Diamondsthrough the Loupe
We talk Loupe Diamonds
Our infatuation with diamonds is no secret, and it's a love story that's as deep and brilliant as the gems themselves. What sets us apart is our curiosity, passion, and attention to the finest details.
Under the expert eye of Chloe, our Loupe Diamond Buyer and GIA Graduate Gemologist, each diamond in the Loupe collections is carefully chosen by hand and eye for its allure beyond certification. Delve deeper into what makes a Loupe diamond so special, along with lots of inspiration to curate your own diamond collection.
Uncover Fire, Brilliance, and Scintillation
Each diamond in our collections is carefully chosen by eye, and we focus on the perfect balance of three essential components: fire, brilliance, and scintillation. This balance is what truly sets our diamonds alight, just like a firework, they’re nothing less than uniquely captivating.
Scintillation is the play of light interacting with the diamond's facets, creating flashes of brightness and darkness most visible when in motion.
Diamond brilliance is the amount of light that is reflected back from a diamond and is affected by its cut, clarity, and colour, as well as the quality of its polish and symmetry.
Just like the world’s most intense firework, the fire of a diamond is the colourful flashes of light that the stone diffuses whilst under the light.
Decoding the Four Cs
The 4 Cs of a diamond – cut, colour, clarity, and carat – are the key factors that determine its beauty. While our eyes play a significant role in choosing a diamond, Loupe diamonds promise quality with a minimum grade of SI1 or higher and each diamond comes with a certificate detailing its specific qualities, personally signed by Chloe.
Cut
The most important C of them all is cut, as it’s the symmetry, proportions and accuracy of the cut that determines the diamond's fire, brilliance, and scintillation. A well cut diamond can only be seen by eye and that’s why every stone is hand-chosen. We look for the perfect arrangement of facets and light, ensuring that only the most radiant and fiery diamonds make the cut for Loupe.
Colour
Diamonds are graded from ‘D’ (colourless) to ‘Z’ (tinted) by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), and that’s why we only select exceptional diamonds falling within the near colourless range (D-G). This means that when you own a Loupe diamond, it will be completely devoid of any visible colour, radiating a bright white brilliance.
Clarity
Diamond clarity, much like a fingerprint, is determined by the presence of internal characteristics known as inclusions and external characteristics called blemishes, which are formed deep within the earth under immense heat and pressure. All Loupe diamonds are SI1 or above (meaning there are no visible inclusions to the naked eye). This rigorous standard means only the finest make the final cut, and our selection process goes far beyond mere certifications.
Carat
When it comes to measuring a diamond's size, it’s all about the weight, not the size (one carat equals 0.20 grams). At Loupe, we provide diamond carats of up to 2ct. It’s certainly an influencing factor on the value, of course, but it’s the combination of all the 4 Cs that’s important and that’s why we search for perfectly formed diamonds, every time.
Beyond the Four Cs
Our other Cs give you what we like to call ‘the Loupe seal of approval’: Confidence, Certification, and Care. We look outside the 4 Cs when we select our diamonds and that’s why each and every piece in our collections is completely unique.
Investing in diamonds needs to be done with utter confidence. That's why we select diamonds with exceptional life and scintillation, and we buy as if we’re buying for ourselves. Look for the Loupe logo engraved on every piece. Read more on our hallmarking process here.
A Loupe diamond is so special because each one is hand-selected to meet the highest standards of quality. That’s why every diamond ring and piece of diamond jewellery comes with a certificate signed by Chloe, giving you her personal seal of approval.
Aftercare isn't just an afterthought at Loupe, and we want to make sure your Loupe diamond keeps its undeniable sparkling power. That’s why we offer a lifetime of care in our boutiques and online. Read more and we’ll let you in on all the secrets to a lifetime of scintillation.
Diamond cuts and shapes
While the two terms are commonly used interchangeably, it is important to recognise that true beauty and brilliance come from the diamond's cut, rather than its shape alone. Diamond shape refers to the stunning silhouette that catches your eye while the cut focuses on symmetry, proportions, and light play.
Cutting techniques
The three main cutting techniques for diamonds are the brilliant cut, step cut, and mixed cut. Brilliant cut diamonds have 57 or 58 facets that increase brilliance and light return, while step cut diamonds have long and narrow facets, perfect for emphasising colour and clarity, with the most popular being the emerald cut. Mixed cut diamonds combine both step and brilliant facets, seen in newer diamond shapes such as princess, cushion, and radiant cut diamonds.
Loupe Diamond Shape Chart
We believe that when it comes to choosing your diamond shape you’ll just know when you’ve found the one. Loupe diamond shapes include round brilliant, oval, princess, pear, emerald, cushion, baguette, and more.
Whatever it is you’re looking for, we’ll find your new favourite piece together.
Metals, settings, and styles
When choosing a diamond piece, the setting, metal, and style of your ring are crucial factors to consider. We’ve collated all the noteworthy metals, settings and styles below.
Our core metals
With lustrous settings sculpted using only the finest precious metals — platinum and 18ct gold, each Loupe diamond piece is nothing less than uniquely captivating. Whether you are drawn to the sophisticated shimmer of platinum and white gold or the warm, classic glow of yellow gold, these metals provide an unparalleled lustre and a versatility that knows no bounds. With their hypoallergenic properties and remarkable resistance to scratches, tarnishing, and corrosion, it's no wonder they are at the core of our creations.
Diamond ring settings
Destined to adorn the hands of those who appreciate the finer things in life, discover timeless and contemporary settings, from classical solitaire to stylish pavé and channel settings all crafted to the finest detail.
Claw Setting
A claw setting consists of small metal prongs that wrap around the diamond to secure it, resembling claws (hence the name), which allows more light to enter the stone enhancing its brilliance and scintillation.
Pavé Setting
This is where small diamonds are set closely together to add extra scintillation and allure to a diamond ring.
Channel Setting
For a channel setting, diamonds are set into a channel of metal which is smooth and seamless, to accent the diamonds on the band of the ring.
Diamond ring styles
Every Loupe setting tells a unique story, from the classic elegance of a solitaire diamond ring to the heartfelt meaning of a three stone diamond ring, we’ll talk you through the captivating settings and hidden details that make each piece as lust worthy as the next.
Meet our Insiders
Our Loupe Diamond Buyer, Chloe, tells us what makes a Loupe diamond so unique.
"We hand select each Loupe diamond, so you get to see the individual fire, brilliance and scintillation that adds to its allure. What you see when looking at a diamond through a loupe is almost like energy that you can feel when you’re buying them.”
- Chloe, Diamond and Jewellery Buyer
Find out what makes being a Loupe Diamond Buyer so special, including the travel destination that filled her with tears of joy. Intrigued? Read more here.
Curate your Loupe diamond collection
Ready to curate your own diamond jewellery collection? Let Chloe, our Diamond Buyer, talk you through her tips and tricks before you delve in. Believe us when we say there really is no one we trust more when it comes to our treasure troves.
Loupe InsidersTips & Expertise
Timeless is key - “My advice would be to start with a timeless piece from our Loupe Icons collection such as a diamond stud earring or a solitaire diamond pendant. These are classic pieces which are really a staple in anybody’s jewellery box.”
Make it meaningful - “Over time you might choose to celebrate certain milestones in your life with some more statement pieces of diamond jewellery such as something from the Asteria collection which will always remind you of that time in your life.”
Maximalism, always - “If you fancy something extra special, then I would say go for one of our one-of-a-kind Loupe Delectable pieces.”
Our thoughtfully curated collections
Discover the unique stories and hidden details in every Loupe diamond collection. From the hidden halos in our Confidante collection to the diamonds inside the hoops of the Loupe Icons collection, each piece is crafted with rich 18ct golds, lustrous platinum, and hand picked diamonds and gemstones. Trust us, our collections speak for themselves.
What to expect in a bespoke diamond consultation at Loupe
We take delight in providing you with a personalised experience in our Milton Keynes and Croydon boutiques. That’s why when you step through the doors everything is curated just for you. Let our boutique experts help you find the perfect diamond piece in the ambience of one of our completely private areas and enjoy a tipple or decadent delight of your choice (trust us, you won’t be disappointed).
Explore the latest diamond collections in our Loupe boutiques.
The golden rules of diamond care
We know when you find the piece you love, you might never want to take it off. But sometimes you need to lose the diamonds, to keep them looking their best. Brush up on your jewellery beauty skills and follow our tailored tips for your happily ever aftercare below.
Take off your diamonds...
- When showering or soaking - particularly with chlorine as this can really damage them.
- When applying perfume, hair products or hand sanitiser. Or just put your diamond jewellery on last.
- When sleeping, cooking, or cleaning – and if any chemicals come into contact, just rinse them off.