If you buy from us a signed second hand or antique piece of jewellery, we issue a complete invoice with indications of the weights of the stones and the net weight of the jewel.

A jewel can be set with a larger stone in the centre part (more than 0.50 ct). The diamonds are sold in most cases with a French gemmological laboratory certificate specifying weight, colour, clarity, dimensions and proportions of the stone(s). The first four criteria are cardinal when it comes to assessing the standard and the value of the stone.

The proportions of an old or modern stone affect the sheen and the reflection of light penetrating into the stone and travelling back out of it, and how the human eyes perceives them.

If the cutting is less than perfect, light travels in other directions and the diamond loses its sparkle.

The colour is also of the utmost importance. To most people it matters even more than clarity. The highest standard of colour is termed « D » being the maximum whiteness. Stones with yellowish shades belong in categories from M to Z.

Notice that until I-J, the colour of a diamond is of a very commercial white, since stone « plays » white in sunlight, the light nuance can be seeing under the diamond cutter lamp and by an informed eye. These stones are wholly satisfying if their size and their brilliance bring them to life.

The clarity determines the presence of inclusions in the stone. It goes from Internally Flawless (no visible inclusion in the magnifier 10X) to Pique 1.2 or 3 when one definitely lives in a stone and when the inclusions are visible in the naked eye.

With weight, expressed in carats, these elements will be the main criteria that will lead you to your best choice within your budget.

Colour stones can already carry a certificate; if not one can be requested if required.

We don’t all have the same perception of colours. For these gems, criteria of choices are less mathematical, more subjective and allow us to appreciate a red jewel « Pigeon Blood » or « Framboise », a « Royal Blue » sapphire or an emerald «Mint Sweet». Of course, a stone must be the purest possible of inclusions growing zones, but it is the colour which must be your preference.

After years of experience with gemstones, we think that the acquisition of a diamond or a coloured stone, if it requires some advice, still remains an emotional affair and that every stone that shines in our shop window will someday find the purchaser who falls in love with it.

Our big name watches Patek Philippe, Rolex, Breguet, Blancpain, Audemars Piguet, Jaeger Lecoutre, Cartier, Breitling… are checked before being put on display and are therefore sold with a guarantee of one year by their makers.