Ethica Diamonds: Luxury Reimagined

Ethica Diamonds is a women-led, purpose-driven luxury brand founded in 2010. We were born out of a determination to create a different kind of jewellery house - one that is inclusive, accessible, and entirely free from the environmental and ethical compromises that have long shadowed our industry.

Our vision is guided by three foundational pillars: People, Planet, and Perfection. These principles inspire every decision we make, ensuring our jewellery looks as beautiful as the values it represents.

A Passion for People

Jewellery often marks life’s most profound moments, and we believe that joy should be felt by everyone involved in its journey. We strive to create pieces that bring happiness to our customers while contributing positively to the lives of our team and the broader community. From the first sketch to the final polish, we recognise the significance a piece holds for its wearer, and we treat that trust with the utmost care.

A Promise to the Planet

We recognise that the traditional jewellery industry has left a heavy footprint on the environment. We have chosen a different path. By exclusively utilising diamonds and gemstones grown above ground, we actively minimise our ecological impact and preserve our precious Earth. Our commitment to sustainable alternatives ensures that you can celebrate your milestones without compromising the future of our planet.

An Obsession with Quality

We are unwavering in our pursuit of craftsmanship. We create exceptional pieces, where attention to detail is paramount. Our standard is simple: we never create anything that we wouldn’t be proud to wear ourselves.

Ethica Diamonds is a purpose driven Cornish jewellery brand that specialises in diamonds and gemstones grown above ground and metals that are 100% recycled or responsibly mined. We are winners in the Jewellery Category for the Marie Claire Sustainability Awards and score 100% in the Good Shopping Guide for ethical jewellers above prominent brands including Tiffany & Michael Kors. We support local communities, prohibit child labour, ensure safe working conditions, and are a member of 1% for the Planet, pledging a portion of sales towards environmental preservation. We are also a member of the Living Wage Foundation.

In 2025, we have been very pro active and aim to give back even further to communities both far, wide and local. We have pledged to give a percentage of our profits to local charities doing good things including Cornwall Wildlife Trust, Cornwall Air Ambulance and Surfers Against Sewage. Another charity that is close to our hearts at Ethica is How Many Elephants, a non-profit organisation that is women-led, women-focused and impact-driven, supporting African elephants and female rangers on the frontline globally. We’ve also partnered with Greenspark to maximise our positive impact on the planet and its people. We are recording our C02 offsetting, plastic bottles that are rescued and tree and kelp planting.

We are a fine jewellery brand dedicated to harnessing the power of technology, working toward a future where there is no compromise between sustainability and beauty and make meaningful and ethical jewellery for our modern world.

Together, we aim to protect our environment and enhance lives and your support helps us make a difference.

Diamond certificates help authenticate a diamond’s characteristics for quality and pricing purposes. A certified diamond is very important to a consumer because without one it is much like buying a car without a warranty.

All of the stones we set are independently certified with the exception of small stones that are too small to be certified. All of our lab diamonds are certified by the IGI using international standards. 

We offer three options as an alternative to mined diamonds, all of which are lab grown and aligned with our company values of ethics and integrity. 

Lab Grown Diamonds
All of our lab grown diamond jewellery options are set with carefully chosen lab diamonds that are VVS clarity and a choice of D-F colour. We use a small selection of diamond growers who are committed to climate neutrality and/or carbon negative efforts and investments in clean technology.  These growers use advanced technology which uses notably less energy than either industrial mining or standard lab grown diamonds that use fossil fuels for their production.  The energy they use is good energy — renewable hydro or solar power energy depending on the grower.

Premium Grade Moissanite
These gemstones are very close in structure, composition and hardness to diamond offering the same toughness and longevity, and have the additional benefit of being even less expensive than lab diamond. They are also independently certified, to international standards. These gemstones are a premium grade moissanite (silicon carbide) with a diamond infusion, cut and fully faceted to exact diamond proportions, so they are not just regular moissanite.
We stock these stones at consistent E colour, VVS1 clarity and excellent cut so all have these specifications. 

Coloured Gemstones
Our coloured gemstones are predominantly laboratory grown too, but sometimes customers ask us to source natural coloured stones to put into their jewellery. For these, we only use a supply that comes directly from the small scale mines where a special colour code system is in place. This means that we can select gems that have come directly which ensures they are ethically sound.

We have two different types of lab grown gemstones: those which are chemically identical to their natural counterparts with the same hardness (ie lab grown sapphires, emeralds and rubies) and coloured moissanite, such as champagne, blue, green and many other beautiful colours. Moissanite is an especially hard gemstone (9.7 Mohs), meaning the durability is not too dissimilar to diamond. This is usually the biggest downfall when purchasing a gemstone, as they are generally much softer than diamond and are prone to scratches and chips.  Our coloured moissanite does not have this limitation.

Our Materials: Sourced with Integrity

We believe that the beauty of a diamond should be matched by the integrity of its journey. By sourcing our lab-grown diamonds directly from master growers and utilising responsibly sourced metals, we provide a transparent path from the laboratory to your jewellery box.

Our Diamonds: Purity and Purpose

Every piece in our collection is available set with lab-grown diamonds. We select Type IIa diamonds - the rarest and most chemically pure category of diamond, representing only 2% of the world’s supply.

We are highly selective of our partners, prioritising growers who utilise renewable energy or are actively transitioning toward it. We believe the true sustainability of a lab-grown diamond lies in its carbon footprint. Therefore, we work with a dedicated selection of growers who are fully committed to climate neutrality. Our partners adhere to rigorous global standards, including SMETA, RMI, RJC, LBMA, and Astute, and remain compliant with the United Nations Greenhouse Gas Protocol for environmental accountability.

Our Precious Metals: Gold & Platinum

Traditional mining for precious metals can be devastating to ecosystems and high-risk for workers. We have chosen a different path by prioritising recycled and responsibly handled materials.

• 100% Recycled Metals: We use 100% recycled gold and platinum. This process gives new life to existing precious metals, eliminating the need for further mining and reducing our environmental impact.
• Responsible Manufacturing: We partner with specialist manufacturers in the UK and internationally who are leaders in environmental good practice. These partners are committed to ethical production and share our unwavering dedication to sustainability.

Whether it is a one-of-a-kind bespoke piece from our workshop or a selection from our signature collections, we ensure that the metals, diamonds and gemstones we use meet the highest ethical standards for a modern world.

We are an Assay Assured Jewellery Retailer. Assay Assured status is only given to retailers who have been independently audited and verified by Assay Assured which is run and overseen by the Edinburgh Assay Office, and ensures that all precious metal jewellery (except items exempt by weight) are independently tested and hallmarked.

Each piece of Ethica Diamonds jewellery has been certified in accordance with the Hallmarking Act 1973, and will feature an official Assay Office Hallmark.

Ethica Diamonds jewellery is beautifully crafted in a variety of precious metals such as 18K white, yellow and rose gold (standard or Fairtrade gold options)  as well as 950 platinum.

When it comes to manufacturing jewellery, precious metals (gold and platinum) are rarely used in their purest form. Instead, they are alloyed with other metals to enhance their strength, durability, and colour.

It is not possible to determine the precious metal content of an item by sight or by touch. It is, therefore, a legal requirement to have items consisting of gold and platinum independently tested and then hallmarked before they can be described as such. Items must bear a hallmark at point of sale, subject to the following weight exemptions:

Gold: mandatory for items above 1 gram; platinum: mandatory for items above 0.5 grams.

Ethica Diamonds is registered with the Birmingham Assay Office, ensuring our precious metal jewellery is compliant with the UK’s hallmarking regulations. All stock is subject to an internal confirmation process to ensure it meets the UK’s hallmarking regulations before it is dispatched to our customers.

We are conveniently located in Nansledan, when you get to the top roundabout, we are on the left hand side, next to the Home flower shop. There is plenty of off road parking available for customer appointments.

Ethica Diamonds
8 Chi Myghtern Arthur
Plen Tennyson
Nansledan
Newquay
Cornwall
TR8 4SE

We have a secure server which stores all our customer data safely and securely, and all data submitted by the website is managed through Shopify – an online payments infrastructure for the internet.

No, our virtual and showroom appointments are friendly and free, and available for everyone.You can schedule your appointment here.

Checkout With PayPal
Complete your Ethica Diamonds purchase using information from your PayPal account.

Checkout With Apple Pay
Complete your Ethica Diamonds purchase on our mobile site using your Apple Pay account.

Interest Free Options

Klarna - Pay in 3
Split your purchases into 3 interest-free monthly payments. The first payment is made at the point of purchase, with the remaining payments scheduled automatically every 30 days. Your payments are automatically withdrawn from your connected card or bank account according to the agreed payment schedule, but you can make early payments anytime you wish.

Klarna - Pay in 30
Make a purchase and wait for it to be delivered before paying. You only have to pay for what you keep.

Humm
Humm is an innovative interest free payment solution that allows you to buy now and pay later. It provides a flexible and convenient way for you to spread the cost of your purchases over time, making it easier for you to manage your budget.
With Humm you can get up to £3,000 and split your repayments over a 3, 6 or 12 month period.

Bank Transfer (BACS)
Ethica Diamonds will give you the account information you will need to provide to your bank in order to transfer funds from your account directly to our Ethica Diamonds account. It may take a few days for your bank to process the bank transfer. Once your bank has transferred the funds, Ethica Diamonds is immediately notified, you will receive a confirmation, and your order is processed. Order times may vary based on receipt of bank wire payment. If you have any questions about the process involved in a bank transfer, contact your bank or call Ethica Diamonds on 01872 222248.

Credit Cards
We accept all major credit cards including Visa, Mastercard and American Express.

Layaway
Ethica Diamonds also offers layaway payments for both UK and international customers

Items will be held for up to 12 months from the initial date of sale. 

If before the end of the stated layaway period, the goods have for any reason become no longer available in the same condition as at the time of the sale, Ethica Diamonds will refund any deposits or payments made under this layaway transaction. 

Ethica Diamonds layaway purchases require an initial deposit of 20% of the purchase price.

Layaway purchases require a regular minimum payment on the 1st or the 15th of every month after the initial deposit as agreed with our customer service team. Minimum monthly payment is either a) 5% of the total order value or b) £100, whichever is lower in value. Customers may make an additional or larger payment at any time.

Layaway orders must be paid in full within 12 months from the original date of purchase. For orders not paid in full after 12 months, Ethica Diamonds reserves the right to discontinue the hold on the layaway merchandise.

The layaway deposit may be refunded or applied toward an exchange item within 30 days of purchase, with the exception of custom designed, custom engraved, modified merchandise, or special orders which are non-refundable and non-exchangeable.

Layaway payments are non-refundable after 30 days from the initial purchase date. Should customers need to cancel their layaway purchase before shipment and after the 30 days from the initial purchase date, a restocking fee of 20% of the full purchase price will be deducted from the amount paid, with the remaining balance to be applied as store credit.

Layaway ring orders, with the exception of custom designed, custom engraved, modified, or special orders which are nonrefundable and non-exchangeable, may be resized within 30 calendar days of the ring being shipped from Ethica Diamonds.

Other Options
If you would like to finalise your purchase using multiple credit cards or a combination of payment methods, please call us on 01872 222248.

Lab grown diamonds are made one of two ways – either through High-Pressure High-Temperature (HPHT), or through Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD). CVD is the more highly valued method of growing diamonds.

High Pressure High Temperature or HPHT
HPHT recreates the natural growing environment found within the earth. There are a few different types of HPHT technologies used, but the process best suited for producing gem quality diamonds to be set in finished jewellery are created using a Bar press. The Bar press was invented by Russian scientists and uses a combination of inner and outer anvils to apply hydraulic pressure to the growth cell within the unit. The growth cell itself contains all the elements necessary to grow a diamond, including a tiny diamond seed, highly refined graphite and a catalyst consisting of a mixture of metals and powders. Consistent temperatures reaching 1,300 degrees Celsius and over 60,000 atmospheres of pressure are applied to the growth cell. Over a few days the elements within the growth cell melt and then reform during cooling to create a finished rough diamond ready to be extracted for cutting and polishing.
The entire HPHT growing process requires an incredibly controlled environment to produce a gem-quality diamond. Any shift or change during growth can cause the diamond to stop growing or can create inclusions that result in unusable diamonds. Every diamond must complete the entire growth cycle before the machine can be opened. It is only after the HPHT chamber is opened that we can see the finished rough diamond and its colour, clarity and size.

Chemical Vapour Deposition or CVD
Chemical Vapour Deposition, or CVD, is a process used to create gem-grade diamonds as well as optics and semiconductors. The process begins with a slice of a diamond containing the atomic blueprint for a new diamond to form. Carbon is added in a plasma reactor that reaches 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit, as hot as the sun’s surface. The CVD process uses ultra-pure carbon-rich gases in a controlled chamber. Carbon-based gases, such as methane, are heated until they break apart allowing the carbon atoms within the gas to separate. These tiny carbon atoms fall onto a diamond substrate and build up layers resulting in a rough diamond crystal. Atom by atom, the diamond lattice forms, the process by which diamonds form in nature is re-created. This process yields gem-grade Type IIA diamonds within 6 to 12 weeks resulting in a unique stone which is then cut, polished and graded by the same world-renowned labs that certify earth-mined diamonds.

While both offer a controlled environment, the HTHP is more costly and less energy efficient. The thermodynamic process involves placing a diamond seed into pure carbon, then exposing it to intense pressure and heat. The carbon attaches to the diamond seed in 14 different directions and forms a rough diamond with a complex cuboctahedron shape.

CVD is a more economical process, using vacuum chambers to convert carbon-heavy gases into plasma with less energy consumption. Kinetics allow the carbon atoms inside the chamber to build on top of the diamond seed in a single vertical direction, so the rough diamond grows into a cleaner square shape.

Ethica Diamonds favour suppliers that use the CVD growing method which has been the most successful in producing the highest quality diamonds with the highest purity.

It is not a given that lab grown diamonds are sustainable simply because they are grown in a lab and not mined. Many jewellery companies promote lab grown diamonds as “ethical” and "environmentally conscious” but this is not completely true and can be misleading to the consumer. 

Diamonds are grown in labs in countries including China, India, Singapore and the US, places that lean heavily upon fossil fuels for energy. The huge amount of power needed to create a diamond causes significant output in carbon pollution if the energy source is dirty, a point made in a 2019 Trucost report which found that, on average, greenhouse gas emissions are three times greater for lab grown diamonds than their mined counterparts. Greenhouse gas footprint per one carat of polished diamond is 160 kg CO2e per carat, which is 69% less than the estimated carbon footprint of lab grown diamond. 

The only way to ensure lab diamonds are sustainable is to accurately record the energy used to grow them, and offset this carbon, or ensure the energy used to grow the diamond is from renewable sources. 

Our diamonds are hand selected from a small number of growers who are fully committed to sustainability, taking time and care to grow the highest quality diamonds and not cutting corners to create cheap ones that are produced unethically that are now flooding the market.

That’s a very common question because the technology has moved so fast! The simple answer is: Scientifically and legally, yes, they are 100% real diamonds.
Think of it like ice. Whether it’s formed on a lake in winter or in your freezer at home, the molecular structure is identical, it’s H2O. A diamond is just carbon crystallised. In fact, the US Federal Trade Commission, which sets the global legal standard, changed the law to remove the word 'natural' from the definition of a diamond. They did this because these stones have the exact same optical and physical DNA as those from the earth. They aren't fakes; they are just a more modern way to create the same beautiful mineral.

The Scientific Reality

Is a lab-grown diamond a "real" diamond?
Yes. Physically, chemically, and optically, a diamond grown above ground is identical to one mined from the earth. Both consist of pure carbon crystallised in the isometric system.

• Hardness: Both score a 10 on the Mohs scale (the hardest material on Earth).
• Refractive Index: Both possess a score of 2.417, creating the signature "fire" and brilliance.
• DNA: If you put a lab-grown diamond and a mined diamond side-by-side, even a gemologist cannot tell them apart without highly specialised laboratory equipment.

The Legal Landmark: The FTC Ruling

In July 2018, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the US authority whose regulations carry the force of law, officially updated the legal definition of a diamond.

The New Definition:

"A diamond is a mineral consisting essentially of pure carbon crystallised in the isometric system."

Why the change?
The FTC removed the requirement that a diamond must be of "natural origin." They concluded that because lab-grown stones have the exact same properties as mined stones, they are, quite simply, diamond. The FTC noted that the previous 1956 definition was outdated and failed to reflect modern technological breakthroughs.

The "Transparency Gap": US vs. UK

Customers often ask why some UK trade bodies (like the NAJ) still insist that a diamond is "natural by definition."

• The UK Perspective: Organizations like the NAJ follow the CIBJO Blue Book, which is a set of voluntary industry guidelines (not law) largely influenced by traditional mining interests.
• The Ethica Perspective: We align with the FTC’s legally-enforced standards. We believe that defining a diamond by its "soil of origin" rather than its "chemical DNA" is scientifically inaccurate. We choose the modern, global standard of transparency.

The Purity Advantage (Type IIa)

Not all diamonds are created equal. Ethica Diamonds prioritises Type IIa stones.

• The 2% Rule: Only 2% of the world’s diamonds (mined or grown) are Type IIa.
• Superior Purity: These stones are almost entirely devoid of nitrogen impurities, which are common in 98% of mined diamonds.
• The Result: Type IIa diamonds offer a level of "whiteness" and brilliance that is rarely seen in traditional jewelry stores.

We understand why they would say that; many traditional UK trade bodies still follow guidelines from the 1950s. However, at Ethica, we follow the most modern, legally-enforced standards in the world, the FTC standards.

While some groups try to define a diamond by the 'soil' it was found in, we define it by its science. We believe the modern customer deserves the truth: the origin of a diamond doesn't change its beauty or its chemical DNA, it only changes the impact on the environment. We’ve chosen to align with the future of the industry, not its past.

There are many ways to tell the difference between a fake diamond and the real thing. Turns out, the definition of a real diamond is not linked to origin (earth vs lab), but rather by its characteristics and composition. Lab created or man made diamonds have been created replicating the earth’s natural process, and will pass a diamond tester because of their identical characteristics.

“They are real diamonds. They have the same optical, chemical, thermal, and physical features.”
Matthew Hall, Director, Gemological Institute of America (GIA).

It’s a common misconception that mined/natural diamonds are rare or an 'investment.' In reality, diamonds are one of the most common gemstones found in the earth. Their high price isn't driven by scarcity, but by clever marketing and controlled supply that has existed since the mid-20th century.

When you buy a mined diamond, you are paying a massive 'mining premium', not for the beauty of the stone, but to cover the astronomical costs of earth, shifting, global logistics, and multi-million pound advertising campaigns.

The truth is, a diamond is a luxury purchase, not a financial investment. Just like a luxury car, a mined diamond typically loses 50% or more of its value the moment you leave the showroom. It is very rare for a consumer-grade diamond to appreciate in value; in fact, most will never be worth what you originally paid.

With Ethica, we choose to be transparent. Instead of paying for a marketing myth, you are 'saving' that value upfront. You can secure a beautiful Type IIa diamond, which actually is rare, representing the top 2% of purity, for a fraction of the cost. You aren't losing money on a 'mining premium'; you are putting your money into a larger, more beautiful, and more ethical stone that you can enjoy every day.

We don't sell 'investments' that sit in a safe; we sell ethical masterpieces designed to be worn. Why pay a premium for a stone's 'origin story' when you can spend that same budget on a stone that is whiter, brighter, and larger, with a conscience to match?

Real
Lab grown diamonds are chemically, optically and physically identical to naturally occurring, earth-mined diamonds.

Value
Lab grown diamonds are priced a lot more competitively and depending on the cut, clarity and colour, can be thousands of pounds less than a naturally mined diamond.

Conflict Free
The environmental consequences are minute compared to mined diamonds, and the industry free from humanitarian harm, unlike the diamond mining industry.

An ethical diamond is defined by more than just its sparkle; it is a gemstone whose creation supports a future of transparency, human dignity, and environmental restoration. In 2026, the "true cost" of a diamond is measured across three evolving pillars: Environmental, Human, and Ethical.

Environmental Impact: Beyond the "Big Hole"

Traditional diamond mining remains one of the most physically invasive industrial processes. For every carat of diamond mined, approximately 100 square feet of land is disturbed and nearly 6,000 pounds of mineral waste is generated.

• Ecosystem Collapse: Open-pit mining causes irreversible habitat fragmentation. In regions like Africa and Canada, this disrupts migration routes for species such as elephants and caribou, often leading to localized extinction.
• Water & Soil Toxicity: Mining consumes up to 127 gallons of water per carat. Runoff from tailings (waste rock) can poison local water tables with heavy metals, while soil erosion renders the land unusable for agriculture for decades.
• The Carbon Gap: A single mined carat can produce over 700 pounds of CO2. While some mines have modernised, the sheer scale of heavy machinery required makes "net zero" mining an immense challenge compared to lab-grown diamonds.

Human Impact: The Traceability Challenge

While first-world mines (like those in Canada or Australia) often provide safe, high-wage employment, the global industry still faces significant hurdles.

• The Kimberley Process (KP) Loophole: Established in 2003, the KP was designed to stop "conflict diamonds." However, in 2026, experts note it remains flawed; it focuses primarily on diamonds used by rebel groups to overthrow governments, often ignoring state-sponsored violence, child labor, and systemic human rights abuses within "certified" chains.
• Modern Exploitation: In unregulated artisanal mines, workers, including children, often work in treacherous conditions for less than a living wage. Ethical brands now look beyond the KP, utilising blockchain technology to track a stone's journey from origin to finger, ensuring it is truly abuse-free.

The Ethical Evolution: Positive Impact

In the modern world, being "ethical" isn't just about "doing no harm", it’s about active restoration.

• Regenerative Giving: A truly ethical purchase supports companies that reinvest in the communities they touch, such as funding education, wildlife conservation (like the Born Free Foundation), or ocean health.
• Technological Precision: Choosing a lab-grown diamond allows for a 100% traceable supply chain. By 2026, the gold standard verifies net-zero carbon footprints and stringent environmental stewardship.

The Ethica Standard: Kind, not Mined®

At Ethica, we believe sustainability shouldn't be a compromise. We exclusively select diamond growers who utilise renewable energy (wind and solar) or participate in verified carbon capture methods, which makes them more sustainable than other lab diamonds on the market.  We are always looking for the latest innovations within the lab grown diamond and gemstone industry which match our company ethos and we’re proud to offer the most ethical options available.

While we offer a thoughtfully designed range of styles, we understand the appeal of a truly personalised touch. We can accommodate adjustments such as choosing alternative stone cuts, altering the shank dimensions and adding coloured gemstones. Customisations will incur additional charges dependant on your unique design. Depending on your design choices, customisations will extend the production time by 2-4 working days. To discuss personalising one of our designs then please get in touch here.

It is not entirely true that diamonds are an investment. The idea that diamonds appreciate in value is a a myth perpetuated by the marketing efforts of diamond cartels over a long period of time. Genuine rarity is a key factor when considering whether a diamond will hold or increase in value. This typically applies to very large flawless diamonds or rare coloured diamonds found in limited quantities.

The truth is with mined diamonds, you purchase at retail price and sell at wholesale price, and if you can sell it at all, you will only get a fraction of what you paid for it. Most diamonds are neither rare, nor valuable and are certainly no investment. People often confuse the worth with the cost and think because a natural (mined) diamond costs more, it is therefore worth more, but this is not true. There is little resale value in your average diamonds regardless of the origin.

The only way you will get your money back is if you claim on your insurance policy who will base the value of your loss against the diamond pricing index which is controlled by diamond producers.

However, the majority of diamonds, regardless of their origin, do not possess the characteristics of true rarity and value. It is important to understand that when purchasing a diamond, you are buying at retail price and should not expect to sell it at the same value. The only way you would ever get your money back is through an insurance claim for loss or theft if you have the original certification to verify the replacement "value".

Bigger is not always better and stone size should be relative to personal style, stature, hand size, setting preference and budget.

Generally in the UK where style is more conservative, the 1 carat centre stone used to be the standard “desired” size, but now 1.5 and 2 carat are gaining demand. If you have smaller hands and a finger size L or lower, we recommend you consider a 1 to 1.5 carat. If you have larger hands with a larger ring size than L, you might want to consider a 2 carat. Anything over a 2 carat is more about personal preference.

Please read our Engagement Ring Buying Guide for more information.
You may also find our Diamond Buying Guide useful, where you can see how different stones look on a hand.

Having a diamond engagement ring to show off your newly-engaged status to your friends is something that is ingrained in our culture, along with the unspoken tradition stating that an engagement ring should cost the equivalent of three months salary for the prospective bridegroom. When you consider that the pressure to spend that amount of money is purely social, yes, it does seem a bit ludicrous to be spending it on a piece of jewellery, instead of saving for your wedding (or house!).

Quite honestly, an engagement ring is a luxury. Indeed, many of our customers say that their pragmatic fiancées had suggested that a smaller ring might be sensible, given pressures on finances. However, choosing an Ethica engagement ring, set with either the Ethica Diamond or a lab grown diamond, brings the price down into much more reasonable territory, meaning that a lavish ring of their dreams doesn’t come with an extravagant price-tag, keeping everyone happy!

Choosing a man-made diamond is something that is an obvious choice for our customers, who already know about the dubious ethical practices of the natural mined diamond industry. If you need a little more information, please do investigate the rest of our website, where there is plenty of information about the environmental and humanitarian damage that is being done all over the world in the name of mining diamonds.

In an ideal world, anything that is natural feels better than something that is forced or manufactured artificially. But we don’t live in an ideal world and we need to balance the pros and cons. Natural doesn’t always mean better.

If we take a look at flower growing as an example. Flowers that grow naturally almost certainly will be damaged at some point by rain, wind and pests. Whereas flowers that are grown in polytunnels are protected from these harsh conditions. Both flowers are beautiful, but the protected ones will almost indefinitely be more consistent.

Similarly, stones that are formed in natural Earth conditions are also exposed to harsh conditions that result in a large percentage of wasted stones that are unsuitable for jewellery due to poor quality.

To produce one carat of diamonds, miners sift through about 250 tons of rock and sediment with the average diamond coming out of a mine being just one tenth of a carat, which is very small.  About 80% of approximately 142 million carats annually are used in industry for tools and cutting equipment etc. Only 20% are suitable for gems and of those, around just 2% are cut to the best standard.

Most of us would agree that all of this damage to our Earth is neither authentic or meaningful and if there is a kinder way, then it has to be better.

Lab created diamonds are 100% pure crystallised carbon, which makes them optically, chemically, and physically identical in every way to an earth-mined diamond.

Cubic Zirconia (CZ) is a well-known diamond simulant, normally set in fashion jewellery that has been used for many years to mimic diamonds.  CZ is made of synthetic zirconium dioxide in its crystalline form and is commonly used as a low-cost alternative to a mined diamond. It has absolutely no presence of carbon diamond bonds in its creation, it is simply a crystal cut in a way to mimic the appearance of a diamond. CZ is glassy in appearance and is very porous and becomes cloudy easily. The lack of crystallised carbon is why CZ differs chemically, physically, and optically from an earth mined and lab created diamond.

One of the major challenges the traditional diamond mining industry faces is its reliance on fossil fuels. De Beers produced 34.6 million carats of diamonds between 2022 and 2023, using over 455 million tons of displaced earth, 1.3 billion litres of fossil fuel, and 372 billion litres of water in their production. Other challenges include destabilising ecosystems, pollution & poisoning water supplies & massive health risks for local communities.

To produce just 1 carat of earth mined diamonds, approximately 100 square feet of land is disturbed and one out of 1,000 workers are injured. 

A lab diamond is a diamond grown above ground. As the name suggests, lab grown diamonds are grown in a laboratory and a lot of energy is required  to mimic the conditions in the earth’s crust (intense high pressure and temperature) to form the crystallised form of carbon known as diamond. If this energy is supplied from burning fossil fuels, then those lab grown diamonds, although still more ethical than mined diamonds, cannot be called 100% ethical or sustainable.

However, there are a few select diamond growers in the world who have addressed this dilemma within this rapidly changing industry, and they do that by sourcing the energy required to grow diamonds from renewable sources. By using green energy to grow diamonds, their diamonds can be called truly ethical and sustainable, and we think that is pretty cool!

Sustainability is our passion and we are taking dedicated steps to show complete transparency in our supply chain, which is why we have carefully chosen a handful of  licensed diamond growers around the world who are dedicated to sustainability and adhere to  strict ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) practices. 

These growers take  time and care to grow the highest quality diamonds  that are visually, physically, and chemically identical to earth-mined diamonds; the difference is that they are grown above ground and have a fully traceable, sustainably rated origin. No other standard provides this level of assurance to customers.

They use a variety of energy sources during the growth production of their diamonds, applying various technologies to measure energy consumption. Even if 100% renewable energy is used, there are still minor differences that are then offset. Accurate numbers are used to calculate the amount of carbon offsets that are required to remove any carbon impact. 

This ensures the highest ethical and environmental standards that are based on climate neutrality efforts and investments in clean technology.  

Read our blog here:

The Most Ethical Engagement Ring Choices 

A lab diamond is a diamond grown above ground. As the name suggests, lab grown diamonds are grown in a laboratory and a lot of energy is required  to mimic the conditions in the earth’s crust (intense high pressure and temperature) to form the crystallised form of carbon known as diamond. If this energy is supplied from burning fossil fuels, then those lab grown diamonds, although still more ethical than mined diamonds, cannot be called 100% ethical or sustainable.

However, there are a few select diamond growers in the world who have addressed this dilemma within this rapidly changing industry, and they do that by sourcing the energy required to grow diamonds from renewable sources.

These growers take  time and care to grow the highest quality diamonds  that are visually, physically, and chemically identical to earth-mined diamonds; the difference is that they are grown above ground and have a fully traceable, sustainably rated origin. No other standard provides this level of assurance to customers.

They use a variety of energy sources during the growth production of their diamonds, applying various technologies to measure energy consumption. Even if 100% renewable energy is used, there are still minor differences that are then offset. Accurate numbers are used to calculate the amount of carbon offsets that are required to remove any carbon impact. 

This ensures the highest ethical and environmental standards that are based on climate neutrality efforts and investments in clean technology.  

Read our blog here:

The Most Ethical Engagement Ring Choices 

In addition to our commitment to sustainability and traceability, transparency is a core principle of our operations. Our rigorous vetting process, guided by the stringent criteria of the ESG practices, guarantees that all our diamond growing partners are dedicated to fair trade practices who regularly conduct thorough audits to ensure their ongoing adherence to these standards.

Most people only think of just the 4’cs when judging the beauty of a diamond. However, there are also Types of diamonds. Type lA, llB and Type IIA, llB. In the past, we haven’t talked too much about the different types of diamonds because the superior Type ll has been unattainable to the majority of the population.

Type IA
98% of diamonds mined from the earth will be a Type lA diamond. These are very common diamonds that you will find at your local jewellers or online retailers.

Type IIA
Only 2% of diamonds mined will be a Type IIA diamond, making them very rare. They are special because they contain the purest form of carbon, with either very little or no nitrogen atoms in the crystal structure. This makes Type IIA diamonds harder and brighter than common Type lA diamonds. White diamonds are exceptionally colourless and coloured diamonds are often found with a brown, purple, blue, or pink tone.

Previously, Type IIA diamonds were only owned by royalty and the super-wealthy due to their incredible beauty and high calibre. For example, the Elizabeth Taylor Diamond and the Hope Diamond are both Type IIA Diamonds.

Ethica Diamonds only work with suppliers who grow superior Type 11A diamonds.

Type IIB
Type IIB diamonds, those defined as having trace amounts of substitutional boron, are prized for their blue colours. The famous Hope Diamond is a perfect example. Besides their boron content, these rare diamonds are also characterised by their general lack of nitrogen. Little is known about how type IIB diamonds form, but they are especially intriguing because boron is often regarded as a crustal element whose presence in mantle-derived diamonds is unexpected.

Summary 

• Type I diamonds are the most common. They represent 98% of all natural diamonds and have detectable traces of Nitrogen.
• Type IA diamonds contain clusters of Nitrogen atoms throughout the crystal structure of the stone. They tend to emit a yellowish tone.
• Type IB diamonds contain Nitrogen atoms as well. These atoms are all singular as opposed to clustered groups. These stones are 0.1% of all diamonds and emit a strong yellow, orange, brown and even green colour tone.
• Type IIA diamonds are the most valuable and consequently are very collectable items. They contain either very little or no Nitrogen atoms in the crystal structure of the stones. White stones are exceptionally colourless and fancy coloured diamonds are often found with a brown, purple, or pink tone. They represent only 1% – 2% of all diamonds.
• Type IIB diamonds contain elements of Boron within the structure. As a result, they often emit a blue or grey tone. They represent only 0.1% of diamonds. And consequently they are also very valuable.

Yes, these are real diamonds, which are pure crystallised carbon. Lab created diamonds will pass all tests used to confirm a pure carbon diamond.

Lab grown diamonds are identical to mined diamonds and it’s impossible to tell the difference between the two with the naked eye. Lab created diamonds are 100% pure crystallised carbon, which makes them optically, chemically, and physically identical in every way to an earth-mined diamond.

Yes, each of our lab-grown diamonds is inscribed with its unique identification number. It is very small, and can only be seen with a jeweller’s loupe.

There are 360 degree videos available for all our lab grown diamonds. They are photographed under 10x magnification and provide an excellent up-close view of the diamond before choosing to set it in a ring, or purchase it loose.

Please note, just like natural stones, lab grown stones also have variations in colour tones. This is due to the unique growth and cutting process of each stone. The videos shared may not always show the true colour, and it is normal to see slight variations in tone when ordering smaller stones. Please understand that due to the pleochroism (different colour shades when viewed from different angles) colour cannot be guaranteed. However, do not worry as different shades within the same colour category are normal and expected. 

Measure Your Ring Size With Our Free Ring Sizer Tape Measure  

We will happily send you a complimentary plastic ring sizer so you can easily find your perfect ring size at home.  

How To Measure Your Ring Size With Our Free Ring Size Conversion Chart  

1. If you would like to measure your ring size with a piece of paper at home, print out our ring size conversion chart. Before you print the guide make sure the page scaling is set to “none” on your print dialog box.  
2. Take the ring size chart and place your ring over the circle that aligns with the inside edge of your ring. Make sure you are using a ring that fits the same finger (and hand) as the ring you want to purchase.  

How To Measure Your Ring Size With Our Free Printable Guide  

1. Alternatively, you can print our ring size guide at home to measure your ring size. Before you print the ring size guide make sure the page scaling is set to “none” on your print dialog box.
2. Cut out the ring sizer and then cut a slot on the dotted line. Wrap the ring sizer tightly around the widest part of the intended finger with the numbers showing toward you. Insert the arrow-end through the slot you cut. Your ring size is the number that lines up with the slot.

How To Measure Ring Size Using String, Paper, And A Ruler  

• Step 1: Cut a piece of non-stretchy string (or a strip of paper) and wrap it around the base of your partner’s left finger.  
• Step 2: Identify the point where the end meets the string and make a pen mark. 
• Step 3: Lay the string flat and measure the length of the mark you made in millimeters (mm). 
• Sept 4: Compare the measurement to our ring size chart to find the closest ring size. 

We can source either coloured lab grown diamonds or lab grown coloured gemstones if you wanted to add some colour to your jewellery.

Ethica’s selection of lab grown gemstones (also called lab created gemstones or synthetic gemstones) are the best on the market. They are created using the most scientifically advanced processes to produce beautiful, precision-cut, gemstones in a wide variety of colours, sizes and shapes so you can personalise any of our jewellery styles with a coloured gem.

See our Coloured Gemstones page for details.

We use VS clarity, E-F colour lab grown diamonds in all of our jewellery set with small stones, including our Ethica Diamond moissanite jewellery.  This includes our engagement rings, that are set with diamonds in the shoulders, accented rings, earrings and pendants with small accented stones and our diamond set bands. 

All of our settings are solid precious metal and to keep mining to a minimum, we work with manufacturers who use 100% recycled gold and fairly mined platinum. This does not compromise the quality in any way and all of our jewellery is Assay Assured hallmarked for purity. 

Yes! We’d love to.  Many customers come to us with a design in mind or one they have seen elsewhere and would like it recreated with an ethical lab grown diamond or gemstone. We work with skilled jewellery designers to produce 3D designs for your jewellery, which we then tweak according to your feedback, before creating your piece to your specifications.

See our Bespoke FAQ’s details.

We are able to customise our standard rings to accommodate your personal preferences. If you like a design but it would be simply perfect if a slight tweak could be made, we can modify the design. Changes to the stone shape, stone type or band can be made – just let us know what you would like to alter and we can find a way to make it happen!

See our Bespoke FAQ’s details.

All of our most recent ring videos and photos are on our website, but we do have  additional images and videos in our database.  If you are interested in seeing these, please get in touch via telephone on 01872 222248 or contact us by email.   We can send across any additional photos and videos available of your chosen designs by WeTransfer.

Please note that we will not necessarily have photos or videos of our newest designs. This is because we make all of our jewellery specially to order, which is photographed before dispatching to clients.

Ring Design
We understand that shopping online can be really difficult. This is why we offer a 14-day home approval on your purchase that lets you try before you buy in the comfort of your own home. If you still aren’t ready to make your purchase, we can supply silver samples of most of our designs and post them out to you. Once you’ve picked your favourite, simply return the silver samples back to us and you can place your order for the real deal. We will credit the £85 fee if you return the sample within 5 days and place your order with us within 6 weeks.

Gemstone
If you wish to view your stone before selecting a style for your ring, you can purchase a loose diamond from us for you to appraise at home. If you are happy to then proceed with a ring design, simply return the stone and we will set it in your chosen piece. If you are not happy, we will of course, refund you once the stone is returned to us. T&C's apply.

We can offer all the following shapes of laboratory grown diamonds but not limited to:

• Round Brilliant
• Princess
• Emerald – traditional
• Emerald – radiant
• Heart
• Asscher
• Marquise
• Baguette
• Tapered Baguette
• Needle Baguette
• Oval
• Pear
• Cushion

We can supply lab grown diamonds up to any carat size!
We can also customise the cut and colour according to your specific requirements.

Please contact us for more details or if you need our concierge team to help to you choose your diamond or gemstone.

At Ethica we always strive to offer exceptional jewellery and offer a Lifetime Manufacturing Warranty on all jewellery purchased from our website. If a problem occurs with your jewellery it can be sent back to us for inspection and repair. Any faults resulting from manufacturing error will be repaired or replaced free of charge (excluding shipping), whilst damage resulting from normal wear-and-tear or misuse can be fixed at a not for profit fee by our in-house jewellery workshop.

You can read our policy here:

Lifetime Manufacturing Warranty 

We have a range of jewellery services from maintenance to repair and restoration which ensures that your Ethica jewellery looks as good as the day you bought it.

We operate a not for profit repair full aftercare and maintenance service for existing clients, where all workshop repairs and services are carried out for a not for profit cost. This ensures that these all important services remain accessible to you throughout the lifetime of your special jewellery.

If you are an Ethica Diamonds customer in need of jewellery repair please contact us on 01872 222248 and our team will be able to advise you further or visit our Resize, Repair & Maintain page. 

If you or your loved one wears jewellery regularly (such as an engagement ring), it’s a good idea to have it professionally maintained to check the stones are secure, to polish scratches and scuffs out of the metal, and deep clean any small diamonds to restore the shine and brilliance. We offer an Annual Maintenance Service for existing clients to help you keep your jewellery looking its best.

All of our repair and refinishing workshop services are offered at a not  for profit fee.

You can find more information here:

Lifetime Manufacturing Warranty
Resize, Repair & Maintain

For your peace of mind, we offer a complimentary standard resize on all of our engagement rings within 30 days of purchase.  We also have a resize service which costs £160, which includes insured postage back to you.

Read more here:

Resize, Repair & Maintain

However, it is best to make sure that you are ordering the ring in the correct size in the first place. We can send you a free ring sizer in the post which is helpful, but this is only a guide.

You can request one here:

Finger Size Guide

What we love, we look after. Taking care of precious metals, diamonds and gemstones is actually really easy. With a little tender loving care, you can go a long way to keeping your jewellery in excellent, sparkling condition.

1.  Be sure to remove your jewellery when doing activities or duties which would strike, repeatedly wear, knock or potentially cause damage.
2.  Never put multiple earth mined and/or man-made precious stones and gems together as this could scratch your stone.
3.  Keep lotions, perfumes, oils, cake soap, and skin oil away from your jewellery. Please keep your stone clean as this will ensure maximum fire and brilliance.
4.  The best way to clean your Ethica Diamond jewellery at home is to use warm water, mild dishwashing liquid and a (very soft) toothbrush. For professional cleaning, see your local jeweller for ultrasonic cleaning.

Diamond is the hardest mineral we know of, but they are not indestructible. They can be scratched, chipped or split by sharp edges. No one wants that, so take care when wearing and storing your diamond jewellery. We always recommend you keep your Ethica Diamond jewellery in its box or case. Also always be aware of diamonds scratching diamonds, so lay your diamonds out flat wherever possible.

The lustre and patina of gold is gorgeous. It does not tarnish or fade over time. In its pure form however it is very soft and care should always be taken not to scratch or knock it against hard surfaces.

We recommend that you wear rings of a similar Karat together, e.g. your wedding and engagement ring, as the higher the karat of gold you wear, the softer the metal and one may wear down the other over time.

Gold should be cleaned regularly in order to maintain its beauty. A soft, lint free cloth is a very effective way to keep gold jewellery looking beautiful. Gold does not like chlorine or bleach so be aware of this when in a swimming pool or hot tub.

Platinum develops a natural patina that many people prefer over the “just polished” look.  When this happens, you can send it to us or take it to your local jeweller to have it re-polished back to its new high-shine look.

As with diamonds and gemstones, you should take care to protect any precious metal jewellery by keeping it safe in the jewellery box it came with or a chamois bag.

We have a care booklet with every piece of jewellery purchased that explains our recommendations for how to care for your jewellery.

You can also download our care guide here:

Jewellery Care Guide

All of our jewellery will arrive discreetly packaged, double boxed for protection and security and is fully tracked and insured via Royal Mail Special Delivery.

Once received, our jewellery can be insured easily but we don’t recommend any particular insurer. Usually people insure their items of jewellery from us under their existing insurance.  Most insurers will offer insurance on itemised valuables over a specified amount, and this can be added onto your standard house insurance.

Read more here:

Packaging & Delivery

Yes, we offer engraving on the vast majority of our engagement rings and wedding bands, which you can choose from the product page when you are shopping. The cost is £120 and we recommend no more than 15 characters for engraving on standard sized rings. Please get in touch to request this service if you can't see it listed on the product that you wish to purchase. 

If you wish to add engraving at a later date, we can easily arrange this for you.

Please note that engraved rings are excluded from our returns policy and therefore cannot be returned or exchanged.

Ring Engraving

All Ethica, jewellery is made to the highest level of quality, and handcrafted especially for every customer.

Standard Delivery – approximately 5 weeks
Priority Service (additional £120) – reduces the lead time by approximately 10 working days
In Stock items – approximately 1 week

• During quieter periods, we can deliver much earlier than these given times, so please contact us or call us (+44) 01872 222248 if you have an urgent request.
• There are situations that may fall outside our control during the manufacturing and setting process. This means that we will do our very best to deliver when we have estimated, but we cannot 100% guarantee the estimated delivery date whether your order is placed on standard delivery or priority service.
• Shoulder set rings - jewellery set with small stones - and selecting the fairtrade gold option will require a few extra days. Every stone is set by hand in the UK, and setting more stones takes a little longer – we want to get it perfect for you.
• Bespoke orders take from 8 weeks, as we need to work closely with you before the design of your piece of jewellery is signed off and you are happy, before we start to create it. The complexity of your chosen design will usually dictate how long this process will take – and can take longer, but we won’t start creating it until you are 100% happy to proceed and at a pace that you are completely comfortable with.
• We will advise you of the estimated delivery date by email once we have received your order, but the exact date of delivery is not known until it is confirmed with our manufacturer and our workshop.
• Delivery dates will depend on the time of year and we are very busy from Black Friday, through till the run up to Christmas. Lead times will vary and from the beginning of December, we may not be able to offer the priority service. Orders made over the Black Friday period cannot be guaranteed for pre-Christmas delivery.
• No refunds will be given on the priority service fee unless the delivery date exceeds the standard delivery estimated date applicable at that time.

We have a lot of information about getting the sizing right for your ring on our website.  There are various ways of measuring: using an existing ring, visiting a local jeweller, or using our printable ring-sizer. 

For more information please view:

Finger Size Guide. 

After choosing an item you would like to purchase, follow the instructions and proceed to checkout. If for any reason you are unable to order in this way, please contact us with the details of your purchase, together with your name and telephone number. We will then contact you to arrange payment and delivery.

We have a live chat option, where you can talk directly with one of the Ethica Diamonds team, as you progress through the ordering process.  If no one is there at the time you request a chat, please leave your name and contact details and we will be in touch the following working day.

Alternatively, you can contact us by sending us an email or call us on (+44) 01872 222248.

We have a number of methods by which we can accept your payment:

• You can pay online at the time of booking, using a credit or debit card.
• Via Shopify invoice – you simply need a debit or credit card in order to pay. 
• You can pay by phone, using a credit or debit card.
• You can set up interest free credit to pay in instalments, via our website.
• You can pay by PayPal or cheque.
• You can pay by BACS transfer, from an invoice. This is a preferred option by us for bespoke orders that can take between 8-13 weeks to process. 

Please contact us for assistance.

All prices displayed on our website are inclusive of UK VAT. For all orders outside of the UK, VAT is not applicable.
We can process your order manually via our invoicing system which is net of VAT, but would need your proof of residence plus an overseas address for delivery outside the UK for us to process this for you.

We understand that our customers don’t want their precious jewellery arriving in branded packaging, opening them up to theft, or ruining a surprise.  Therefore we send all of our Ethica Diamond jewellery in a smart sturdy outer box, about the size of a child’s shoe box, that isn’t obviously jewellery.

Within that, your order is carefully wrapped in our beautiful signature packaging, ready to use as a gift. Whether it’s a solitaire engagement ring or a diamond pendant for someone’s birthday, we’ll make sure your fine jewellery is presented as attractively as possible.

For your convenience, your order details, as well as certification for the items you have purchased, are shipped at the same time, in the same package.

Don’t worry, we will very happily help you with this. contact us and we will see what we can do.

If we’ve already dispatched your order, refer to our Return or Exchange Policy.

Yes. We will happily ship to anywhere in the world.

Please refer to our Packaging & Delivery details for further information.

For standard payment terms, yes, please complete your order via our website using your card’s billing address and your chosen delivery address, if they differ.

If the delivery address has changed since the order was placed, just contact us to let us know the correct delivery address.  We will update our system and send you confirmation of the revised delivery address.

However, if you have paid using our Interest Free Credit arrangements, to protect you against money laundering and fraud, we have to send your purchase to your registered address.  This is part of the terms laid out by our credit provider, and we are unable to change this.

Ethica cannot control these costs and is not responsible for any duties/taxes applied to your package, so you will be responsible for paying additional charges if they apply.

In rare cases you might be contacted by customs to submit an invoice. In this case, you can simply forward our order confirmation email which you’ve received when placing your order.

If you should decide to decline a package you will be refunded minus a fee for returning the item to us and restocking it.

For international shipments outside of the UK, VAT is not collected at checkout. Ethica is not responsible for VAT and customs fees which will be charged to the customer directly by the shipping service provider.

We understand that it isn’t always possible to get the size right on the first attempt – surprise engagement rings are notoriously tricky!  We offer a resizing service for a standard cost of £160 which includes insured postage from our workshop and back to you.

All resizing work will need to be returned to us, to keep your guarantee validated.  Simply return it to us, insured with the postage, we will resize it for you and return it. 

Please see our Resize, Repair & Maintain guide for details. 

If you need to return or exchange an item, please contact us to begin the process. We accept returns for regular items within 14 days of receipt, provided they are in new, unworn condition with the original packaging and all paperwork.

Important Terms:

• Restocking Fee: Due to the made to order nature of our jewellery, as well as being a small family run business, a 15% restocking fee applies to all returns and items that have entered production. This covers the labour and admin required to resize/polish the returned piece. Alternatively, items that have entered production may be exchanged for a replacement of equal or greater value to the original purchase price.
• Shipping Costs: Costs incurred for return shipping are non refundable. If your order originally qualified for free shipping, a £40 fee will also be deducted from your final refund. Free shipping is eligible for one purchase and shipping will be charged on exchanged items.
• Sale & Incentive Items: Items purchased on sale or as part of an incentive promotion are eligible for store credit only and are not valid for refunds.

Exclusions:

We cannot accept returns on the following:

• Bespoke, personalised, or engraved items.
• As standard we do not refund on wedding bands but will be considered on an individual basis.
• Resized rings.
• Earrings - These may only be returned for an exchange of equal or greater value.

Please refer to our Return or Exchange Policy for details.

We carry out meticulous quality control checks before each piece of jewellery is dispatched. However, if you experience any manufacturing issues, you can simply return your jewellery to us so that we can identify the problem and rectify it or replace it.
If your jewellery is damaged during normal activities, we are happy to repair as appropriate. 

Lifetime Manufacturing Warranty

Resize, Repair & Maintain

We offer relaxed and friendly, no obligation design consultations either face to face in our showroom or virtually in the comfort of your own home. So if you are not sure if what you have in mind needs to be necessarily custom made, our Concierge Specialist can guide you through the various options to help you to achieve your unique piece of jewellery.

Before your design consultation it would be great if you could have a few things ready. Firstly, you’ve probably taken a look at other rings and have already seen some that you like. It would be helpful if you could share any information on styles/designs with us so we can discuss the elements that you like.

Other considerations include metal type, finger size, carat weight or stone size, preferred stone shape and budget. Our Concierge Specialist will guide you through all of these questions during your appointment and then decide if we need to fully customise or semi customise your commission.

Following your design consultation, you can expect to receive:

– Detailed quotes with various options via email.

– A choice of available gemstones from our trusted suppliers with 3D video and grading certification links for your consideration.

Some partners like to propose to their better half with a promise ring and involve them in the design of the engagement ring. It’s a privilege for us, working with couples and an experience you can share together. We’re all in for you creating it as a duo!

Our custom designed rings typically start at around £2000.

Production itself takes an estimated 21 business days. But the majority of the custom made process comes before, and it is dependent on how certain you are about what you want and the complexity of the design. Most designs take 2-5 days to complete with our Concierge Specialist, by a few emails and/or phone calls. Once you’ve approved your final design, our skilled team will start the process of bringing your ring to life. This typically takes around eight weeks, but may be longer depending on your design. You’ll be kept updated of your ring’s expected completion date and its progress throughout each stage. 

Creating your custom piece with Ethica Diamonds requires just a small deposit of £300 to get started. This fee is non-refundable but is applied toward your final order total. You can pay either directly by visiting our Jewellery Services or directly with us by bacs transfer. This fee is offset from your personal quotation. 

50% of the balance will become payable before your ring goes into production and the remaining balance before dispatch. Our preferred method of payment is by bacs transfer for customised jewellery. 

Once the bespoke deposit is paid, our design team will begin work on your commission. You will receive 3D CAD images of your design concept approximately 4 days after your order is confirmed.

Most of the custom rings we create are produced using CAD, the best tool we use to create high-quality, custom pieces. The advantages of CAD are that you see an accurate virtual model of the jewellery prior to authorising its fabrication. You also have the opportunity to request design changes.

A wax model of the design can be made ahead of production and posted to you for £145. 

The cost of the wax is an additional fee which is a manufacturing set up cost for machinery downtime to produce the model. 

Some customers opt out of this stage due to tight timescales and the extra cost to build the model. Although it's not necessary, it does help some people visualise their piece more clearly and feel more confident about the overall proportions and fit. 

Yes, you'll have the opportunity to make adjustments to your CAD design. Any major design changes are subject to additional fees and assessed on a case-by-case basis. However, these costs will be presented for approval prior to proceeding. Please note that additional design fees are non-refundable.

You will have the option to upgrade your render pack to receive additional CAD illustrations and a 3D video at an additional cost of £170. 

We have a stunning selection of coloured lab grown gemstones (also called lab created gemstones or synthetic gemstones) that are the best on the market. They are created using the most scientifically advanced processes to produce beautiful, precision-cut, gemstones in a wide variety of colours, sizes and shapes, so you can add some colour and personalise your bespoke jewellery. 

See our Coloured Gemstones page for details. 

At Ethica, we are only able to work with gemstones and diamonds we have sourced ourselves, and precious metal that we know is not only recycled, but up to the quality standards that we must adhere to. We are unable to rework existing jewellery, or set gemstones that we have not sourced ourselves.

This is dependent on the design and specifications. When you design your own ring, please let us know your delivery deadline in your request form and we will confirm if it is possible.

Our Concierge Specialist can collaborate with you to custom design any type of fine jewellery including, but not limited to, engagement rings, wedding bands, everyday rings, necklaces, bracelets and earrings.

A custom ring does not necessarily cost more than a standard ring. You can work one-on-one with our Concierge Specialist to create a design that fits within your budget.

Yes. Helping to spread the cost of your bespoke jewellery could not be easier and the whole process can be done online in under two minutes. We  offer 0% interest free finance for 3, 6, 9 and 12 months on all orders from £250 to £15,000 with a deposit of between 10% –  50% of the value of the goods. Please note that deposits taken by our financial lending partner are separate to deposits that we may request directly with you if we need to secure a lab grown diamond or coloured gemstone for your commission.

See our Jewellery Finance page for details. 

Once the rendering has been approved and you have paid for your custom ring, we are not able to cancel the order.

Custom-designed jewellery is final sale and not eligible for return or exchange. We will work with you to ensure that you are completely delighted with the final product when you design your own ring.

If you have a question and we haven’t covered it above, you can email us through our Contact Us page.