Perfect cut for the perfect bride

Isabelle Teardrop Milgrain Diamond Band. Cali Chic features a classic solitaire design but is taken up a notch with the inclusion of diamond enamels on its thin band.

Habib Jewels recently introduced the exclusive Hearts on Fire bridal collection.

WHICH bride wouldn’t want perfection, especially when scouting for that ideal rock? Choosing a wedding band is no doubt one of the most monumental life decisions to make when you think of settling down.

Not only does a ring symbolise devotion but it is also a sentimental piece of jewellery Camilla

Split Shank. meant to be worn over time. Hence, regardless of whether you are the bride or the groom, you would — without a doubt — want something that leaves you beaming instead frowning.

If money is no issue, there are the world’s most perfectly cut Hearts On Fire (HoF) diamonds.

CUT-TASTIC QUALITY

“You are only going to get an engagement ring once (ideally), so if you choose the right diamond from the start then you are set,” says HoF Australia/ New Zealand trainer and sales manager Bart Ware, who was in town recently to give us a detailed insight into the label’s exquisite jewels.

“When buying diamonds, how they sparkle is the most obvious clincher and it is important to note that there are two things that get a diamond to do so — the light and the cut,” he says.

“The selection process for HoF diamonds is very meticulous and plenty of factors are put into consideration. One thing that’s certain is that we only choose gems, which have not been entirely affected by the earth’s tectonic movements during their natural formation process. How we identify this is through the shapes of the rough diamonds collected that offer pure clarity - the less inclusion found inside the gem, the less distorted the light will be once it passes through it,” adds Ware.

You may have heard of the 4C’s — clarity, colour, carat weight and cut — which contribute to a diamond’s worth, but do you actually know that it is the cut grade alone that determines 50 per cent of its value?

While the shape of the rough diamond is important during the sorting stage, the real emphasis of HoF’s quality craft lies in the Classic Eternity Bands stacked together. cutting process, where all diamonds are overseen by its master cutters.

“Machines won’t provide you with the sensitivity (feel, control and technique) that you need in a diamond cutting process. That, paired with state-of-the-art technology (that enhances optics and limits vibrations), which we incorporate here at HoF, offers customers the highly rated diamonds that they seek,” explains Ware.

WEDDING SPARKLES

Habib Jewels, the exclusive distributor of HoF, recently held a private viewing of the label’s new bridal-inspired jewellery line during Ware’s visit.

Selections are aplenty for hopeful brides looking to sparkle and this includes the Cali Chic and the Isabelle designs, which have more of a contemporary touch compared to the more traditional designs of the Deco Chic and Liliana. Meanwhile, both the Camilla and the Bezel have strikingly ornate yet tasteful appeal.

“We have a bridal design team based in Boston and part of their job is to do intense ground research with retailers all over the world to determine the market trend,” says Ware.

In Asia, he says, the preference is for diamonds with a smaller table (facet or the flat surface on the stone).

“Diamonds with a larger table are often sought after in America because they want their diamonds to look big. Here, it is more about the precision of the cut. In addition, The Deco Chic Solitaire engagement ring features a single halo diamond with intricate undergalleries of diamonds. Bezel Regal Triple Ring is beautiful enough to be worn

on its own. classic makes are generally more popular as they like the idea that their jewels can be turned into heirlooms,” he adds.

Choosing the perfect jewellery is considered one of the most crucial decisions when planning your big day. While women usually have it locked down, men tend to get a little more flustered about the decisionmaking, especially when they are planning a surprise in popping the question.

To make your job easier, we asked the HoF representative to give us his advice (seeing that he has experience in choosing a ring for his own bride) on picking out the ultimate wedding ring (whether it’s traditional or contemporary) for the soon to be missus — ladies, you might even want to pay attention too.

“Buy (regardless of the budget) what you can see — this means if you have already got a few designs that you love, settle on a ring that provides better clarity (where the diamond reflects the light brighter) than the rest,” advises Ware.

“The trick is to look and compare the diamond jewels by taking them out of direct light. Observe your ring, not in total darkness but by giving it just a little shade — this will showcase a diamond’s true character and you can see its sparkle better.”