Only the most beautiful stones go on to become Chupi diamond engagement rings. Working with the renowned International Gemological Institute (IGI) and the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), the world's largest independent laboratories for testing and grading gemstones and fine jewellery, our expert team apply some of the industry’s strictest diamond grading standards to ensure your engagement ring is as precious and unique as the love story it’s celebrating.
Whether you’re curious about the 4Cs or want to learn more about how we select Chupi diamonds, read on to learn more about our precious gemstones and meticulous selection process.
The 4Cs
Every diamond can be assessed using an international industry standard known as the 4Cs: Cut, Carat, Clarity and Colour.
Cut
Not to be confused with a diamond’s shape, cut refers to a diamond’s uniquely crafted facets and angles, and is the most important of the 4Cs, as it dictates how much sparkle, fire and brilliance a diamond has.
Even if a diamond has a high colour, clarity grade and carat weight, a poor cut will mean it will appear dull and lacklustre. A diamond’s cut grade is determined by the precision of the cut, its symmetry and its polish and a great deal of craftsmanship is required to create a sparkling, well-cut stone.
Here at Chupi, we only select round brilliant diamonds that have received a “Triple Excellent” rating for cut, symmetry and polish from either the IGI or the GIA – the highest grade cut in the industry.
Colour
The second most important of the 4Cs, colour refers to whether the diamond contains any hint or tint of yellow. The closer a stone is to being “colourless”, the rarer and more valuable it is – gemological industry standards rate stones from Colourless (grades D, E and F) to Near Colourless (G, H, I, J) through to Faint Yellow (K, L, M), Very Light Yellow (N, O, P, Q, R) and Light Yellow (S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z).
Chupi only uses D, E, F, G or H colour diamonds, ensuring your engagement ring will have a divine brilliant white appearance.
Clarity
Clarity refers to the absence or presence of inclusions and blemishes. In white diamonds, the fewer inclusions the better, as inclusions can affect how the diamond refracts and returns light, directly impacting its ability to sparkle.
Grades for clarity range from FL (Flawless) through to IF (Internally Flawless), VVS1, VVS2 (Very, Very Slightly Included) through to SI1 and SI2 (Slightly Included) and I diamonds (Imperfect).
At Chupi, we have exceptionally high standards for purity and rarity, and we only select VS and above white diamonds, meaning they have no imperfections visible to the naked eye.
However, for grey diamonds, it is these so-called flaws that give them the unique stormy beauty we adore. Here, we only select stones with the most distinctive, unusual inclusions
Carat
While carat may be the most headline-grabbing of the 4Cs, it is far, far less important than cut, clarity and colour in determining the rarity and quality of a diamond.
Contrary to popular belief, a diamond’s carat refers simply to the weight of the stone, not its size – depending on how it is shaped and cut, a diamond with a higher carat weight might even appear smaller than another.
The Chupi Diamond Offering
From certified Triple Excellent round brilliant diamonds to cutting-edge lab-grown diamonds and fierce and stormy greys, we have a unique selection of beautiful stones to choose from.
Lab-Grown Diamonds
Sustainable, traceable and molecularly identical to mined diamonds, our collection of lab-grown diamond rings features stones with unparalleled sparkle and fire.
Each stone is held to the same standards of rarity and value as mined diamonds and is cut, polished and certified in the same way a mined diamond would be.
However, instead of being mined from the earth, lab-grown diamonds are grown in a lab from a diamond ‘seed’. Cutting edge technology is used to replicate conditions you would find in the earth’s crust, resulting in a beautiful, unique diamond that is as much a real diamond as a mined stone. Additionally, all of our lab-grown diamonds are also certified carbon neutral.
> Learn more about lab-grown diamonds
Recycled diamonds
All natural resources are finite and precious. Here at Chupi, sustainability is a factor in every decision we make, and we are committed to reducing the demand for mining wherever possible.
Diamonds are the hardest of natural materials, and so can be used more than once with no trace of wear. Over 80 per cent of the classic diamonds in our collection are recycled and sourced from long-sanded trusted suppliers, Using recycled diamonds means no new mining is required, avoiding any additional environmental impact.
> Learn more about our sustainability commitments
Grey diamonds
Long considered a by-product of the diamond industry, Chupi has championed the unique beauty of grey diamonds, creating a one-of-a-kind grey diamond collection that makes the perfect alternative engagement ring.
Grey diamonds are the same as traditional diamonds but they carry striking inclusions of carbon and other minerals captured within them as they formed over millions of years. This gives each stone its unique hues, tones and patterns of light – which is why we love them so.
Each of our grey diamonds is carefully selected by hand and varies from dark and stormy to bright and fiery.
> Learn more about grey diamonds
Mined diamonds
While we are passionate about using lab-grown and recycled diamonds wherever possible, all of our newly mined diamonds are certified through the Kimberley Process – an independent certification to ensure the origin of the stone is not subsidising conflict or war.
Diamond shapes
Diamond shapes are categorised into two groups. The first, round diamonds, sometimes known as round brilliant cut, are the most traditional shape, and the only kind to get an official cut grade from international independent testing and grading labs.
All other diamond shapes fall into a category dubbed ‘fancy-shaped diamonds’. Here at Chupi, our fancy shape diamonds include cushion, emerald, baguette, marquise and oval.
While round brilliant is the most traditional diamond shape, especially in engagement rings, no one shape is better than another, as it all comes down to personal preference and what makes your heart beat faster when you see it sparkle on your own hand.
Round
Each of a round diamond’s 58 facets has been designed to maximise brilliance and shine. As the only shape to receive an official grade for cut, symmetry and polish, we make sure to only select the very best round brilliant stones for our white diamonds collection, with each receiving the highest industry cut standard of “Triple Excellent” from the IGI or the GIA.
Oval
The elegant, elongated shape of an oval makes it a universally flattering shape. With lots of the brilliance of a round diamond but a more unique shape, ovals also make stunning centrepieces in a ceremonial ring stack.
Emerald
Unique and striking, the graphic lines and Art Deco feel of emerald-shaped diamonds have seen them soar in popularity.
Instead of the twinkle and sparkle of a round brilliant diamond, emerald-shaped diamonds are ‘step cut’, leading to long, linear, mirror-like facets and flashes of shine that add to their unique appeal.
Cushion cut
Elegant but still contemporary, modern cushion cut diamonds are known for their soft and pillowy rounded edges. They are inspired by a vintage diamond called the Old Mine Cut, which dates back to the Georgian era in the 1700s.
