Active Lifestyle Tips:

It is important to consider your lifestyle when selecting the shape of the stone and the design of the ring. Be realistic about the wear-and-tear your ring must make and realize that while "diamonds are forever", no piece of jewellery is eternal. Remember, even diamond, the hardest natural substance known, can chip or break if exposed to a sharp accidental blow.
Active outdoors types, for example, might be better off avoiding the marquise or pears shape. The shank as well as the claws of a ring worn daily by a very active person will show the effects of wear, any detailing on the ring will be blur over time, as a result of gardening, playing on the beach, mountain-climbing, handling ski equipment or bicycles, etc.
Remember: sturdy and graceful are not mutually exclusive. Rubover settings do not detract from a gemstone's brilliance, yet they will afford you greater security.
In considering which metal is best, remember that colour is a personal choice. Yellow gold is a nice bright rich colour, whilst white gold is stronger than yellow in terms of endurance. Platinum is expensive, but is also tougher than gold-rather than abrading easily, platinum tends to roll over itself much like a wax when you roll it between your fingers. This tends to make a platinum setting more durable than a gold setting, but both metals dent and scratch equally.

Diamond Buyers Tips:

Is the diamond glued to the setting? If a ring has a closed back, it is probably not a diamond. Is newsprint readable or observable through diamond? If so, it is not a diamond.
Count the facets visible on top. In cheaper glass imitations there are usually nine visible top facets, as opposed to 33 visible top facets in a brilliant cut diamond or "good" stimulation. However, some small diamonds, such as those seen in side stones in some rings, do show only nine facets on the top (referred to as single cut in the trade rather than brilliant cut).
Examine the girdle of the stone. Most diamonds have a frosted appearance (unpolished and with a ground-glass like appearance). Polished or faceted girdle diamonds will not have this frostiness.
Check the symmetry of the cut. The symmetry of the faceting on a diamond will be very carefully executed, whereas in diamond simulations the symmetry of the facets will be sloppy.
Are the facet edges or facets scratched, chipped, or worn? Diamond imitations include some stones that are very soft and/or brittle, such as zircon and glass.
Examine the stone, loose or mounted, for fluorescence under ultraviolet light.

Gold & Platinum Tips:

Unlike gold, platinum is not described in carats. In Europe the numerical marking 950 or PT950 indicates platinum. For guaranteed quality in platinum, look for the stamps PT, 950, 950 Plat or Plat. Platinum 950 means it is a 95% pure platinum alloy and can also be stamped as "Platinum"; 950 Plat and Plat. All platinum jewellery on our website is Platinum 950 (95% platinum and 5% iridium/or ruthenium/ or cobalt).
Pure or fine gold is 24 carats. Eighteen carat gold consists of 18 parts of pure gold mixed with 6 parts of other metals (European Marking is 750). The law is very strict with regard to the tolerances allowed for gold jewellery. A carat mark will assure you that tolerances are being met and gold is of specified quality.