Shield Cut one-of-a-kind Ring

Rachel graduated in Jewellery Design from Central Saint Martin's College of Art and Design before continuing her studies at the Gemological Institute of America in New York, where she received her diploma in Diamond Grading.

Her bold aesthetic redefines the traditional world of bridal jewellery. Rachel works with all kinds of diamonds: from rough, imperfect stones to refined white diamonds. These unique gemstones paired with her signature art-deco inspired forms and modern silhouettes make Rachel's jewellery timeless and unique. Specialising in alternative bridal and bespoke work, her collections are created with inspired and curious people in mind, who are after pieces that straddle the line between understated, edgy, and elegant.

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Considered to be the ultimate token of love, the diamond has long been associated with feelings of eternity, invincibility and power. A naturally occurring substance so hard that Romans believed it would accompany the dead on their journey through the afterlife, the diamond’s power and allure is traced back to its immense strength, and the associated symbolism of eternal love.

White diamonds are seen as both the standard and the ultimate stone of choice for engagement rings. Their lack of colour makes them easy to wear on any skin tone, and the availability of different cuts, shapes and sizes means you can make unique and unexpected choices in design - it’s not just about the round solitaire.

All the diamonds used by our Designers are responsibly sourced through well established suppliers and trusted relationships. Always ask your Designer about the provenance of diamonds if this is important to you.

Diamonds are valued on their brilliance and beauty, based on the system of the 4 Cs - colour, cut, clarity and carat weight, and we always suggest choosing a diamond that has been selected for you by a trusted jeweller - even an untrained eye will be able to spot the most desirable diamond amongst a line-up of a few to compare, with the help of an expert.

For more detailed information on the 4 Cs and which factors are actually the most important, please take a look at our Guide to the 4 Cs.

Diamonds are traditionally the birthstone of April. See all diamond rings here.

Due to modern technology, diamonds can be cut in most shapes and sizes imaginable, although the most common and popular shapes are the most common and popular for a reason: diamonds are cut from rough material to maximise sparkle and brilliance, with years of technology resulting in the brilliant cut which is used for round shape diamonds.

A side note: the cut of a diamond is not the same as its shape. The shape refers to the silhouette, or the external outlines of the diamond, for example the pear or round shape. The cut refers to the internal facets created by the diamond cutter, which is a complex and scientific process to maximise the reflective qualities of the material to let the light shine through. With a poor cut, any shape diamond can look dull and flat.

Popular bespoke cuts include half moon cuts, cadillac cuts, kite cuts or modified versions of shapes such as a shield cut.

Our favourite bespoke or fancy cut is a heart shape diamond, rarely used without looking chintzy or sentimental, but in the hands of a fresh design talent can subvert the traditional meaning and feel wearable.

See all bespoke cut diamond rings here.

Gold is a naturally occurring metal with a warm, glowing finish when polished, and remains the most popular choice for engagement rings due to its natural beauty and hard-wearing strength.

Pure 24k gold is naturally a soft material, and considered too soft to create jewellery with, so it is mixed with small amounts of other metals to create an alloy.

As well as increasing the durability of the gold, adding alloys can also change the colour of the gold to produce rose or white gold, for example.

18k yellow gold is made up of 75% pure gold, and 25% alloy, which would usually include silver and copper.

18k rose gold is made up of 75% pure gold, 22.2% copper, and 9.2% silver.

18k white gold is made up of 75% pure gold and 25% palladium or platinum.