The cut of a diamond determines how it reflects light, which is responsible for its sparkle or brilliance. A well-cut diamond is cut by a skilled professional to the best proportions possible so that light will be reflected from each of its mirror like facets and disperse through its top. Too shallow a cut will let light escape through a diamond's bottom, causing it to appear dull, while too deep a cut will allow light to be lost through a diamond's sides, making it appear dark.

Because a diamond with perfect color and clarity could nevertheless have poor brilliance if it is not well cut, many gemologists consider this to be the most important property to note when choosing a diamond. Diamonds can carry cut grades of Excellent, Ideal, Very Good, Good, or Fair.

No two diamonds are alike. A diamond's most distinguishing characteristics are its inclusions, marks that are often invisible to the naked eye. However, under a jeweler's magnifying loupe or microscope they can look like crystals, tiny rivers, or clouds. A diamond's clarity is determined by the presence or absence of inclusions--fewer inclusions mean better clarity--and how visible they are. The greater a diamond's clarity, the greater its brilliance and value. A diamond categorized as internally flawless will have no inclusions, but this is extremely rare.

Diamonds with very, very small inclusions are graded as VVS1 or VVS2. Those with larger inclusions are considered lower-grade. Diamonds with inclusions that are visible with the naked eye are graded I1 to I3. Below is a detailed diamond guide:

Though diamonds come in a wide range of colors, colorless diamonds have traditionally been considered the most valuable. Most diamonds are graded on a scale using the letters of the alphabet, from D (colorless), the best grade, through Z (a light yellow). It is difficult for the untrained eye to notice such variations in color unless stones are being compared side by side. The comparatively rare colored diamonds are known as fancy-colored and are also quite valuable. They range in hue from the more common yellow (also graded Z+ on the alphabetic scale) to pink, blue, green, red, and even black and white. Diamonds that are graded D, E, and F tend to be the most expensive because of their rarity. However, any diamond you buy should have a good balance of cut, color, and clarity, so as to impart the most brilliance and dazzle possible. Grades H, I and J are considered near colourless stones.

A diamond's weight is measured in carats, with one carat being equivalent to 100 points. You will often see a diamond referred to as a 3/4-carat stone or a 75-point diamond. Larger stones are often more highly valued, but size should not be the only consideration.

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It's fairly common to confuse a diamond's cut with its shape. The cut describes a diamond's light performance, dimensions and finish. Shape refers to the overall outline of the diamond when viewed from the top. Round is far and away the most popular diamond shape, followed by squared shapes such as Princess, Asscher, and Emerald.

Since all diamond shapes are very different, unique characteristics determine quality for each shape. Below are the various diamond shapes:

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Diamonds, as the hardest substance on earth, are resistant to damage. However, diamond jewellery is set in different metals, and care will vary from piece to piece. The girdle can be chipped by a hard blow, making a protective setting extremely important. It is a good idea to have them cleaned once a year by a professional jeweler, at which time the security of the setting can be checked as well. Diamond jewellery should be stored in a soft cloth pouch to ensure that the stone will not scratch other jewellery.

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Karats, noted by a number followed by "k", indicates purity and is a measure of the percentage of gold to alloy contained in gold jewellery. Gold is mixed with alloy for strength. Metal stamped 24K, meaning 24-karat gold, is considered pure gold and too soft to be used for jewellery. More common 18K gold contains 75% pure gold. Jewellery marked 9K or 18k are the most common in South Africa; however overseas 10k and 14 k are very popular. Yellow gold, capturing the metal's classic natural color, is by far the favourite. Copper and silver are the alloys used most with yellow gold. Gold is available in yellow gold, white gold or both. Yellow and white gold are similar in strength and malleability, making them perfect for jewellery that is worn daily. White gold is alloyed with nickel, copper, and zinc--and while it looks similar to platinum, it has vastly different properties. Rose-colored gold is alloyed with copper and is often used to accent white or yellow gold. The saturation of color varies from piece to piece and according to gold content.

The value of gold jewellery is based on several factors: fineness or karat count, weight in grams and the workmanship reflected in the piece. To care for your gold jewellery keep it away from harsh chemicals such as chlorine and cleaning fluids. This will reduce daily abrasions and prolong gold's luster. To clean gold jewellery, use a solution of warm water and detergent-free soap and wash gold gently with a soft-bristled brush (a dull tooth brush works well). Store gold pieces separately in soft cloth bags or original boxes to protect them from the exposure to harsh daily elements.

Platinum is the most durable of fine jewellery metals. It does not chip or splinter easily, making it perfect for diamond and gemstone settings. It is similar in color to white gold, but compared side by side, the difference is clear. Platinum jewellery is usually 95% pure platinum with 5% iridium or palladium alloy. It can also be 90% pure platinum with 10% iridium or palladium alloy. To care for platinum jewellery soak it in a mild solution of soap and warm water and gently scrubbing it with a soft-bristled brush is usually all that is required to maintain the metal's luster.

Pure silver is soft and easily damaged. To give it more durability when creating jewellery, it is combined with copper, which makes it sterling silver. Sterling silver is 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper, but this alloy does not have an effect on the value of the metal. Instead, the price of the silver item is affected by the labor involved in making the item, the skill of the craftsperson, and the intricacy of the design. To minimize scratches and other damage, store your silver jewellery either in a cloth pouch or in a separate compartment in your jewellery box. Avoid exposing your silver to household chemicals when cleaning with bleach or ammonia, or when swimming in chlorinated water, as these chemicals can damage silver. Silver tends to tarnish as it reacts with sulfur or hydrogen sulfide in the air. Cleaning and wearing it regularly will help maintain its shine and prevent this. Immediately upon noticing discoloration, use a polish made specifically for removing tarnish.

This metal is light in weight (roughly a third the weight of gold) while at the same time being extremely hard and resitant to corrosion. It has only recently been used to manufacture jewellery, as opposed to its traditional usage in industry. Due to its strength, it is manufactured out of a block of solid metal and can therefore not be resized. Titanium is available in many grades, sometimes alloyed with other metals for even greater strength. It is incredibly strong, but it still may show slight scratches. It can however be easily polished to keep it looking new.

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Find a piece of string or strip of paper no wider than 1cm. (Measure your finger in the evening - early in the day and in cold weather your fingers tend to be smaller then normal; heat and humidity may cause your fingers to swell and be larger then normal.)

Wrap it around the base of the appropriate finger.

Use a pen to mark the point on the string/paper where it overlaps, forming a complete circle.

With a ruler, measure the length from the starting end of the string/paper to the pen mark.

Use this measurement and the chart below to determine your ring size against the circumference measurement.

Alternatively place a ring that fits you on a piece of paper and trace the ring on the inside - measure the diameter as per the diagram (see example below) and chart to determine your appropriate ring size (if you are between sizes order the larger size).

Or download the kalahari.net ring size guide (PDF)

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When selecting a necklace or pendant, consider that the length will determine where it will lie on your chest. Remember that longer lengths accentuate the bust while shorter lengths feature the lines of the neck. A description of the various lengths follows:

Choker Necklace: Around 40cm in length. Should nestle around the base of the neck - just above collarbone.

Princess Necklace: Around 45cm in length. Hangs over collarbone and the most common length; it is halfway between choker and matinee length.

Matinee Necklace: Around 55cm in length. Should fall to the top of the cleavage.

Opera Necklace: Between 75cm and 90cm in length; should fall to the breastbone - a dramatic length.

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The jewellery industry recognizes the highest quality gemstones by purity of their hue, the depth of tone, and the colour saturation. A gemstone's basic color is its hue, and those with purer hues (for emeralds, green; for sapphires, blue; and for rubies, red) are generally considered more valuable. Saturation is a measure of the intensity or purity of a gem's hue and is determined by the degree to which gray or brown hues mute its defining color. Value tends to increase with saturation, so a fully saturated purplish blue sapphire may well be more expensive than a muted pure blue one. The tone of a gemstone, a measurement of its lightness or darkness, is usually given as light, medium-light, medium, medium-dark, or dark.

Almost all gemstones contain tiny fractures called inclusions. Flawless gemstones are very rare and valuable, and even most high-end gemstones are at least slightly included. The best value is found in gems that are lightly- to moderately-included. Sapphires tend to be moderately included, while emeralds and rubies are usually heavily to moderately included grades range from VVS (very, very slightly included) to I3, in which inclusions are prominent and severely affect the gemstone's beauty.

Minerals, including gemstones, are rated and ranked according to their hardness. While hardness is generally associated with durability, the ability to resist breakage is better described as toughness. When referring to gemstones, hardness more accurately means the stone's ability to resist abrasion. Regardless of which scale is used, the diamond is considered the hardest substance known to man. The most common measure of a gemstone's degree of hardness is based on the Mohs Scale. Devised by German mineralogist Friedrich Mohs, the Mohs Scale grades minerals on a comparative scale from 1 (very soft) to 10 (very hard). What the scale means is that a mineral of a given hardness rating will scratch other minerals of the same rating, as well as any minerals of a lower hardness rating. For example, rubies and sapphires, which are composed of the mineral corundum and have a Mohs rating of 9, will scratch each other, as well as topaz (rating 8). But they will not scratch diamonds, which are rated 10.

Over thousands of years, a tradition has developed, associating certain gemstones with times of the year. It is likely that pagan beliefs associated the time of year of a person's birth with certain characteristics. Pagan cultures are ones in which the believers tend to be in tune with nature and the earth's cycles and seasons. These pagan beliefs became incorporated into later religions including Judaism and Christianity. Astrology is also a link with these earlier beliefs.

With the passing of time and fashions, different gemstones have been ascribed to different months. It is thought that, originally, colour was the major attribute which determined a person's birthstone.

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All jewellery products are packaged in an elegant black suede gift box. All watch and sunglasses products are packaged in their original packaging.

Should you not be satisfied with your purchase or if the product is in any way faulty, it can be returned within 14 days of receipt. Goods will only be accepted with a return authorisation reference and if the item is still in its original packaging and has not been modified in any way. All returns must be accompanied with a copy of your invoice and a reason for the return.

Should you need to return an item, contact kalahari.net customer services or +27 (0)21 468 9200, explaining the reason for your return. You will then get a return authorisation reference and instructions on how and where to return your item. Please note: you cannot return any item without a return authorisation reference. Please visit our Terms and Conditions for more information on your jewellery & accessories returns.

You will receive all your jewellery and watch products within 3 working days. All sunglasses to be delivered within 5 working days.

Due to the nature of these products, you only have the door-to-door option available for delivery. Make sure that you enter a valid South African street address before completing the payment process.

All standard delivery charges apply - R29 for orders below R375 and all orders over R375 are FREE OF CHARGE!

Jewellery & Accessories cannot be ordered together with any other products available on kalahari.net. If you have another product in your basket, but want to buy jewellery & accessories, you can:

• Order the other product first and then place a separate order for your jewellery & accessories product afterwards.
• Add the other product to your wishlist and order the jewellery & accessories product first.

Kindly email us or phone customer support on +27 (0)21 468 9200 for assistance.

• All gold products are 9 carat gold unless otherwise specified.
• You will receive a certificate of authenticity with every diamond product over 0.5 carats.
• All watches and sunglasses come with a manufacturer's guarantee.

Please refer to the guides provided for each of the various jewellery product categories.

As well as sizing the guides will provide you with insight into the various aspects of precious metals and gemstones. Please refer to these as part of your purchasing decision.

Please note: Rings can only be resized two sizes up or down. Kindly email us us or phone customer support on +27 (0)21 468 9200 if you are having problems establishing your exact ring size.