Round Diamonds

Why Henry Francis?

Diamond grading standards do not account for subtle variations such as blue or grey tones, internal strains, striations, or phosphorescence.

Additionally, some lab-grown diamonds are produced using shortcuts, such as lower-quality seed materials and chemical additives to accelerate growth, which can impact their overall quality and appearance.

At Henry Francis, we reject a significant number of diamonds because we refuse to compromise on quality. Unlike many retailers who rely on pre-loaded databases or only inspect diamonds after an order is placed, we believe that approach is too late.

✔ We’ve built a small trusted global network of reputable suppliers through rigorous testing.
✔ Every diamond is meticulously inspected, and any that fail to meet our strict criteria are rejected. Even if this means fulfilling the order will take longer.
✔ We prioritise quality over efficiency—because excellence is non-negotiable.

By maintaining such high standards, our suppliers understand that we will only accept the highest-quality stones. By submitting lower-quality diamonds they risk ending our partnership. Our suppliers are incentivised to consistently supply access to their best stones.

Our reputation is built on delivering exceptional quality and craftsmanship - not on speed or volume.

Diamond availability fluctuates constantly—what you see today may not be available tomorrow. Unlike other retailers who connect their websites to large databases of unvetted diamonds, we refuse to advertise stones we haven’t personally inspected. Here’s why:

Images and 360-degree videos from online databases can be edited, misleading, or fail to accurately represent the diamond’s characteristics. The quality of these visuals depends entirely on the manufacturer. It is virtually impossible to spot grey tones in 360-degree videos.
Lower-quality lab-grown diamonds often have flaws like undesirable undertones, strains, striations, or blue/grey hues—issues that can only be identified in person and are not graded on.
Many businesses sell diamonds they’ve never inspected, risking quality and consistency. We don't want to take that risk with your trust.

The Four C's

Cut
How well the diamond interacts with light from the arrangement and proportions of the diamonds facets.
Cut grading is given exclusively to Round Brilliant diamonds, the only diamond shape with standardised facets. All other diamonds are classified as fancy shapes.
When evaluating fancy shapes, it's crucial to examine their table and depth percentages, as well as their polish and symmetry.
Cut is graded on a ten-point scale ranging from poor to ideal. GIA grades from Poor to Excellent and IGI grades from fair to ideal. A well cut diamond will reflect light back. A diamond cut too shallow or deep - will leak light, reducing sparkle, appearing dull.
Brightness: The total internal and external reflection of white light
Fire: The dispersion of light into the colours of the spectrum
Scintillation: The pattern of light and dark areas, and the sparkle when moved
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Carat

Measures weight - not size.

Carat is the unit of measurement for the weight of diamonds. One carat is equal to 200 milligrams or 0.2 grams.
Carat weight does not alone determine how large a diamond appears visually. Different diamond shapes distribute their weight differently.
For example, Ovals or Marquise often appear larger than round diamonds of the same carat weight due to the distribution of weight.
Typically the higher the carat weight, the more valuable the diamond is. This is why diamonds of a larger carat weight cost more.

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Colour

The presence of colour, measured on a scale of D-Z

D is colourless, Z is light yellow/presents colour.
Diamonds can present a range of tones beyond yellow, including brown, grey and blue.
Grading is done with the culet facing up, but a diamond's appearance can vary significantly when viewed table up.
This is why two diamonds with the same grade may look very different - due to factors like voids in the crystal structure, trace elements, deposited graphite, irradiation, or the use of poor-quality growth materials.
At Henry Francis we supply diamonds in D, E, and F colour to ensure a truly colourless appearance.

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Clarity

Internal and external blemishes and inclusions

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Round Diamond

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Why Henry Francis?

The Four C's