comes to price, the difference is breathtaking. Establishing precise price comparables is tricky, primarily because there simply aren't that many desirable coloured mined diamonds available at any given time. Nevertheless, this IGI certified, 0.70 carat round brilliant cut fancy intense pink VS1 mined diamond we estimate would be priced in the region of £65,000.    Play video    By way of comparison, the same colour and specification lab created version is available from Pobjoy Diamonds for just £2,495  * And if pink isn't your thing, perhaps this 1.10 carat fancy vivid blue cushion cut tickles your fancy?  We estimate the mined diamond version would fetch around £120,000. Or you could buy this IGI certified ethically created lab version for £3,850.    Play video   While the availability of coloured lab diamonds is more plentiful than earth created equivalents, truly desirable ones remain strictly limited at any given time. As with white lab diamonds, it is crucial to seek out premium cut, grade and colour examples. You may also need some patience, but it will be worth the wait. Remember that all the guidelines apply equally; whether you are selecting an exceptional earth diamond or the lab grown variety. h    Whether set in an elegant ring mount, a gorgeous pair of earrings or perhaps a platinum or gold pendant, a carefully chosen coloured diamond looks simply sensational. Whether you are looking to buy a loose earth or lab created diamond, have it set within one of our ring or jewellery designs or would like something entirely bespoke just contact us on +44 (0) 20 3998 3075. Shop "Fancy" Coloured Ethical Diamonds     See world's largest pink diamond in 300 years See 15 carat Cullinan Blue diamond Arrange an appointment     * At 02/08/2022      

  While education relating to laboratory (or "lab") grown diamonds seems to be improving, the perception amongst the consumer is still mixed and often polarised. Perhaps the most common misconception is that these are false or fake diamonds. They are not.  When we talk about fake diamonds they are usually glass or of a similar consistency which look at first (and distant!) glance like a genuine diamond. However, synthetics such as cubic zirconias are lacking in any hint or hue of colour or fluorescence, do not sparkle to anywhere the near same degree as a well cut diamond, lack the same overall brilliance and of course will chip and crack when worn regularly. SHOP LOOSE LAB DIAMONDS IN STOCK  h Furthermore, they do not display the same internal structural nor chemical characteristics of a diamond and are instantly detectable as fake by your local jeweller. Ironically, their lack of even the tiniest blemish or inclusion is yet another giveaway. A lab grown diamond on the other hand is, well, a diamond. The difference is that it has been evolved and grown under laboratory conditions. It must therefore be referred to and certified as being lab grown. SPOT THE DIFFERENCE? Even to gemologists both types of diamond look identical, assuming they are of similar grade. A useful analogy is the cultured pearl which is grown in freshwater under controlled conditions, compared to a pearl discovered and extracted from it's natural  habitat. The process of growing the diamond essentially replicates and hugely accelerates the formation process of a natural mined diamond. (The natural diamond is formed under the earth's surface over thousands of years). And like the formation of a natural "earth" diamond, the lab grown version is subject to the forces of nature with regards to how clear and white it is once formed. While the sophisticated equipment and substantial human skillsets necessary in the laboratory growing process continue to evolve, it is not possible to grow a diamond to a predetermined carat weight, colour and clarity.  As with a naturally formed diamond therefore, each "rough" laboratory grown version (which uses a natural diamond "seed" as it's starting point) has it's very own entirely unique profile. The rough lab diamond also has to then be "planned" using laser technology to determine which shapes and sizes of stones it should be "chopped" in to in the first instance. Then each individual stone has to be polished and intricately cut to produce the finished article, ready to set within the appropriate item of fine jewellery. In terms of defining the precise quality and grade, each Pobjoy lab grown diamond is evaluated by one of the leading independent gemological institutes; the IGI or the GIA. As with naturally formed diamonds, lab grown diamonds are forensically examined and measured to establish their carat weight, colour, clarity, cut, polish and symmetry. Each institute then produces a numbered certificate for the stone it has graded, detailing all these specific variables. This unique number is also nano-inscribed by laser along the girdle (the outer narrow rim) of the diamond and the details retained for verification in the future. WATCH VIDEO OF LAB DIAMOND FORMATION   Conclusions When buying a lab grown diamond it is essential for it to be supplied to you with this certificate. The certificate enables you to check the validity of the diamond and it's grading against the independent institute's own online records. It also provides you with independent confirmation as to what it is you are buying. Of course when it comes to price, this is where there is a marked difference between the naturally formed and lab grown diamond, with the latter typically costing between 60% and 70% less. If you would like to compare a naturally formed and laboratory grown diamond please contact us to arrange an appointment.     Fancy coloured lab diamonds Search lab diamonds  See more about lab diamonds Shop lab diamond rings & jewellery

When it comes to looking for just the right diamond, it seems that the more you learn the more you feel you might still need to know! On the one hand are the gemologists who have built up considerable knowledge of all things pertaining to precious gemstones. On the other is the customer who, quite understandibly, has limited experience and understanding of what they should be looking for. This presents a challenge for reputable jewellers: provide customers with as much information as possible to help them  make an informed decision- but avoid making the process confusing and laborious. To draw a parallel with buying a new car, few of us are experts and it is not something we do on a regular basis. Nevertheless, it represents a substantial  financial commitment and we need to live with our decision for some time to come. Most importantly too, we tend to buy something that appeals to us. Something that talks to our hearts, not just our heads. By taking a top down approach, this whole process becomes less daunting. Sure, it does require a little focus and attention but it is well worth it. When you appreciate that an almost flawless one carat diamond can be worth three times or more than a much lower grade stone of similar weight, some rudamentary knowledge can really help you in making the right call. And help you avoid paying too much for something you don't really want. Most of us will have heard of the "4 C's". You can see more about the "4 C's" here, but let's highlight a few key points in summary: Cut  This is not to be confused with the shape. The cut refers to the myriad of intricate angles and shapes cut in to the diamond. This directly informs the general level of sparkle and liveliness of the stone, whatever the colour and clarity. We advise opting for Excellent or Very Good. Colour  More important than clarity, colour is graded in order of merit from D (the "whitest") through to Z (the most "yellow"). D,E and F are considered the top colour group. G and H are near colourless. Colour F is extremely difficult to distinguish from D or E and typically priced a tad lower. As a rule of thumb we suggest going for a colour grade of H or higher  On the subject of colour it is also important to consider fluorescence, milkiness and shading. These factors will also have an impact on how clean and white the diamond looks. Clarity The clearer the diamond the better. Flawless diamonds ("FL") are rare and therefore more valuable. In the case of larger carat weight stones, clarity has a significant influence on price. But tiny inclusions and fissures can be extremely difficult to see with the naked eye. In fact, a  diamond which is considered "eyeclean" (meaning that any such marks cannot be seen without magnification) is going to represent much better value for money. It is possible to find a seemingly clear diamond with a grade of "Si1" (Slightly Included). Just reach out to us if you would like further guidance.   Carat Weight  Essentially, the correct term for the size of any given                diamond. This is the easiest of the 4 C's to establish and unsurprisingly has a direct influence on value, albeit in the context of the other "C's" considered above. It is worth noting that the surface (or "face up") area does not increase by anywhere near the same proportion as a corresponding increase in it's weight. See recent blog    LAUNCH DIAMOND SEARCH    Select Natural Diamonds (default) or  Lab Grown Diamonds by selecting tab in header. For coloured diamonds such as pinks and blues, select the tab marked fancy, which you will find to the centre right of the screen. Select desired diamond shape from the icons Use the slider or - if easier - key in the minimum and maximum carat weight  Select the colour range, with D being the whitest Select cut - we recommend Very Good or Excellent Stipulate a price range or leave blank (default) More Filters. We suggest selecting Good polish or above For Table please refer to our guide on diamond anatomy Fluorescence - we suggest opting for None to Medium For most diamond shapes Good symmetry and above is advisable. In the case of oval, pear and marquise cut the symmetry is more crucial and should ideally be Very Good or Excellent For Depth please refer to diamond anatomy Lab refers to the gemological institute which has graded and certified the specific diamond See certification   Once you click on a specific diamond a more detaild product page will open. You are then able to add to cart and proceed to checkout or continue shopping. If there is more information you require about any individual diamond please reach out to us. If the specific diamond you select does not include a video or image we can usually send these to you. +44 (0) 20 3998 3075 More Ways To Contact Us