☰ Menu
Since 1896, our focus has been on expert craftsmanship, assured quality and creating perfect pieces of jewellery. Our desire to share the joy and to be there for all of life’s special occasions is what sets us apart and makes every detail of our fine jewellery carefully considered.
Since 1896, our focus has been on expert craftsmanship, assured quality and creating perfect pieces of jewellery. Our desire to share the joy and to be there for all of life’s special occasions is what sets us apart and makes every detail of our fine jewellery carefully considered.
The world’s most precious gem and a symbol of love for centuries, Diamonds are as beautiful and unique as your love story.
Formed under immense pressure, hundreds of kilometres below the surface of the earth, their one billion year journey
is nothing short of phenomenal. They were first discovered in India over two thousand years ago and have remained
a symbol of beauty, love and resilience ever since.
All Sterns Diamonds half a carat and above are independently verified and are accompanied by a certificate of authenticity
detailing exact measurements and features. We guarantee that every step of the process, from the sourcing of the
Diamond rough to the cutting and polishing, is handled ethically and by the best in the industry.
In their natural state, Diamonds are quite dull. To bring out their inner lustre, each Diamond must be individually cut and polished to create facets. These facets reflect the light and unlock the stone’s hidden brilliance. Of all the 5 C’s, cut has the greatest effect on the beauty of a Diamond and is influenced by man’s hand. The grading scale ranges from Excellent to Poor and at Sterns we ensure that the world’s most talented artisans cut our Diamonds to the highest precision.
Diamonds are created when carbon crystallises deep underground. If any other elements are present during this process, they affect the Diamond’s colour. Diamonds are considered more rare and valuable the closer they are to being colourless. The colour palette is varied and covers a wide spectrum. Most natural Diamonds have traces of a yellow or brown colour. Naturally coloured Diamonds, for example yellow or pink, are rare and are referred to as fancy.
When a Diamond is formed, tiny particles of dust and other minerals can be trapped inside it. These are known as inclusions. Clarity refers to the internal purity of a Diamond – the fewer the inclusions, the more rare and valuable the stone. However, these inclusions make each Diamond unique – a fingerprint billions of years old that belongs to you alone. We provide a variety of options to maximise sparkle and your budget.
Carat refers to both size and weight of a Diamond. As a Diamond’s weight increases, so does its value. Just as R1 is divided into 100 cents, a carat is divided into 100 points. For example, a 50-point Diamond weighs 0.50 carats. However, carat weight alone does not determine a Diamond’s value. Two stones of equal weight can vary quite considerably in price because of quality differences.
The Round Brilliant
The modern round brilliant is a true classic and the most popular Diamond cut. With a well-cut round Diamond, you’re sure to get intense sparkle that will make your ring appear bigger.
The Princess
his contemporary and stylishfancy cut is perfectly feminine.With a wonderfully radiant sparkle, it has become one of themost beloved Diamond shapes.
The Pear
An exceptional pear shape is one that possesses excellent symmetry. Like the oval, it has the ability to make the wearer’s finger appear longer and slimmer.
The Cushion
This contemporary and stylish fancy cut is perfectly feminine. With a wonderfully radiant sparkle, it has become one of the most beloved Diamond shapes.
The Oval
Oval-cut Diamonds have the brilliance of a round cut, with the added benefit of an elongated shape that gives a lengthening effect on the finger.
The Round Brilliant
The modern round brilliant is a true classic and the most popular Diamond cut. With a well-cut round Diamond, you’re sure to get intense sparkle that will make your ring appear bigger.
The Princess
his contemporary and stylishfancy cut is perfectly feminine.With a wonderfully radiant sparkle, it has become one of themost beloved Diamond shapes.
The Pear
An exceptional pear shape is one that possesses excellent symmetry. Like the oval, it has the ability to make the wearer’s finger appear longer and slimmer.
The Cushion
This contemporary and stylish fancy cut is perfectly feminine. With a wonderfully radiant sparkle, it has become one of the most beloved Diamond shapes.
The Oval
Oval-cut Diamonds have the brilliance of a round cut, with the added benefit of an elongated shape that gives a lengthening effect on the finger.
Morganite
Morganite is a soft peachy-pink colour and is revered for its beautiful clarity. From the same gemstone family as Emerald, it is durable and makes a stunning centre stone for a gemstone ring. With its pink hue, Morganite is believed to symbolise love, compassion, and joy.
Fun fact: Morganite was only discovered in the early 20th century and was named after famous American banker and collector, J.P. Morgan.
Tanzanite
Found only at the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzanite varies from blue, to violet, or purple in colour. Its high vibrational energy invites protection and safety and allows for deep profound meditation. It also inspires compassion, love and happiness.
Fun fact: Found only in Tanzania, it is Africa’s rarest gem.
Garnet
January Birthstone
Believed to protect the wearer, this vibrant gemstone has a rich red colour. It signifies health, vitality, and passion. Used to mark the second anniversary of marriage, it is a symbol of trust and eternal friendship.
Fun fact: The name Garnet comes from the Latin “Garanatus,” meaning “seedlike,” referring to a pomegranate, to which the stone’s appearance was compared to.
Amethyst
February Birthstone
Amethyst is a violet variety of Quartz. It ranges from pale lavender to deep violet and is said to symbolise wisdom, stability, and strength. It also encourages a clear head and quick wit.
Fun fact: Amethystos means “not drunk” in ancient Greek and the stone was believed to protect its owner from drunkenness.
Aquamarine
March Birthstone
This gorgeous pale blue, transparent crystal is a member of the Beryl family. It’s named after the mineral aquamarine, a gemstone mainly found in granite rocks. Aquamarine evokes feelings of calmness and level headedness.
Fun fact: Aquamarine’s name comes from the Latin word for seawater and was said to calm waves and keep sailors safe at sea.
Diamond
April Birthstone
Renowned for their beauty, sparkling fire, durability, and rarity – Diamonds are the most-prized of all gemstones. They are said to clear emotional and mental pain, reduce fear and bring about new beginnings.
Fun fact: Diamonds are the hardest material on earth, 58 times harder than anything else in nature.
Emerald
May Birthstone
Emerald is a brilliant deep green coloured, highly precious gemstone of the Beryl mineral family. One of the most reputed gemstones in Vedic astrology; it is worn for gaining foresight and good fortune.
Fun fact: Cleopatra, the last Pharaoh of Egypt, was known for her passion for Emeralds.
Pearl
June Birthstone
Lustre is what gives a natural or cultured Pearl its unique beauty. Often sought in white or cream, they come in a range of beautiful shades. Pearls symbolise wisdom, perseverance, and integrity.
Fun fact: In ancient China, Pearls were believed to guarantee protection from fire and fire-breathing dragons.
Ruby
July Birthstone
Rubies are vibrant red gemstones synonymous with vitality, passion, and seeking your heart’s desire. Throughout history, they have been worn to guarantee health, wealth, wisdom, and success in love.
Fun fact: To commemorate the 50th anniversary of The Wizard of Oz, Harry Winston created real Ruby slippers set with 4,600 Rubies.
Peridot
August Birthstone
Created from the fiery pits of volcanoes, Peridot is believed to be a gift from Mother Nature and is considered a symbol of the yearly renewal of the planet. Cherished for its healing powers, it promotes prosperity, fearlessness, and beauty.
Fun fact: In 2005, Peridot was found in comet dust brought back from the Stardust robotic space probe.
Sapphire
September Birthstone
Known for its striking deep, ocean blue hue, this gemstone is also available in a number other colour varieties. Symbolising wisdom, serenity and focus, Sapphires have had an incredible history, drawing fame from royalty to playing a part in ancient legends.
Fun fact: Aquamarine’s name comes from the Latin word for seawater and was said to calm waves and keep sailors safe at sea.
Opal
October Birthstone
Opals are renowned for their radiant patterns of colour and the way in which they reflect light into a kaleidoscope of colour is truly unique. Symbolising hope, happiness and love, they also bring feelings of comfort.
Fun fact: The novel, Anne of Geierstein, gave Opal a reputation of being unlucky in 1829. Due to this, some thought it was unlucky for anyone born in another month to wear an Opal.
Citrine
November Birthstone
The golden Citrine gemstone represents energy and abundance and is thought to brighten darkness and attract wealth.
Fun fact: In the 17th century, Queen Victoria made Citrine popular by wearing it as jewellery.
Blue Topaz
December Birthstone
Topaz forms in various tones and saturations of yellow, gold, orange, red, blue, green, purple and brown, as well as colourless. Blue Topaz is a vivid sky-blue gemstone that symbolises spiritual connections and it brings solid, lasting energy, joy, generosity and abundance.
Fun fact: The stone was worn as a protection amulet in some ancient cultures.
TThere wouldn’t be fine jewellery without metals to hold our beautiful gemstones. The variety of metals available allows jewellery to be affordable to all. Our precious metals are responsibly sourced and authenticated, conforming to the international standards of purity.
Platinum
Platinum is the most precious and valuable of all metals.
Its natural white sheen makes it a considered setting for
precious gemstones and its hardwearing nature makes
it the perfect metal for jewellery. Sterns offers a limited
range of Platinum jewellery, but we do make to order.
Please contact us if you are would like to know more.
Gold
Gold has been valued and revered for thousands of years and its bright yellow shine is instantly recognisable. However in its pure form, Gold is too soft to work with.
To make it suitable for jewellery other metals (alloys) are added to pure Gold, making it more durable.
This can result in not only a stronger metal but also
Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver is a timeless classic and has been
a celebrated metal and form of currency since humans
first discovered it. Similar to Gold, Sterling Silver must
have other metals added to it to be strong enough
for jewellery.
While Sterling Silver is best known for its brilliant
polished shine, it can also come in a matte finish,
Stainless Steel
This tarnish resistant and well-priced metal is a must-have for the fashionconscious man.
Titanium
This is the toughest metal known to man. Hypoallergenic, lightweight and tarnish resistant for the perfect every day wear.
Tungsten
A luxurious, heavyweight and scratch resistant metal that is durable and strong – perfect for your commitment.
Zirconium
With a high resistance to scratching and tarnishing, fashionability meets functionality. Zirconium is the ideal choice for the modern man.
The world’s most precious gem and a symbol of love for centuries, Diamonds are as beautiful and unique as your love story.
Formed under immense pressure, hundreds of kilometres below the surface of the earth, their one billion year journey
is nothing short of phenomenal. They were first discovered in India over two thousand years ago and have remained
a symbol of beauty, love and resilience ever since.
Taking care of your jewellery is therapeutic and a sign of self-care. Sterns believes in keeping your jewellery looking as good as the day you owned it.
By following a few simple tips you can keep your jewellery looking as beautiful as the day you bought it.
For those occasions when your jewellery needs a little more care, speak to one of our experts and remember that Sterns offers free professional cleaning services for all jewellery.
Sterns believes in keeping your jewellery looking as good as the day you owned it. In light of the current Covid-19 pandemic, frequent hand-washing and sanitising isn’t just for peace of mind, it’s a necessity!
The primary goal of hand sanitiser is to sterilize any germs, bacteria or toxic micro-organisms that can make you sick. But you could also be worried about what it’s doing to your jewellery. We’ve broken it down for you.
Alcohol-based hand sanitiser
Most hand sanitisers contain 60 – 95% alcohol and it is recommended to use a minimum of 60% alcohol to protect yourself against the Coronavirus. The ingredients include but are not limited to isopropyl or ethyl alcohol, water, glycerin and fragrance. Alcohol-based sanitisers are much safer for your jewellery.
Alcohol-free hand sanitiser
The ingredients in alcohol-free sanitisers include but are not limited to antibacterial, triclosan, antiseptics and chloride cleaning agents. These chlorine-based compounds have the potential to release free chlorine when in contact with water; causing your jewellery to tarnish.
Soap
Good old soap works just as well when it comes to protecting yourself against Coronavirus. However, most soaps contain chemicals or oils that could possibly damage the surface of your jewellery. Solid soap particles can get under stone settings and stay there – this will cloud and dull your rings. It could also cause the coat of rhodium plating, found on white Gold rings, to get worn away.
What are the effects of this constant use of chemicals on your jewellery?
Hand sanitiser does not affect yellow Gold as much as some other metals. This is primarily because yellow Gold doesn’t have a film or layer that can tarnish or wear down over time. However it can still become dull over time due to frequent use of sanitiser.
Rose Gold is created by mixing yellow Gold alloys with copper to create its rosy red tint. Hand sanitiser can react to the copper elements causing your jewellery to tarnish and lose its shine over time.
White Gold is plated in rhodium, which adds a protective layer to the Gold. It’s normal for rhodium-plated jewellery to require re-plating over a period of time. However, hand sanitisers containing halogens could cause the plating to tarnish even faster.
Platinum will never tarnish, as its surface is naturally white. It doesn’t react with chemicals found in hand sanitisers, making it safe to wear. However, we recommend you still avoid contact and regularly clean your jewellery to avoid any residue that will dull the shine.
Be cautious of alcohol-free hand sanitisers when wearing Sterling Silver jewellery. The chlorine-based chemicals contain harsh compounds that will tarnish and strip away at the Silver, diminishing its shine and lustre.
Hand sanitiser won’t damage diamonds, but it will leave a filmy residue on the stones dulling their sparkle and brilliance over time. Frequent hand washing will cause build-up between stones but it’s nothing a quick soak can’t fix.
Pearls are soft and porous (absorbing water and liquid), and should not come into contact with sanitised skin until completely dry. We suggest waiting five minutes before wear. As with perfume and hairspray, the alcohol in sanitiser can change the surface of Pearls, creating a loss of lustre and change in colour. Just like Pearls, Opals are soft and porous and can easily be damaged by sanitiser. There will be visible cracks on the surface where the liquid dries out. We suggest waiting five minutes before wear.
Alcohol-based sanitisers could cause a filmy residue layer on the surface of gem stones, but this can easily be cleaned off with soapy water and an old toothbrush. Soap and alcohol-based sanitisers won’t affect your Garnets, Rubies, Aquamarine or Sapphires, but chlorine-based (alcohol-free) sanitisers will. Emeralds are slightly less hardwearing, so you should avoid using both soap and sanitiser when wearing them.
Your hands aren’t the only things that need to stay clean, you jewellery needs to remain germ-free too!
How to Sanitise Your Jewellery*
* This excludes Pearls as they are more delicate.
If you’ve found the ultimate piece for yourself, or planning on gifting someone special, then it’s important to ensure that it fits just right! Below you’ll find a guide for selecting the right size for necklaces, earrings, bracelets and rings.
The most common pendant chains are around 40cm to 45cm in length.
Find your perfect pendant chain length here:
Here’s an easy guide to measuring stud and hoop earrings.
Hoops
Studs
Here is an easy guide to finding your bracelet size.
Measure around your wrist tightly or loosely depending on the fit you’d like.
Here’s an easy guide to finding your ring size.
Download and print this simple guide to measure your finger. Ensure that your printer is set to print at 100% You can verify that your page has printed correctly by measuring a few shapes for accuracy.
