Natural diamonds. An extraordinary beginning.

Deep beneath the surface, heat and pressure brought carbon atoms together into crystals. Ancient volcanic eruptions carried them upwards. Most natural diamonds are between one and three billion years old.

The stone in your hand is a small part of that immense history.

A diamond grows with its own internal characteristics, proportions and colour. These details give each stone an identity.

A cutter studies the rough crystal before shaping its facets. In the finished diamond, nature and craftsmanship meet in the light.

Cut, colour, clarity and carat weight give you a language for comparing diamonds. Cut describes craftsmanship and the way a stone handles light. Colour and clarity describe its appearance. Carat measures its weight.

Together, the 4Cs help explain a diamond's value. Our specialists can walk you through them, then help you see the differences for yourself.

Start with the person who will wear it. The outline of a centre stone sets the tone; the setting and metal make it personal. A round brilliant, an elongated oval or an emerald cut each brings a different presence to the hand.

Try shapes you love and one you might not have considered. We will help you find the balance of character, comfort and proportion that feels right.

The natural diamond story includes the people and places connected to it. The Natural Diamond Council documents initiatives supporting local businesses, skills training and conservation in diamond-producing regions.

Its reporting on Southern Africa includes programmes backed by De Beers that help entrepreneurs build businesses beyond mining. These are specific projects, with people and communities at their centre.