A client returned to the 9 Hatton Garden showroom on a Tuesday afternoon last spring with a story that arrives more often than it should. Her engagement ring had slipped down a hotel basin drain in Lisbon, the hotel plumber had not been able to retrieve it, and her insurer was now asking for documents […]
There is a small ritual that takes place every working day at the consultation desks of 9 Hatton Garden. A buyer is handed a folded piece of paper, slightly larger than a passport, with a hologram in one corner and a string of numbers running down its left edge. They glance at it, smile politely, […]
The question arrives more often now than it did five years ago, and it arrives with more precision. Not “is this diamond ethical?” which is a question that wants a reassuring answer but “what does ethical actually mean here, and how do I verify it?” That is a better question. It deserves a better answer […]
There is a particular kind of buyer who arrives at Smith and Green already knowing they do not want a diamond. Not because a diamond is wrong but because something else is more right. A deep Kashmir-blue sapphire in an 18ct white gold bezel. A vivid Mozambique ruby flanked by trillion-cut white diamonds. A Colombian […]
Before any conversation about carat weight or setting style, there is one question a diamond buyer should ask, and almost nobody does: Who graded this stone, and does that matter? The short answer is yes. It matters considerably. A diamond certificate is not a universal document. It is the output of a specific laboratory, using […]
Stop worrying about fluorescence. Or rather: stop worrying about it without understanding it first. Because the answer is not “fluorescence is fine, ignore it” and it is not “fluorescence is a serious problem you need to avoid.” The answer is specific, and it depends on the stone in front of you and the grade on […]
A certain kind of London engagement ring makes you pause. It does not shout. It catches the light in a way that feels lived in, as if it has already gathered stories. That is the appeal behind vintage engagement ring style in 2026. It is not about buying something old. It is about choosing a […]
London’s relationship with fine jewellery has always balanced heritage with change. In Hatton Garden, where generations of cutters, setters and dealers built a global reputation for expertise, that balance is now being tested by a decisive shift in how diamonds are chosen. By 2026, lab-grown diamonds in Hatton Garden will no longer be a curiosity […]
For couples planning a proposal or upgrading a significant piece, the most pressing question is often deceptively simple. Do you choose a natural diamond steeped in geological history, or a lab-grown diamond that allows you to achieve a far more generous carat weight for the same budget? In 2025, that choice is no longer about authenticity. […]
Commissioning a bespoke engagement ring or fine piece in Hatton Garden gives you complete control over design, materials, and budget while providing access to some of the most experienced jewellers in the country. Instead of compromising on a ready-made style, you work directly with specialists who shape every detail around your taste, lifestyle and spending […]
