Understanding the 4Cs is how I help my clients balance beauty, size, and value when selecting diamonds for engagement rings, wedding rings, earrings, and other bespoke jewellery. Stop guessing. Start saving. Get guided. Most people feel overwhelmed by conflicting advice online, worried about choosing the wrong diamond, and unsure who to trust. You are not just buying an engagement ring or wedding ring here. You are getting my personal expertise to make sure you choose the right diamond and the right design for your budget.
I am Michael Dransfield, founder of Burgundy Bespoke Jewellers, and I personally guide you through every step of the decision-making process. Whether we meet in person in Brisbane, the Gold Coast, or the Sunshine Coast, or via Zoom anywhere across Australia, you work directly with me. I do not run a traditional jewellery shop. I do not carry stock to try on. Every piece of jewellery is custom, handcrafted, and created specifically for you.
The 4Cs Explained: How Expert Jewellers Assess Diamond Quality
The 4Cs stand for cut, colour, clarity, and carat. These are the universal standards used by independent laboratories such as GIA and IGI to grade diamonds. While each factor matters, professional jewellers never treat them equally. I look at how each element affects real-life beauty, durability, and long-term value rather than just numbers on a certificate.
Diamonds used in engagement rings, wedding rings, watches, and other pieces of jewellery are worn daily, so they need to prioritise sparkle, strength, and security. Stones selected for diamond earrings, pendants, bracelets, bangles, or tennis jewellery may focus more on visual size or colour presence. This is why every client receives personalised guidance rather than a one-size-fits-all recommendation.
During your consultation, I show you actual design options on screen and explain how different stones perform in real lighting, how inclusions affect structure, and how colour appears once mounted in gold. My role is to make sure you understand exactly what you are buying and why.
When you’re ready to shop with confidence and find the right diamond, you’ll work directly with me, Michael. I help you compare diamonds, explain cut, colour, carat, and clarity in simple terms, and show you how options like si1 can offer excellent value.
Whether you’re choosing a round shape for engagement rings or wedding rings, selecting diamonds for elegant earrings, or creating meaningful gifts, every piece of jewellery is handcrafted to your design.
Using my online diamond platform, we can find the right stone and add real value to your budget while keeping the process clear and personal. From engagement rings to wedding rings, earrings, new bespoke rings, and timeless gifts, my role is to guide you with honesty, keep your secret proposal a secret if needed, and make sure your finished jewellery feels truly yours.
What I Look For When Selecting Diamonds for My Clients
- Light performance in natural lighting, not just studio or showroom lights
- Precision of the cut and how efficiently it reflects light
- Structural integrity for everyday wear
- Whether inclusions affect durability or sparkle
- How colour appears once set in white gold, yellow gold, or rose gold
- Proportions that maximise visual size without inflating cost
- Certification accuracy from GIA or IGI
- Presence and effect of fluorescence
- Ethical sourcing and conflict-free documentation
- Market comparison through my wholesale diamond network
- Suitability for the intended jewellery style
- How the diamond complements the chosen setting design
- Long-term wearability and value
- Compatibility with lifestyle and occupation
- Overall harmony between beauty, size, and budget
After assessing every technical detail, I bring that expertise together to help you find the right diamond with complete clarity. You work directly with me, Michael, and I explain how cut, shape, and grades like si1 perform in real life, not under showroom lights. This is a very different experience from visiting a traditional jewellery shop. I don’t have a storefront or stock to sell you. Everything is bespoke, and every recommendation is based on what suits you, not what’s in a display case.
You can browse and shop through my online diamond platform, which connects directly to trusted diamond dealers, allowing us to find exceptional stones and add genuine value. From a meaningful gift to bespoke jewellery or a special new design, every piece is fully handcrafted to your vision. I guide you with total clarity, help you choose the right cut, and ensure your round or custom shape diamond truly fits your lifestyle. Whether you’re creating personal gifts or designing heirloom jewellery, my focus is on helping you find the perfect diamond and add meaning to every detail.
Why Cut Comes First: The Key to a Diamond’s Brilliance
Cut is the most important factor when choosing a diamond. A well cut diamond controls how light enters and exits the stone, creating sparkle and brilliance. I often show clients two diamonds of the same size and price that look completely different simply because of cut quality.
This applies across all popular shapes, including round brilliant cut, princess cut, oval cut, emerald cut, pear cut, marquise cut, radiant cut, asscher cut, and heart cut. Each diamond shape requires precise proportions to perform beautifully. I never rely on certificates alone. I visually assess every diamond to ensure it performs the way it should.
This is where experience matters. With over 50 years in the industry, I know exactly what works and what does not.
Once you see how much difference the cut makes, everything else starts to fall into place. My role is to help you find a diamond or diamonds that truly perform, whether you love a classic round shape or something more distinctive.
This is a very different experience from visiting a jewellery shop. I don’t carry stock or display pieces. Instead, we look at stones together and focus on how they actually sparkle in real light. If an si1 offers the right balance of beauty and value, I’ll explain why. From bespoke jewellery to meaningful gifts, every new piece is handcrafted to your design.
Whether you’re choosing a special gift or creating heirloom jewellery, I help you add confidence to every decision and add purpose to every detail, so the diamond you choose truly reflects what matters to you.
Bigger Look, Smarter Spend: How I Maximise Visual Size
Carat measures the weight of a diamond, not physical size. Many buyers assume a heavier diamond automatically looks larger. That is not always true. I use proportion and design strategies to maximise finger coverage and visual presence without pushing your budget.
This is where bespoke jewellery design shines. A carefully selected diamond paired with the right setting can look larger and more impressive than a heavier diamond in a poorly designed mount. This applies whether you are choosing a natural diamond or a lab grown diamond.
Techniques I Use to Enhance Visual Impact
- Selecting elongated diamond shapes, such as oval or pear
- Choosing balanced proportions that spread weight across the surface
- Designing settings that maximise finger coverage
- Using prong placement to elongate the appearance
- Avoiding bulky metal that hides the diamond
- Matching diamond shape to hand structure
- Using reflective metals to enhance sparkle
- Designing custom mounts instead of mass-produced settings
- Prioritising cut quality to boost brilliance
- Avoiding deep cuts that hide weight
By focusing on proportion, setting design, and how each shape sits on the hand, I help you add visual impact without unnecessary size or cost. This is very different to walking into a jewellery shop, because I don’t have stock to sell you. Instead, we look closely at how round and elongated shape options change the look of diamonds, how prong placement can add length, and how smart design makes a stone appear larger. If an si1 is the right choice, I’ll show you how it can still deliver presence and sparkle.
Whether you’re creating new jewellery, choosing a meaningful gift, or selecting memorable gifts, every design is custom and handcrafted. My goal is to help you add impact through intelligent design, choose the right shape for your hand, and create new pieces that feel personal and considered.
Colour & Clarity: Where to Save (And Where Not To)
This is where I help my clients save money without sacrificing beauty.
Once set, most diamonds appear white to the naked eye, especially in yellow gold or rose gold. Colours in the G to I range offer exceptional value for most buyers. Higher grades cost more but rarely look different in real life.
Clarity grades such as si1, si2, and vs2 can appear completely clean without magnification. I personally inspect every stone to ensure inclusions are not visible and do not affect durability. If you cannot see it, there is no reason to pay for it.
This allows you to invest more into cut quality, which has the biggest impact on sparkle.
This approach lets you add more brilliance without paying for differences you will never see. Rather than stepping into a jewellery shop and choosing from what’s in the cabinet, you work directly with me to compare stones properly. I’ll show you how an si1 can look just as clean as higher grades once set, and why a well-cut round diamond will always outperform a higher colour or clarity grade.
Whether you are selecting a special gift or planning meaningful gifts for an important moment, my focus is on helping you spend wisely. The goal is simple. Add beauty where it matters, avoid unnecessary upgrades, and ensure your final gift feels thoughtful, confident, and genuinely good value.
How I Balance the 4Cs for Different Budgets
Every client is different. Some prioritise size, others want diamonds of the highest colour, and many value ethical sourcing. I balance the 4Cs based on your goals, lifestyle, budget, and how often the piece will be worn.
Whether you are creating an engagement ring, wedding rings, diamond earrings, bracelets, pendants, or a statement piece as a gift, the goal is always the same. Deliver exceptional value without compromising quality.
My Simple 3 Step Process
- Discover: We meet in person in Brisbane, the Gold Coast, or the Sunshine Coast, or via Zoom anywhere in Australia. I learn your budget, style, timeline, and proposal plans. Yes, I will help you keep the secret if needed.
- Select: I show you 3 to 5 carefully chosen diamonds from my online dealer platform. This platform connects directly to diamond wholesalers and typically saves clients 15 to 20 percent. I explain exactly why one stone offers better value than another.
- Create: Your ring or other piece of jewellery is custom-designed and handcrafted. Most bespoke engagement rings and wedding rings take approximately four weeks to complete. Every piece is made specifically for you.
By tailoring the 4Cs to your priorities, I make sure every choice feels intentional rather than generic. This isn’t about stepping into a jewellery shop and picking what happens to be in stock. You work with me to compare options properly, whether that’s choosing a round diamond for timeless appeal or selecting an si1 that delivers excellent value.
From a once-in-a-lifetime proposal to meaningful gifts for milestones, I guide you so each gift reflects your story, your budget, and your style. The aim is simple. Create pieces that feel personal, not pressured, and ensure every decision supports a result you’ll be proud to give and wear.
Beyond the 4Cs: Certification, Fluorescence, & Other Details Buyers Often Miss
Certification matters. I only work with independently certified diamonds from GIA and IGI. This ensures accurate grading and traceability.
Fluorescence can sometimes improve the appearance of a diamond. In other cases, it should be avoided. I explain exactly how it affects each diamond so you can make an informed choice.
Ethical sourcing of diamonds is essential. I only work with conflict-free suppliers and provide transparency around origin and documentation.
Craftsmanship also matters. In the unlikely event of a manufacturing fault, I stand by my work and will make it right. Every piece is handcrafted to the highest standard.
These often-overlooked details are where confidence is built. Certification, fluorescence, and ethical sourcing all play a role in how a stone performs long after it’s chosen. I explain what matters and what doesn’t, so your decision feels informed rather than overwhelming.
For many clients, questions around round diamond proportions or whether an si1 diamond is the right balance naturally come up, especially when selecting a meaningful gift. My role is to bring clarity to those moments, ensure every stone is responsibly sourced, and stand behind the craftsmanship of your piece. When you give a gift, it should feel considered and secure, knowing every detail has been properly assessed and nothing important has been left to chance.
Natural Diamonds vs Lab Grown Diamonds
Natural diamonds form over millions of years through carbon crystallisation. Lab grown diamonds are created using advanced technology that replicates natural conditions. Both are real diamonds with identical physical properties.
Lab grown stones typically offer better value. Natural diamonds remain rarer and traditional. The right choice depends on your values, budget, and future plans. I walk you through both options so you can decide confidently.
Browse Diamonds Online
You can browse diamonds through my online platform before or after your consultation. Stones range from under 1 carat to over 5 carats if required. This gives you access to a wide selection without retail markups.
Remember, you are not ordering blind. I personally review and approve every stone before it is recommended to you.
At the end of the day, the right choice is the one that feels right for you. Some clients love the tradition behind natural stones, others prefer the value of lab grown, and both can be the perfect gift depending on the moment you’re celebrating.
Whether you’re drawn to a classic round look or curious about how an si1 might fit into your budget, I personally review every option before it’s suggested. That way, when you choose your gift, you know it’s been properly assessed, not just pulled from a list.
My aim is to make sure your final selection feels considered, confident, and genuinely meaningful.
The Difference a Master Jeweller Makes
Stop guessing. Start saving. Get guided.
You are not just buying a ring or custom jewellery. You are getting my experience, my honesty, and my commitment to making sure you get the best value possible.
If you are ready to create something truly special, book your diamond consultation today. Let me show you how to choose the right stone, design the perfect piece of jewellery, and avoid costly mistakes.
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