Diamonds & Gemstones
The honest, jargon-free guide to understanding what makes a stone worth choosing. Lab or natural, round or oval, sapphire or diamond — here's what actually matters when selecting a stone for your piece.
At Stara, we hold no allegiance to one stone over another. Every diamond has its own beauty, its own story, its own purpose. Our role is to help you understand the difference — and then trust you to choose what feels truest to you.
Where we come from
A family who has lived inside the diamond world for 40 years.
Stara Designs was founded by Dev Katrodiya, who grew up in Surat, India — the city where approximately 90% of the world's diamonds are cut and polished. His family has been in the diamond industry for over four decades. That heritage isn't a marketing line. It means that when we talk about diamonds, we're drawing from lived knowledge — not a textbook.
What follows is an honest guide to help you make a confident, informed decision about the stone at the heart of your piece. We have no agenda on which type of diamond or stone you choose — our only goal is that you understand what you're getting and love it completely.
The big question
Lab-grown vs natural diamonds — an honest comparison.
Both are real diamonds. Lab-grown diamonds have the exact same chemical composition, crystal structure, and physical properties as natural diamonds. They're not simulants or alternatives — they are diamonds, grown in a controlled environment rather than formed over billions of years underground.
Natural Diamond
Formed by the earth.
- Created over billions of years under the earth's crust
- Mined from the ground — each stone is unique
- Holds strong resale and secondary market value
- Often carries emotional weight — "a natural wonder"
- Prices reflect rarity — typically 2–4× more than lab
- Certified by GIA, IGI, and other major labs
- Available through Stara via direct appointment
Lab-Grown Diamond
Created by science.
- Grown in a lab using CVD or HPHT technology
- Chemically, optically, and physically identical to natural
- Significantly more affordable — larger stone for the same budget
- Lower environmental footprint in most cases
- Resale value lower than natural — primarily a jewellery purchase
- Certified by IGI, GIA, and others — fully graded
- Featured on the Stara website — contact us for natural diamonds
The Stara view
There is no right or wrong answer. The right diamond is the one that feels right to you — for the value, the symbolism, or the story behind it. We present both options with complete transparency and zero pressure. During your consultation, we'll explain the specific differences for your piece and let you decide.
What matters most
The 4Cs — what they are and what they actually mean for your piece.
The 4Cs were developed by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) as a universal language for describing diamond quality. Understanding them helps you make a smarter choice — and understand why two diamonds of the same carat weight can look completely different.
The four criteria that determine a diamond's quality and value.
The most important of the four.
Cut refers to how well a diamond's facets interact with light — its proportions, symmetry, and polish. A perfectly cut diamond returns light in a way that creates that unmistakable sparkle. This is the one C that is entirely in the hands of the craftsman, not nature.
Stara's view: Never compromise on cut. An excellent cut in a lower colour or clarity grade will outshine a higher-graded stone with a poor cut every single time.
Less colour = more value. Usually.
Diamond colour is graded on a scale from D (completely colourless) to Z (light yellow or brown). D–F are exceptional. G–I are near-colourless and look white to the naked eye — an excellent balance of quality and value. Anything below J may show a slight warmth.
Stara's view: For white gold settings, aim for G–H. In yellow or rose gold, an I–J colour is virtually indistinguishable from a D once set.
Most inclusions are invisible to the eye.
Clarity refers to the presence of internal characteristics (inclusions) and surface features (blemishes). The scale runs from Flawless (FL) to Included (I3). The sweet spot for most clients is VS2–SI1 — inclusions are not visible to the naked eye but the price is far more reasonable than FL or VVS grades.
Stara's view: Eye-clean is all that matters in real life. We'll always show you exactly where inclusions sit and whether they're visible before you commit.
Weight, not size — they're different.
Carat is a unit of weight (1 carat = 0.2 grams). Larger stones are rarer and more expensive — not linearly but exponentially. A 1-carat diamond is not twice the price of a 0.5-carat; it can be three to four times more. The shape and cut of a diamond dramatically affect how large it appears face-up.
Stara's view: An oval or elongated cut will look significantly larger than a round of the same carat weight. Shape is one of the easiest ways to maximise the visual size of your stone.
Diamond shapes
The shape changes everything about how a stone looks and feels.
Shape is one of the most personal choices in a diamond — there's no hierarchy, only preference. Here are the most popular shapes we work with at Stara.
Round Brilliant
Maximum sparkle. The most popular shape by far.
Oval
Looks larger than round. Elongates the finger beautifully.
Emerald Cut
Elegant step-cut with dramatic flashes of light. Shows clarity clearly.
Cushion
Soft, rounded square. Vintage feeling, brilliant sparkle.
Radiant
Brilliant facets in a rectangular form. Very bright stone.
Pear
Distinctive teardrop shape. Uniquely striking as a centre stone.
Marquise
Elongated pointed oval. Maximises carat appearance.
Princess
Square with maximum brilliance. Modern and architectural.
Coloured gemstones
Sapphires, emeralds, rubies — the coloured stones we love.
Coloured gemstones bring personality, meaning, and individuality to a piece in a way no diamond can. At Stara, we source exceptional sapphires, emeralds, and rubies for bespoke creations — each selected not just for specification, but for character.
Read the full coloured gemstones guide →
Sapphire
Hardness: 9 / 10 — Excellent durability
The gemstone of royalty — most famously known in deep blue, sapphires also come in pink, yellow, white, and the rare padparadscha (peach-pink). Exceptional hardness makes sapphire ideal for everyday wear in rings. Second only to diamond in durability.
Emerald
Hardness: 7.5–8 / 10 — Moderate durability
The stone of elegance, mystery, and lush colour. Emeralds often contain natural internal characteristics called a "jardin" (garden) — which are not flaws but part of their natural identity. Handle with more care than sapphire or diamond. Stunning in halo or bezel settings.
Ruby
Hardness: 9 / 10 — Excellent durability
The rarest of the three — a fine ruby of deep pigeon-blood red is one of the most valuable gemstones on earth. Rubies and sapphires are the same mineral (corundum), so ruby shares sapphire's excellent durability. The red of a ruby carries centuries of symbolism: love, passion, courage.
Natural diamonds & gemstones at Stara
Natural diamonds and coloured gemstones vary enormously in quality, origin, and character — far more than lab-grown stones. For this reason, we handle all natural diamond and gemstone selections through a personal appointment rather than online. We'll curate options specifically for your piece and walk you through everything in detail. Contact us to book your appointment.
Certification
What a diamond certificate tells you — and what it doesn't.
A grading certificate (from GIA, IGI, or similar) is an independent assessment of a diamond's 4Cs, prepared by trained gemologists using calibrated equipment. It is not a value certificate or insurance document — it is a quality report.
All certified stones at Stara come with their original grading certificate, which remains with you as part of your purchase documentation. For insurance purposes, we recommend having your completed piece professionally valued and insured once received.