De Beers

Few names are as closely linked with diamonds as De Beers. For well over a century it has been part of the diamond's journey from the earth to the jeweller's bench, and in more recent decades it has brought that expertise to its own jewellery: solitaires, eternity rings, wedding bands and fine jewellery designed around the stone. This guide introduces De Beers jewellery, its collections and what our specialists look at in a pre-loved piece.

Key facts

Origins	1888 (De Beers Consolidated Mines)
Jewellery house	De Beers Jewellers, from the early 2000s
Signature collections	Solitaires and engagement rings, Enchanted Lotus, Arpeggia, Aura, wedding bands
Metals	Platinum, 18k yellow, white and rose gold
Stones	Diamonds, often with a laser inscription and house grading report

A short history

De Beers began in the diamond fields of southern Africa in the late nineteenth century. For much of the twentieth century it was the dominant force in the diamond trade, and its advertising helped shape how diamonds were thought of: "A Diamond is Forever", written for the company in 1947, became one of the most famous lines in advertising.

In the early 2000s De Beers launched its own jewellery house, with boutiques in London and other cities, bringing its knowledge of stones to finished pieces. Its collections favour clean lines and settings that let the diamond lead. Many of its diamonds are inscribed and accompanied by the house's own documentation.

The pieces most often asked about

• Solitaire engagement rings: in classic and contemporary settings.
• Eternity and half-eternity rings: diamonds set around the band.
• Wedding bands: in platinum and gold, in court, flat and other profiles. We currently have a Men's Wide Court Band in platinum (PT950), 4.0 mm.
• Fine jewellery collections: such as Enchanted Lotus, inspired by the lotus flower, and Arpeggia, with rows of diamonds that move.

Metals

• Platinum: dense, naturally white and very durable. Marked PT950 or Pt950 for 95 per cent purity. It develops a soft patina with wear.
• 18k gold: 75 per cent gold, in yellow, white and rose. White gold is often rhodium-plated for a bright white finish, which may need renewing over time.

Wedding band profiles

• Court: rounded inside and out; comfortable and classic.
• Flat court: flat on the outside, rounded inside; modern and comfortable.
• D-shape: flat inside, rounded outside; a traditional profile.
• Flat: flat inside and out; crisp and contemporary.

Width changes how a band feels. A 4 mm band is a balanced width for many men's hands, while narrower bands suit a finer look. Wider bands often feel snugger in the same size, so they are sometimes chosen half a size larger.

Choosing pre-loved De Beers

For wedding bands, start with metal and profile, then width and size. For diamond pieces, consider the stone first: its carat weight, colour, clarity and cut, and whether a house report or inscription accompanies it. Then look at the setting and how it suits your hand.

Condition on platinum and gold is mostly a matter of surface marks, which are normal with wear. We describe any dents, resizing or polishing we can see, and photograph the band clearly. For diamond pieces we note the security of settings.

What we look at in pre-loved De Beers

Our specialists examine:

1. Metal and hallmarks: consistent with the piece, and tested where appropriate.
2. Signature and inscriptions: the house mark, any inscription and any serial.
3. Construction: roundness, wall thickness and finish of bands; settings on diamond pieces.
4. Diamonds: quality, security and consistency with any accompanying report.
5. Size: measured and stated in UK sizes.

Read how we authenticate.

Caring for platinum and gold

• Clean with warm water, a little mild soap and a soft brush, then rinse and dry with a soft cloth.
• Remove rings for heavy manual work, gardening and the gym to avoid knocks.
• Store each piece separately in a soft pouch to avoid scratches.
• Have diamond settings checked by a jeweller periodically.
• Platinum's patina can be polished back to a bright finish by a jeweller if you prefer.

A note on diamonds

Diamonds are graded by the four Cs: carat, which is weight; colour, from colourless to faintly tinted; clarity, which describes inclusions; and cut, which governs how the stone returns light. A well-cut diamond of modest size can appear livelier than a larger stone with a weaker cut. When a De Beers diamond comes with a house report or an inscription on its girdle, we check that the stone agrees with it, and we describe what we can confirm in the listing. If you would like to see a diamond under magnification, we are happy to arrange it by appointment.

The language of fine jewellery

PT950 marks 95 per cent platinum. Court describes a band rounded inside and out. Hallmark is the assay office mark confirming metal purity. Eternity ring means a band set with stones all or part of the way round. Our glossary explains more.

De Beers at Encore Luxe

See our De Beers page for pieces currently available.

Related: Tiffany & Co. · Cartier · Messika

Encore Luxe is an independent retailer and is not affiliated with De Beers.